Preparing for winter II

kinkyjinks

Eenymeeny wrote: »

You could use one of those 'miners lamp' type with an elastic band that goes around the head but we wouldn't want to look silly would we?:D (OH found it very handy when working on the understairs cupboard:o):)

I love my head light so much I own 4 of them. I don't care if I look silly and they were very handy when we were camping at a festival earlier this year. Imagine visiting a festival toilet in the dark with no head light :eek::eek:

mustrum_ridcully

Eenymeeny wrote: »

I got a wind-up torch at Lidl recently £3.99 instead of £5 at our local 'cheap' shop.
Have you thought of those stick-on type lcds? I keep one near the bed and pop it into my dressing gown pocket 'switched on' if I have to get up during the night. Plenty of light to see by and doesn't disturb OH by putting the light on. Also leaves you 'hands free' if like my Dad, you use a zimmer or stick. You could use one of those 'miners lamp' type with an elastic band that goes around the head but we wouldn't want to look silly would we?:D (OH found it very handy when working on the understairs cupboard:o):)

Poundland were (or at least my local one was) doing LED 'miners lamp' style torches a few weeks ago (for a £1 oddly enough ).

[Deleted User]

We've recently been buying dried skimmed milk, and keep it in a margarine tub in the cupboard. Although it isn't very nice tasting for drinking on it's own or in tea etc, it's very useful for many things.

It's an excellent alternative to fresh milk when making a pot of hot chocolate (just make a paste with a little water first).

Also great for making hot oat cereals, instead of heating milk in the microwave.. Just pour boiling water directly onto milk powder.

Another good use is to make creamy soups by adding milk powder instead of milk or cream. If you add a little more than is required it gives a good creamy flavour.

I think it's quite economical - and has to taste better than UHT:p

I did find other uses for Dried skimmed milk in my copy of 'Tightwad Gazette', but I lent it to DDIL and she loves it so much, it kind of took up residence with her on a permanent basis:D

maryb

smileyt wrote: »

Aldi are selling thermals next Thursday (30 Sept) - women's, men's and kids'.

Thanks for this. I have been to Aldi recently to stock up on cheese and bacon so wouldn't normally go again so soon. But this will be great for DD2s Duke of Edinburgh kit

mcjordi

will be filling in the little gap i found under the front doorframe when it stops raining

*miaomiao*

Don't underestimate the idea of getting a dehumidifier in for the winter. It will help to remove the moisture from the air so that your house's air is drier and warmer as it's easier to heat. Useful for all of us that get a lot of condensation, especially in conservatories or on single pane windows. And very helpful with the amount of water left in the house due to drying clothes indoors. Yay no mildew!

At the moment we don't need a dehumidifier as we're lucky, but we do still open the windows for 15 min each morning in winter as we've been told this helps to reduce the amount of water in the air and it refreshes the place too! Free as well!

*miaomiao*

If you are thinking of getting salt in, consider the cheaper and safer option of buying a snow shovel which is reusable and better for the environment, especially considering that salt can burn small animals especially dogs feet, and will kill your healthy insect life, plants. The thing is that with salt, it melts the snow to water which can then freeze up again if the temperature drops. IMHO getting a snow shovel and doing shovelling properly is a much safer measure!

katholicos

*miaomiao* wrote: »

If you are thinking of getting salt in, consider the cheaper and safer option of buying a snow shovel which is reusable and better for the environment, especially considering that salt can burn small animals especially dogs feet, and will kill your healthy insect life, plants. The thing is that with salt, it melts the snow to water which can then freeze up again if the temperature drops. IMHO getting a snow shovel and doing shovelling properly is a much safer measure - this is coming from a Canadian used to much heavier, longer winters!

For able bodied people i agree that using a shovel and some elbow grease would be preferable, but for those of us that have poor health, we have to use other means which may require the use of salt.

[Deleted User]

*miaomiao* wrote: »

If you are thinking of getting salt in, consider the cheaper and safer option of buying a snow shovel which is reusable and better for the environment, especially considering that salt can burn small animals especially dogs feet, and will kill your healthy insect life, plants. The thing is that with salt, it melts the snow to water which can then freeze up again if the temperature drops. IMHO getting a snow shovel and doing shovelling properly is a much safer measure - this is coming from a Canadian used to much heavier, longer winters!

That's a good point to remember. We do use a snow shovel and an ice-removing tool hubby designed. But when the ice is solid, we use some salt on the road leading to car-parking area where cars start to slide dangerously close to front doors

anguk

I use a shovel to clear the ice and snow but also put salt down because my OH is an amputee and walking with a prosthetic leg on ice and snow is a nightmare. Whenever my OH has to leave the house I go out first to check it's not slippy.

My OH also has to go to hospital for dialysis 3 times a week and last year the snow was so bad for so long that he stopped driving himself in because I was so worried. Luckily we have the wonderful "Lifeline" transport service for dialysis patients and their amazing drivers managed to get OH and the other patients to and from hospital everytime, even though on several occasions they had to dig the ambulance out! :eek: My OH even kept an overnight bag at the dialysis unit just incase he couldn't get back and had to stay at the hospital!