Preparing for winter II

Carolyntia

Evening preppers :wave:

Yesterday was a beautiful day here in Aberdeen so I managed to get two loads of washing out on the line including all the fleeces and my winter dressing gown. I also got all the windows clean inside and out....they won't stay clean for long but at least they're better than they were

I'm keeping an eye on my stocks and think I might get a couple more lots of toilet roll before the end of September just to make sure

Just got to put up my temporary door curtains (fleeces on net supports) but I'll do this when it really gets cold. We're forecast high winds and rain here over the next couple of days so I'll see how it goes

tugrin

Yes - I stand corrected - you are right Red Doe et al - its wise to keep some dosh about the place. (But I did scare myself witless on that other thread-sorry).
Can someone point by way of a link how to get the really cheapy fleeces from Asda? I feel like a complete eejit when I have been on the website.
Currently simmering the old rosehips and wondering about how you turn the slightly bigger ones into tomato substitutes??? Obviously the seeds and fluff have to go ??? Whats the easiest way of doing this?

FoxFace

Oh I am so inspired by this thread, I honestly have never prepped for winter before, but it seems so vital now I know what kind of things people do :T

As a starter for ten, I want to accomplish the following before it gets much colder.

• Pull fleeces and thick mattress protector out of storage, wash and start to use them (fleeces done this afternoon )
• Make a draught excluder for my exceedingly draughty front door. (EDIT: Done using old towels & old woolen tights :j)
• Source a megaton of bubblewrap to insulate the windows, DH works in retail so is going to see what he can scrounge
• Knit some gloves, hats & scarves from my ever expanding wool stash

I may also look at the lining/wallpapering thing, as we have painted plaster here, and we have been meaning to redecorate for months anyway

Edit: I also need to stock up medical stuff/loo roll etc :heartsmil

CH27

Well i've done diddly squat today. The phone has never stopped ringing.

I try to keep a float of £100 cash in the house. OH & son are always asking for cash at the last minute.

dawn_rose

hiya just thinking about the snow last year. were we are its a mile walk to school so manovering pushchair is hard work in snow at least if we can get to end of road it means we can get the bus. Any ideas on how to make getting two children to school in snow up hill for one mile complete with baby in tow? Is there anything i can put on pushchair wheels that wont wreck em or the bus? thanks

leep84

This is my very first post on MSE forums..I was searching for tips re: making lined curtains and came across some useful posts on the site.

Finding it quite daunting as my aim is to make 3 huge curtains for single-glazed doors in the house. I've got all the material etc now so no going back!

Any tips would be appreciated..I've found some websites with guides but may go to the library tomorrow after work to find a book. I'm a COMPLETE beginner; have borrowed a sewing machine from a lady in work (fingers crossed I don't break it!) and taught myself how to make a bobbin & thread the machine tonight..one step at a time!

Any forum tips welcome e.g. how do I make a little 'signature' that will be attached to my posts?

Thanks!

oldtractor

Red_Doe wrote: »

It's a bit unfair to treat those of us who advocate things like that as all a bunch of end of the world scenarioists.
what about those of us who live in remote areas? Last couple of winters, the banks couldn't even get here due to the snow and ice on the roads (mobile banks here, obviously) but the local wee shop did still have stock in. They also prefer cash. So it makes sense to keep cash in the house.
Ditto water purifying tablets...last summer, we lost our water supply over a space of three weeks! I was reduced to hauling water indoors from the local burn. You can bet your !!! I purified it!
Please don't go from one extreme to the other here. There's room in this thread for all sorts of folks, and it doesn't take the end of the world to come, for some of us to actually need some of the things survivalists do suggest keeping.

Its the same here Red Doe, I live in a very rural place and need to have stashes of products and a bit of money about the place.
WELCOME leap84, its a great forum have fun and pick up tonnes of ideas,I know i did.

rising_from_the_ashes

rosieben wrote: »

I also leave the vents open in the top of the dg unit.

Yup, mine are always open too, and the windows most of the year (apart from the really, really bad bit last winter).

tootsieann wrote: »

I do each section of the window individually so I can still open the windows. .............

We almost ran out of oil because the lorry could not get to us so I've had the tank filled already.

I might give that a try as I hate not being able to open the windows - mine have between 4 and 8 separate panes so may work!:D

DM & DF nearly ran out last year - had ordered it but the lorry couldn't get for 6 weeks!:eek:

broodylass wrote: »

This week I'm waiting on my Ikea delivery for fleeces and also a big rug for the cold kitchen floor. Even with the delivery charge it worked out cheaper than getting them from elsewhere.

I've just tried to order some (been hunting everywhere locally and none cheap) and they don't deliver here - only 30 miles from store!:mad:

My curtains are lined, and the upstairs of the house is usually warm but really need to keep the costs in check this year - just realised my mortgage is going up £50/month in November:(. I'll have a hunt around but not sure I'll get another as credit rating OK but not fantastic.


So .... I may have to take a trip up to town on Saturday - will be my last chance as Op is next week and then no driving ......... (could visit Home Bar*gains too ..... more loo rolls ...... no, seriously, I think I have enough now but could do with a few more packs of rice etc.

It's just a lot of fuel to use for fleece's and rice!:o

I usually keep a wee bit of cash around in case I need the odd thing or two - also, if the weather's bad I get the bus to work (£3.80 each way & they don't give change) so need some for that. We do have one cash machine in the village but it ran out after a few days last year and was about 3 weeks before it was refilled.

Been a beautiful day here - warmer than most of August! Typically the forecast was wrong and said it was going to chuck it down all day or I could've had some washing out!!!

Red_Doe

Obviously the seeds and fluff have to go ??? Whats the easiest way of doing this?

I've only ever made the syrup, so not sure about the tom substitute, but with the syrup I boil up the hips then strain them so the fluff n stuff gets left behind.
I'd imagine with keeping the hips for anything, you'd have to halve them and deseed by hand! Lot of work, unless anyone knows another way.

FoxFace

dawn_rose wrote: »

hiya just thinking about the snow last year. were we are its a mile walk to school so manovering pushchair is hard work in snow at least if we can get to end of road it means we can get the bus. Any ideas on how to make getting two children to school in snow up hill for one mile complete with baby in tow? Is there anything i can put on pushchair wheels that wont wreck em or the bus? thanks

Is the baby small enough to be put into a sling or baby carrier? Our buggy used to be really lightweight which seemed to help it not sink. We have similar distances to you for the bus, and all we did was got them some decent waterproofs, combined with wellies & warms socks and usual winter attire and a helluva lot of perserverence:)

leep84 wrote: »

This is my very first post on MSE forums..I was searching for tips re: making lined curtains and came across some useful posts on the site.

Finding it quite daunting as my aim is to make 3 huge curtains for single-glazed doors in the house. I've got all the material etc now so no going back!

Any tips would be appreciated..I've found some websites with guides but may go to the library tomorrow after work to find a book. I'm a COMPLETE beginner; have borrowed a sewing machine from a lady in work (fingers crossed I don't break it!) and taught myself how to make a bobbin & thread the machine tonight..one step at a time!

Any forum tips welcome e.g. how do I make a little 'signature' that will be attached to my posts?

Thanks!

For the curtains, you will need quite a heavy duty needle/thread for curtains, if you use cheapo thread and fine needles they will just break

As for the forum stuff, look at the green bar up there ^^^ and click on UserCP (control panel) the options are down the left hand side