Preparing for winter II

Fruball

Its very blustery here this afternoon although this morning was quite warm and humid?! Odd... Chilly now though. I'm a bit worried as a few huge trees have fallen down in the last couple of weeks in my town... Not because of the weather but they think they might have been diseased and the roots rotted... A car was completely crushed, luckily nobody was in it - and another narrowly missed someone... Hopefully the council will go round and check on the local trees... We have a huge one over the road, on council owned land. Its a chestnut tree and I suspect if it fell my way, it would be tall enough to reach my house if it fell down :eek: If it fell the other way it would land on about 5 properties :eek: Might call the council and get them to check it.

The new hiking boots are super comfy and are tough so will last a good few years I reckon.

Builder is coming back tomorrow to see how we can do my fireplace on a VERY tight budget - can't wait to have a roaring fire to snuggle up by this winter, esp as my neighbour can get me as many free pallets as I can burn

I'm going up for a roasting hot bath now and getting into PJs... My winter hibernation begins now so I will regularly be in PJs immediately the sun goes down

splodger_seedswapper

many horse chestnut trees have been struck with disease over the last few years - a mate of mine had a huge one fall in her garden last year - what a mess - i think many more of them will fall in the next year or so - this disease (can't remember name off hand) seems to have really got hold of them now

Fruball

splodger_seedswapper wrote: »

many horse chestnut trees have been struck with disease over the last few years - a mate of mine had a huge one fall in her garden last year - what a mess - i think many more of them will fall in the next year or so - this disease (can't remember name off hand) seems to have really got hold of them now

Thanks for that info - I will definately call the council on Monday.

I'm looking at the tree now and whilst it does have lots of healthy growth and tonnes of horse chestnuts, I can see many bare patches and what looks like died off parts :eek: I have never noticed them before. It will be so sad if it has to come down as its as tall as 3 houses and if it goes, I will be looking out at houses rather than the tree

splodger_seedswapper

Frugal wrote: »

Thanks for that info - I will definately call the council on Monday.

I'm looking at the tree now and whilst it does have lots of healthy growth and tonnes of horse chestnuts, I can see many bare patches and what looks like died off parts :eek: I have never noticed them before. It will be so sad if it has to come down as its as tall as 3 houses and if it goes, I will be looking out at houses rather than the tree

the diseased ones are usually pretty easy to spot - as the leaves turn "autumnal" in colour very early in the year - and the leaves stay sort of rusty brown for the rest of the year until leaf fall in autumn - in my area i know of 6 large ones that have just keeled over - and without warning - so no tree hugging horse chestnuts please people - as it might be the last thing you do :eek:

Confuzzled

Frugal wrote: »

Thanks for that info - I will definately call the council on Monday.

I'm looking at the tree now and whilst it does have lots of healthy growth and tonnes of horse chestnuts, I can see many bare patches and what looks like died off parts :eek: I have never noticed them before. It will be so sad if it has to come down as its as tall as 3 houses and if it goes, I will be looking out at houses rather than the tree

our local park has a gorgeous walkway, on one side of the path is the river and along the other side are gorgeous horse chestnuts much the same size as yours... i hope they don't get the disease either it would break my heart to lose such a wonderfully peaceful place

good luck with getting the council to check yours out, got my fingers crossed for you.

Fruball

splodger_seedswapper wrote: »

the diseased ones are usually pretty easy to spot - as the leaves turn "autumnal" in colour very early in the year - and the leaves stay sort of rusty brown for the rest of the year until leaf fall in autumn - in my area i know of 6 large ones that have just keeled over - and without warning - so no tree hugging horse chestnuts please people - as it might be the last thing you do :eek:

This one is still very green... but about 1/5 of it is very bare and branches look a bit dead... Good for me as the weight will be on the opposite side of the tree but not good for the people who live that side as it would fall on their properties I reckon :eek:

Nope... I am definately not liking the look of that tree :eek::eek::eek:

springdreams

Just returned from Tesco - they have "brushed cotton" (aka flannelette) sheets in. There is only white, cream or cappucino. Single is £7, double £8 and king £9. A pair of pillow cases is £3.50. Same colour choices.

Savvy_Sue

Sorry, not going to read all 350+ pages to see if this has been suggested already, BUT if you feel the cold in bed, try taking a 'cuddle pillow' to bed with you ...

I've had an extra pillow in bed with me since I crocked my shoulder last November. Initially arm was tied to my body, and that kept me quite snug, although it's not something I'd recommend as a general principle.

However, once it was out of the sling, someone suggested that using an extra pillow against my body would help make the arm comfy, and it did. BUT it also keeps me much warmer in bed. And I often have one of those beanie cushions on my lap when I'm watching TV, and that also keeps me warmer.

It's especially helpful as I can't snuggle up to DH the way I used to because I can't lie on that side any more. He can snuggle up to me, but as he's a very hot body he tends not to ...

La-Cara

done so far:

• made "curtain" using a fleece blanket
• picked up spare dehumidifiers from Asda
• bought flannelette sheets from B&M (they feel nice but have yet to try them!)
• put extra blankets under the bottom sheet
• re-organised and topped up store cupboard
• done lots of batch cooking for freezer
• defrosted freezer

still to do:

• buy new hot water bottle (only got small ones rather than full-size)
• check car kit, and replenish as necessary
• keep batch cooking so freezer is well stocked up
• tidy up! not strictly winter prep but got to be done!
• wash car and hoover inside
• put up blind on front door

LadyDee

La-Cara wrote: »

done so far:

• made "curtain" using a fleece blanket
• picked up spare dehumidifiers from Asda
• bought flannelette sheets from B&M (they feel nice but have yet to try them!)
• put extra blankets under the bottom sheet
• re-organised and topped up store cupboard
• done lots of batch cooking for freezer
• defrosted freezer

still to do:

• buy new hot water bottle (only got small ones rather than full-size)
• check car kit, and replenish as necessary
• keep batch cooking so freezer is well stocked up
• tidy up! not strictly winter prep but got to be done!
• wash car and hoover inside
• put up blind on front door

Are the flannelette sheets like the old-fashioned, really thick flannelette or the brushed cotton type, which is often wrongly referred to as flannelette?