Preparing for winter II

toottifrootti

bluebag wrote: »

If it's going to be difficult for you to clean it out and you don't have access to cheap wood, then maybe running the central heating on low all day would work out easier.
yes it would:(
I would love a woodburner but I know I could not manage it with my health issues, some you win, some you lose I guess.

thanks bluebag i know what you are saying is right too but i am worried that i wont have an extra source of heat when its really cold - it was an average minus 15 here for about 6/7 weeks and you know that feeling when you want a 'direct' heat? IYKWIM. there is the open fire and its a shame not to use it but............

oh just ignore me i will have to be sensible and forget it - had better think about blocking up the chimney:(

tugrin wrote: »

Thanks angela - what an eejit I am - actually I was outbid by £30 so huge relief - sitting here biting nails praying that someone would add a fiver to the price when bang - huge bidding war!
I MUST stop this stupid behaviour - ebay is EVIL....

tugrin you are def not alone - have been in the same situation many times:D

Confuzzled

dawnie1972 wrote: »

Thanks thats really helpful - the paper log maker looks interesting and i can get papers from work (i work on a construction site so there are normally newspapers around). Have posted on freecycle for the ash pan etc but if i have to buy them then so be it. Have looked at the coal prices and locally its £11.50 delivered for a 25kg bag - not sure how long that would last. The good thing is i can stockpile as have two empty out buildings.

before you start a fire be sure you see if the chimney has been swept, it will need a good cleaning our you could cause a fire... shouldn't be too costly though and the safety is imperative

also be sure it's ok with the landlord first, they may know of any problems with the chimney, if it's not suitable for use they should tell you, if not you can ask the sweep if he can see any issues

i do hope it works out for you though, i lived in a few crofters cottages years ago and became a dab hand at doing fires, you can even dry your laundry in the same room too so that's an added bonus.

i agree that coal, wood (we used pallets too, you don't have to remove the nails just clean them out of the grate after they've cooled they burn ok), and paper logs etc work great

i've heard that shredded or paper torn into thing strips works best for log makers.

also some coal suppliers will sell you dross (coal dust) for dampening down the fire at night, this helps keep it burning very very low throughout the night and leaves enough hot embers to get it going again in the morning without so much hassle. if you don't want the fire to stay lit over night, put some wood ash on top that will smother it.

good luck!

Chipps

tryingtobethrifty wrote: »

Hi everyone, about 6 months ago our bedroom started to get quite cold, but the thing we noticed the most was that we were now able to hear much more road noise. Well, last night I'd had enough and went to investigate. It turns out on the hinge side of the window (upvc) there is a massive gap in the middle of the window like it's bowed, where the window joins the frame. We've stuffed it with toilet roll for now but does anyone know if it's possible to get a new seal or if indeed this is bad news (please say "no")?

Hi, I have just asked my DH about this, as he is a window engineer. He suggested the problem might be to do with one of the hinges, as it is quite unusual for a window to bow.
He did ask where you live, but I think it would be a bit of a trek!:D

kmiller4

Cheapskate wrote: »

Just spent an hour catching up on this thread - fascinating!

Also - kmiller - wish I'd been on here before - we've just been to NYC for our 25th anniversary - could have met up!
A xo

I would have loved to meet up! When will you come to the US again?:)

bluebag

toottifrootti,
it is awful when it gets that cold, I try to be frugal with the heat most of the time so I can have a little extra when it gets seriously cold.

I find a soft cuddly fleece blanket with a hot water bottle underneath it helps. I also light some nice warm coloured candles. I buy the wintery spicey ones whenever they come on special offer.

Being sensible is very boring I agree, but I'm still an adventurous lunatic in my head!

miss_emmajane

I bought another blanket today from the next sale for sitting under on the couch. For my bed I have got out my Primark snuggie and argos blanket I got on offer a couple of months ago. I am all set with blankets now (I think!) so tomorrow I am going to get some hot water bottles, thick socks and candles - I am trying to keep the heating off as much as possible!

bluebag

miss_emmajane wrote: »

I bought another blanket today from the next sale for sitting under on the couch. For my bed I have got out my Primark snuggie and argos blanket I got on offer a couple of months ago. I am all set with blankets now (I think!) so tomorrow I am going to get some hot water bottles, thick socks and candles - I am trying to keep the heating off as much as possible!

If you can afford it and don't have a medical reason not to have one try an electric blanket. They cost about 3 to 5 pence a night to run and it is pure heaven to get into a nice warm bed.

Ida_Notion

tugrin wrote: »

Thanks angela - what an eejit I am - actually I was outbid by £30 so huge relief - sitting here biting nails praying that someone would add a fiver to the price when bang - huge bidding war!
I MUST stop this stupid behaviour - ebay is EVIL....

If it's any consolation, I think you're by no means alone in behaving this way, and that the methods and language eBay uses (naturally!) encourages it. I always wonder who they think they're kidding when they send e-mails with titles like "Congratulations, You Have Won 'Four Legged Table - L@@K, W@W, RARE!' ". No I haven't - I've just bought the blummin' thing.

kmiller4

In an effort to keep the CH off I did some baking today as the oven warms the kitchen and adjacent family room quite nicely.

Made 2 loaves of honey whole wheat bread (easy no knead recipe for white and whole wheat if anyone wants it). Bread has gotten very expensive here-- about 2-3 quid for a nice loaf. Plain white bread sandwich can be had for about 1 quid, but its not very tasty. Soft and squishy, but flavorless.

Also made 2 pumpkin pies for DH. Will probably send some over to the neighbor as well tomorrow. It will go well with the turkey breast I'm planning on roasting tomorrow.

Hope you gals won't kick me out of the MSE club because I used canned (tinned) pumpkin for the pie because I did not have a "pie" pumpkin to cook up:eek:

Tugrin-- I ordered a set of silver plated flatware for my daughter on eBay today and had it sent to her in Oregon. It will be part of her Cmas. It was a pattern she picked out and such a good bargain. My hometown here (Oneida) was known world-wide for their silver goods and stainless flatware. They are closed down now and anything made with their name now is being made in China or the far-East. I wanted each of my children to have a good set of the old "Oneida" for their homes. I probably should not have spent the money, but its done now and another gift to cross off the Cmas list. (So what if its still September;))

chirpychick

wow a week later and ive finally caught up lol!!

Red Doe so happy for you

Ive had to give up on my winter prep now

Ive run out of money - to be continued next year i guess. But i know that the prep i have done this year will save me money for years to come and hopefully next year it will be completely finished

We are in cornwall next weekend for a weeks holiday (the first in 3 years) with the inlaws and for hubbys birthday.
We have 3 fence panels to replace, 3 windows to replace cat and 3 dogs annual jabs lol and then Christmas so it feels like its all getting a bit much really.

I have started to stock my cupboards up.

We just found out my dad has a brain tumour (hence my absence), I have been absolutely devestated and now coming to terms with it all but wishing there was more i could do. He is only 47, he will need to be operated on but its a 9 month waiting list and then will need 3 months recuperation learning how to walk again and things like that so my plan is to stock up now, get the house sorted and accumulate savings so that i have the petrol to visit every day and take meals without it costing us extra. if that makes sense.

we live penny to penny now and im using this to get in real control and "grow up" and get real and im a bit sad we didnt finish all our winter prep as im sure we could have made many more savings on our gas and electricity but visiting dad and having some comforts this past couple of weeks has been more important in terms of the here and now.

I will however be winter prepping for 2012 much earlier next year and i have already learnt so much thanks to you wonderful people! I guess "rome wasnt built in a day"