Preparing for winter II

stiltwalker

TravellingAbuela

"I am on the lookout now for a big thick shaggy rug for the lounge, so I can lounge in front of the fire in comfort!"

Hi, don't know where about in West Yorks you are but we got a fab red shaggy rug (4' x 5') off Skipton market, by the entrance to Craven Court for only £40, smaller ones were cheaper too.

Primrose

I recently bought an almost new sleeping bag in a charity shop which I washed in the washing machine and dried outdoors on a sunny breezy day. We stillhave our summer duvet on the bed (and managed with it all through last winter) if we have a few really cold nights, I can get the sleeping bag out of the airing cupboard, unzip it to turn it into another double size duvet to throw on the bed. (I do have a heavier winter duvet firmly wrapped up up in the loft somewhere but it's such a hassle to get up there, can't be bothered.). With a house that's double glazed and cavity wall insulated, the house seems to retain the heat relatively well.

triticale

adelight wrote: »

what's a wheat bag?
I've got leggings, top, a big jumper, uggs and a scarf on, but I still feel cold and stiff under my clothes. I've had permanent goose bumps all weekend :mad:

There is a school of thought, that for people who really feel the cold, that neglecting the extremities in favour of heating the core/torso is more effective.

Basically, wrap up your chest like crazy! :rotfl:

Bodywarmers (or 'gilets', as they became known in't '90's) are helpful here - avoids sleeve-pull-discomfort symdrome.

(Plus, make sure your layers are skintight, not baggy - not restrictive-tight though)

(Ooh, and don't forget the head - put a big thick wooly hat on indoors and tell me you don't feel the difference!)

notjustlaura

There seem to be lots of colds around, Kitchenbunny, so I hope DH is feeling better soon.

Laura

mineallmine

good point fluffymuffin123 about looking after neighbours too. even if you mention what you are doing in conversation then thats a good start such as I'm stocking up on some store cupbd essentials. as well as checking in with them about other things.
for anyone looking to buy thermals - dont think just of Aldi but we have Factory SHops here and they sell thermals. Damart of course are quite pricey but their stuff just washes and washes - had mine for years now.
kicked myself today for forgetting to get some extra bits while I was shopping. Will remember next time.
SO impressed how everyone is doing.

majjak

That's another job ticked off the list - power cut drawer complete with head torch, hand torch, candles and matches .

jacand, thank you for the nudge about the Lidl flannel sheets, I'm going to pop down and see if they've got any in my local store :beer:

fluffy good point about neighbours, I've got several elderly ones (we live on a main road consisting of 4 houses and the rest bungalows) so I'll be making sure to stock a few extra bits just in case. You sound like you do wonderfully fluffy, and you can't put a price on being able to look after a family well, it's the most wonderful thing a person can do imo! :T

So, list as it stands today:

• Get gas bottles refilled.
• Make sure small gas burner is to hand (and gas cannisters!)
• Continue stocking up cupboards (as far as grocery challenge budget will allow )
• Buy flannellete (sp?) sheets from Lidl
• Buy kids new slippers (old ones are far too old!)
• Hang newly sewn door curtain (DH to help as I need a rail putting up first)
• Do car box (still not done ! )

Eenymeeny

Someone asked about insoles? I often get pains in my toes which I was told could be the start of arthritis. Noticing it more over the last week as the temperature drops.:o
I was advised to use thermal insoles and found them a great help last winter, even in trainers. (Given up on heeled shoes now unless for very special occasions!)...worth a try.:)

Fruball

Yayyyyy I have just found my old but very warm sheepskin slippers so that should keep my feet cosier

I have also asked on freecycle for some of that expanding foam stuff to fill holes in walls - I have a mighty draught coming from where my outdoor tap was (badly) fitted and another where the DW pipe comes out. I really don't want to pay over £7 for a new can of the stuff as someone must have some leftover somewhere. I don't need a lot.

My back door really needs some effort putting in to make it warmer - its single glazed at the top and wood (thin) at the bottom. I think I might get some plywood (?) board, put some bubble wrap or something on the door then attach the wood, then seal all the way round... Only concern is that it may have some moisture inside, which may then begin to rot the door? Any ideas anyone?
A curtain on that door is out of the question as its right by my cooker, altho I could probably make a roman blind to attach to the door, but not sure if this would be much help as it would literally just cover the door, none of the sides...

The heating came on for half an hour or so last night (its on thermostat, low so doesn't come on often) and its still quite warm today... Thank goodness we are so well insulated as this little house really does keep the heat

Kids have lost their wind up torches already... hey ho... thats what LOs do I guess.

SC is on most days so that provides a little background heat in kitchen and I pop my teatowels on the top of it to dry them

Kids went to school in vests under their clothes today as its been really quite chilly

rosieben

majjak wrote: »

... you can't put a price on being able to look after a family well, it's the most wonderful thing a person can do imo! :T ...

truest words!

Frugal wrote: »

...My back door really needs some effort putting in to make it warmer - its single glazed at the top and wood (thin) at the bottom. I think I might get some plywood (?) board, put some bubble wrap or something on the door then attach the wood, then seal all the way round... Only concern is that it may have some moisture inside, which may then begin to rot the door? Any ideas anyone?
A curtain on that door is out of the question as its right by my cooker, altho I could probably make a roman blind to attach to the door, but not sure if this would be much help as it would literally just cover the door, none of the sides...

instead of plywood or similar for the wood part could you maybe pin some layers of fleece or something to it?

if you want a curtain at the glass you could have one that has a seam at both top and bottom to thread curtain wire through, holds it tight to the window rather than letting the bottom flap about, so its not a fire hazard and you could just unhook the bottom wire periodically to wipe damp; it would also ensure your bubble wrap didnt come off and cause a problem

would draught excluder around the edges of the door help?

Annie56

That's another job ticked off the list - power cut drawer complete with head torch, hand torch, candles and matches majjack what a bril idea...

I have drawer just as I come into my kitchen by the backdoor and is full of junk so its now been cleared and my wind up torch, spare candles and matches (just been down the shop and bought some!!!) and are all in my clean freshly lined drawer, cannot believe I had forgotten about matches for the candles...so now everything is in one place and I know where to go to when the leccie goes off...so simple an idea...well Im blonde ( thats my excuse lol)

have just put up the curtain pole above the backdoor for the door curtain to stop the wind whistling through it and checking my leccie meter now the storage heaters have been on a few days, though Im not a lover of storage heaters I must admit they have made a difference , though if we get a large drop in temp dont know how good they really would be then.

ehmmm I think Im going to go down to Specsavers cause when I was out yesterday I had to pull over and look over a fence, we have a large estate nearby and under one of the lovley trees I swore I saw some daffodils out yes DAFFODILS?????, am going back tommorow to check as its bugging me if I saw properly. Mentioned this to one of the older chaps down the allotments, he said yep very very possible cause in 1940 summit the daffs were out early that season and there was one helluva winter with massive snowdrifts etc..so just to make sure Im not going bonkers Im going to have a look again tomorow...nope not been on the old alchohol just dandelion and burdock lol

am going to put a new zip in my bodywarmer tonight cause Im feeling the cold lately, going to scout the cookery section on here need a nice soup recipe...
Annie56