Its tough, it will get better and guess what its freezing brrrrr!

ceridwen

mardatha wrote: »

We have had more heavy snow during the night, still snowed in here. The main road is according to the BBC and police "ungritted and treacherous" even if we could reach it, which we can't
No buses in the Borders are running again for the third day, they are reviewing that later on. Some people are going to be running short of food soon.. one neighbour here said yesterday she's nearly out of elect & needs get to a shop to top up her card thingy.
Binmen wont come, schools off since friday, no milk to be had anywhere. And yet we get snow every year here, you'd think they would be able to cope a lot better !

Which brings us on to the "side issues" of having a good store cupboard (and I think there are a lot of us feeling glad that we have that right now...:D) - and that is to take account of what level of "preparations" we think those close to us have made (or otherwise....). So - has everyone "got the message over" yet to family and close friends? If not - then a few gifts/loans of stock if they run short should persuade them that we DO know what we are talking about if they find themselves running short.

So - if anyone has any family/close friends who havent yet "got it" about being stocked-up - its as well to have a bit extra to hand in case they need it...

(Does take a while sometimes - but I managed to persuade my "close others" in the end:D).

Any minute now we'll be onto New Year Resolutions to make - a thought that crossed my mind (when I was thinking "Wonder whether I should make any O.S. New Year ones?" and cant think of any things I havent yet done/got going to the best of my ability/time available). Feeling thankful right now that one some years back was to make sure I was in my local LETS Scheme (just had a reminder - I've just collected some more fruit now courtesy of someone in my local one:D). I am conscious right now of the aspect of being grateful that I'm already well "established" in an alternative currency system as well ...but hey thats just ceridwen here being ultra cautious..

Has anyone made any O.S. New Year Resolutions yet? Care to share?

ceridwen

CRANKY40 wrote: »

Tablet is so easily hidden when it's broken up into pieces

Errr...what is this tablet of which you speak?

NualaBuala

ceridwen wrote: »

Errr...what is this tablet of which you speak?

I believe it is this super-healthy Scottish confection
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tablet_%28confectionery%29

ceridwen

stiltwalker wrote: »

I also have an abundance of red wine vinegar lovelife, when I read your post on what price you'd got it for I went and put an order in for 2 containers - they say they are 2.5 l on the site but actually are 5 l so now I have 10 l of red wine vinegar to use! I'm going to try doing my red cabbage in red wine vinegar for a change, usually use white vinegar but should just make it a bit richer and I LOVE pickled red cabbage with stew so that should use a fair amount up. Good job I've already got some made and ready as its definately stew weather at the moment.

Well - I've just come across the idea of making your own wine vinegar. Its just 1 part of wine (red, white or even rose) and 2 parts cider vinegar. Mix and put in a bottle and keep in the dark (ie a cupboard):D.

Ah-ha...as I often read recipes that require just a smidgen of wine vinegar - but dont want to keep any in for the "once in a blue moon" occasion when I might want some. However - I always have cider vinegar in (and its rather cheaper...:D) and its ...errr...not exactly unknown for me to have some wine in....ahem....

So - with that - bingo! Instant wine vinegar any time I want it - and in exactly the amount I require.:D

mardatha

:j:j:j ...and guess who just this day, found a secret hidden forgotten bar of tablet in her cupboard ?? hmmm?

ceridwen

kittie wrote: »

Its amazing that the electricity companies have kept supplies going so far but just saw that sheffield area have had a blackout all afternoon. I`m going to check my alternative lighting supplies now and also candles because that is all we`ll have for heat if the power goes out. Just making sure that lanterns are charged up and candles and matches handy

Don't forget its always possible to use a hairdryer to give some blasts of heat at the "extremities". Thats my bedtime routine at the moment - blast feet, blast legs, blast backside, blast sheets. It musta been cold last night as I resorted to a coupla hotwater bottles as well:rotfl:

There was an occasion where I was staying elsewhere - and they werent using anything like enough heating:mad: - so I found out then that a hairdryer on its own will actually raise the temperature of a small space to a bearable level.

If anyone is absolutely stuck for heating and hasnt got any supplementary heating - then maybe you might want to all cram into the smallest room in the house (lets face it - most British houses are so darn small that a lot of them have a tiny bedroom:(:mad:) and cover up with duvets/throws and use intermittent blasts from a hairdryer and go in for that somewhat old-fashioned/under-rated pastime of board games.

Red_Doe

Re heating oil freezing, it`s the underground pipes that it`s happened to, so no chance of getting to them to warm them up or lag them or whatever is needed, the plumber used a heat thingy tool (that`s the limit of my techy knowledge) to warm the exposed bits of pipe in an attempt to get the oil flowing but no luck. Ironic, that we finally get heating oil but can`t use it til it`s warmer!
Apparently, fuel companies are supposed to put something in the oil to stop this happening but it`s been so cold here it defeats it, minus 20 last night and set to reach minus 23 tonight according to the news and weather.
Anyone know any Eskimo songs.......?

ceridwen

mardatha wrote: »

Everybody should have a backup plan for cooking, lighting and, if poss, heating as well. If your cooker is elect - then buy a calor camping gas stove. If you're all mains gas - then buy a small elect oven/grill.
Anybody can have a Calor gas mobile heater - they kick out a fantastic heat and its pay as you go !
Never rely only on one way in case that one way goes down the tubes It's only common sense but might make a huge difference to you some day.

Yep...couldnt agree more Mardatha.

In my house I have, for some years now, worked on a "dual" system of knowing I could use either gas or electric to heat my water on the one hand and for space heating on the other hand.


....errr...and I've also got the Kelly Kettle, camping gaz hotplates, camping gaz fire as well as "second in line" back-up.

With this - I know that, even if the electric goes down temporarily - then I can just "camp out" in the sitting room with the gas fire on and candles burning and listen to Radio 4 on wind-up radio.....

rachbc

ceridwen wrote: »

"camp out" in the sitting room with the gas fire on and candles burning and listen to Radio 4 on wind-up radio.....

well for me its a log fire but that sounds pretty much a perfect winters eve to me, power cut or no!

kezlou

Were dreading any power cuts, our only heating is purely based on electriity. Even the gas boiler relies on a battery powered themometer unit.

We also have gas and camping cooker, our oven /hob is gas but the actual flint is electric. This is purely a saftey masure, we bought the cooker when my eldest was about three months old.

But as along as i have a lighter i can at least cook. We also have candles (need to buy more). So if the electric goes out, helo sleeping bags, duvets etc.

Right now on our bed i've put an extra two blankets on it to keep warm. The boys have thick blankets on they beds too.

So hopefully we'll be okay. I'm stopping the house from becoming too cold by keeping the heating on all day between a temp of 16 - 18 degrees. So if its 18 in the kitchen its 15 in the living room. Sine we've done this the chairs have stop being damp to the touch.

Well better get the boys to bed and sorted for school.