What has this bad weather taught you?

Vaila

not to rely on a tesco delivery
to rely on my dads 4x4 to get me to the shop !

i guess its taught me how poorly equiped our services such as public transport and the royal mail are

bluebag

bubbs wrote: »

I have had no constant cold water since a week yesterday and no hot at all :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

My days, I do a bit of emergency forward planning ...but I would have no idea where to get a tanker of fresh water from!:eek:
How on earth are you managing and what caused the lack of water?

Vaila

bluebag wrote: »

My days, I do a bit of emergency forward planning ...but I would have no idea where to get a tanker of fresh water from!:eek:
How on earth are you managing and what caused the lack of water?

last week we had NO water whatsoever last week
it was hell, pure hell !

nopot2pin

I have finally sussed out my central heating, after 6 odd years
Before, I just used to turn it on for an hour or two when I was cold... with the radiator thermostat up full bung...but then it would get waaaay too hot.
This cold snap, I have managed to have it on, virtually constant, without it being a hothouse, turning down the radiator thermostats. Its a very comfortable temperature 19-21degress, during my waking hours.

I have also learned that I am not the only one that needs to have a full storecupboard....
My parents, normally have a full storecupboard, but every now and then, they feel the need to run stuff done.
Unfortunatley they started running down their stocks about 8 weeks ago....and lasted up until now..... then the first lot of snow came.... and they were unable to get out to replenish
I only found out about this on Sunday.... and yesterday managed to get out before the worst of the snow came down, and they now will be ok for another 2 weeks
I think I will try to convince them that running down of the freezer/cupboards should NOT take place between November and March .... something I think I will adopt too.

I also have been asking elderly neighbours if they need anything....
I am out and about, walking or otherwise for work.... so can pick up a few bits if needed..... 2 mins extra for me, is sometimes 2 hours for them

JulieGeorgiana

Tulip09 wrote: »

Tried to defrost food to cook was a nightmare (mince took almost 2 days)

Any meat placed in cool water defrosts a lot quicker! I managed to defrost bacon and sausages during the cold snap in 2 hours!!

Some scientist will tell you how it works.... but I just know that if you place mince in cool water (immersed) then it'll be ready to use 3/4 hours later no matter how cold it gets.

Although you can cook mince from frozen, it isn't as nice, and get's very chewy! So I never do it any more!

Kimitatsu

Well thanks to this wonderful thread I have learnt that for us it has been worth paying a little extra for heating oil that wont freeze.

Talking to DH last night (who is a chemical engineer) I mentioned that I didnt know that heating oil could freeze, bless him he went onto explain that it doesnt freeze solid but the parafin forms crystals which block the pipes as it gets to -20C. However we have had KeroMax put in our tank for the last year as we have a very old boiler (but it works wonderfully and although not as efficient as modern boilers is far more reliable) and although it costs a few pence a litre more (which he grumbled about at the time ) the freezing point is -47C, and if it gets to that point I am definitely hibernating! We put KeroMax in because it helps clean the boiler as it goes so it improves the efficiency and lifespan, because I really dont want to replace it.

Worth thinking about if you are waaay up north, even using half and half will take the freezing poiint below -20 :T

downshifter

Kimitatsu wrote: »

Talking to DH last night (who is a chemical engineer) I mentioned that I didnt know that heating oil could freeze, bless him he went onto explain that it doesnt freeze solid but the parafin forms crystals which block the pipes as it gets to -20C. However we have had KeroMax put in our tank for the last year as we have a very old boiler (but it works wonderfully and although not as efficient as modern boilers is far more reliable) and although it costs a few pence a litre more (which he grumbled about at the time ) the freezing point is -47C, and if it gets to that point I am definitely hibernating! We put KeroMax in because it helps clean the boiler as it goes so it improves the efficiency and lifespan, because I really dont want to replace it.

Worth thinking about if you are waaay up north, even using half and half will take the freezing poiint below -20 :T

Thank you for that really good advice, apparently also when it gets really cold like this, the oil thickens too, so it can really struggle to get through the pipes. I've been advised to add paraffin to the oil, that's apparently what a lot of farmers do but I'm not sure about that. I haven't heard of keromax so will investigate. Being without heating in this is just awful.

Thanks again
DS

mrs-stressed

Another thing I have learnt is to get wood and then some more wood in the summer and keep the deliveries coming (as and when I can afford it as its £75 a load - is that expensive?) as much as I can store. I have just had a bad load and they are not giving off much heat but once I add a bit of coal then that makes it better. I had a load of wood from a friend who had five fir trees chopped down last month and once they are chopped and stacked they should be ready for next year or the year after. Its this year I am worried about. I am soooo scared about my heating bills after Xmas. I have ran out now. I have also ran out of milk, petrol, fresh veg, tinned food. Not necessarily cos of the weather but no money so hey ho! It can only get better!!!!

mrs s

rosieben

I've learnt
-(again) that its much more use to have a good store cupboard than to have money in the bank
-that I need to keep an emergency chocolate stock - a mug of hot choc is not the same!
-that I'm lucky never to have worked as a delivery driver! some of these guys are getting stick for late deliveries which is unfair

the sun is shining now

Menolly_2

I learned that our 18 month old Maine Coon who saw snow in Dec09/Jan10 was, like, "Meh" this time round and not interested, whereas our 10 month old kitten went absolutely mad in it - flinging it in the air, diving into it, you name it! If you've ever seen that wildlife film of tigers playing in the snow, then you have a good idea of what a Maine Coon kitten looks like, having the time of his little life! I laughed myself silly at his antics :rotfl:. The two oldtimers (we have 4 Maine Coons) who are 12 and 13 years old simply stayed in the warmest places in the house.

When the snow melted, PaddyKitten looked absolutely bereft........he patted the last remaining lumps and looked at me sadly. I told him not to worry, I am quite sure we will be getting more of the stuff pretty soon!

I also learned that I CAN drive DH's Volvo V70 in snow (I have no choice, as I have had to return my own car to the Fiat dealership - can't afford the payments since I was made redundant) and that in fact it is easier to drive the great big thing in snow and ice than it was to drive my Fiat500.

That Thermal Underwear is a wonderful investment.

That my breadmaker has turned out to be a real blessing - I have been using it to make the dough and then handshaping rolls and loaves!