Preparing for winter III

Rainy-Days

I have managed to get five of the cordylines into the shed this afternoon. I have another three that I need to repot and put away but I will get those done tomorrow.

I have done nearly all of the pansies into the pots and I have done a small hanging basket of pansies for near the back door to at least cheer the place up. It all looks so barren now all the summer plants have gone

I have swept up a bit and get rid of a good amount of leaves but there are still more to come down yet!

ifonlyitwaseasier

Frugal - well my way lasts longer, i put on about 8-10 lumps at a time, whereas "mr chuck it" probably puts on double,

it stays as hot my way and i use less but i have tried to explain it to them and get blank stares....

rising_from_the_ashes

Well.... two pretty momentous steps have been taken today in my "preparing".....

1) The heating is on downsairs - couldn't hang on any longer, it's only got up to just over 5 deg outside at it's warmest today and the house got down to 11 deg:eek: - I can't move around to keep warm so ......

2) The winter towels have been brought out - the summer ones are defrosting along the top of the downstairs radiators after being flung around in the icy wind all day:) and I think they'll be heading into the cupboard until the spring.

Have just popped upstairs and turned on the bathroom radiator to take the chill off in there (will be going back off again after I'm finished) and turned the hw up - going to thaw out my feet in the bath as they've been like blocks of ice all day (despite having on 2 pairs of wool socks & 1 pair of slipper socks).


I've got patio doors in the lounge which really let in the cold, the curtains are shut all day when I'm at work (so the dog doesn't get disturbed with what's happening outside) but they're open just now as I'm at home - sure this hasn't helped with trying to keep the house warm:mad:.

But, I don't think I could handle them being shut all day when I'm here as it'd be really depressing:( mmmmmm not sure how to solve that one!:huh:

suzybloo

Another couple of things off my list today -had a delivery of thermal vests and a delivery of fleece insoles, so thats my bod and toes taken care of. Did ponder over Markies ones as they were so expensive, relented though and emptied the terramundi to pay for them LOL! Put the soles in my walking boots before me and dgs went for a walk this afternoon.
Need to get the door curtains up asap, have still to pick them up from my sis and alter them.

D&DD

I've broken in my new hiking boots over the last few weeks might be worth adding to your list if you have new boots for the winter..you don't want to be trying to walk too far in new ones if the weather suddenly turns,or do I just have puny feet

I've had the heating on again today and really noticing the drop in temps now as the sun goes down brr.

Linda
I bought some cheap thermal socks last year from Sports direct and they are lovely and warm but do tend to slip under my feet in my wellies the hiking socks I got at the same time which were also really cheap are much better and tbh just as warm

Rainy-Days

I forgot to tell you all - that massive pallet of snow shovels in Asda on Monday night has pretty much gone down to about 20 or so left. Colleague went and got one on his way into work this morning, said he was getting some funny looks as he specifically only bought this and went through the fast pay till. He said he didn't care, but given that there was a full pallet and it is now dwindled down to almost nothing, kind of tells you that people are really thinking we are in for a dumping of the white stuff otherwise at £8.00 they wouldn't have bought one.

I was in the garden until 4.30pm and the temperature suddenly dropped like a stone and I was whizzing around getting things done and tidying up, so I was quite warm. I am glad that looking around the house and garden, it shows all the hard work we have put in over these last few months. We are - fingers crossed - ready for winter. I also wrapped up the potatoes in the garage with an old piece of carpet too.

tiff

I bought Snow trax in Asda today for a Christmas present, and they were nearly all gone too. Bought them for my BIL who is a courier, self employed and out in all weathers.

rising_from_the_ashes

Rainy-Days wrote: »

I forgot to tell you all - that massive pallet of snow shovels in Asda on Monday night has pretty much gone down to about 20 or so left. Colleague went and got one on his way into work this morning, said he was getting some funny looks as he specifically only bought this and went through the fast pay till. He said he didn't care, but given that there was a full pallet and it is now dwindled down to almost nothing, kind of tells you that people are really thinking we are in for a dumping of the white stuff otherwise at £8.00 they wouldn't have bought one.

Thanks Rainy - I was going to do an online order from Mr A next week and stick in some of the ice gripper things for your shoes .... might just do it tonight/tomorrow now.

Well, have thawed out in the bath and now have on even more layers;) - sitting around makes it practically impossible to keep warm - I WANT TO DO SOME HOUSEWORK!:o

I've stuck on one of my "work" winter jumpers as an extra layer and am very glad I did - I've had these for many years and was hoping they would do another winter ... but sadly they're not "fit for the office" and will now be relegated to "house wear".

Had a quick look at my catalogue and they're doing 3 for 2 on soft v-necked jumpers and also found a reduced pair of trousers which will also do for work. I had some "rewards" available so got the lot for under £30!:) (not bad when the full price would've been £70 - I never buy anything full price from the catalogue as they mark up so much but find it competative when the offers/reductions are on, especially as it's free delivery and to go to "proper shops" costs a lot in fuel).


I've also bought 3 pairs of leggings from e*bay (£12.62 incl p&p) so hopefully they'll do to keep my pins warm when out with the dog in the mornings.

So ..... added to the tubs and the additional power surge protector I bought this morning - it's been a very spendy day:o (but have a lot of stuff for the money IYSWIM)

pigpen

Winter prep list for Pigpen

I need to..

*make door curtains for front and back door
*Draft tape ALL the doors and the remaining 4 non-DG windows.. tape arrived!!! My bedroom window done.. it made a huge difference.. but I needed extra double sided tape
*get blinds cut to size and put up in the kitchen
*Boots for DD3.. just found some size 4 in my stash.. saved some £s and DGS 9/9.5F
*make draught snakes for back, front and french doors... I have a pattern finally
*make linings for boys room curtains and put up their blind

Have already.

*wash and sorted everyones winter coats
* sorted shoes for everyone and boots for most.
*Washed windows
*put up back room curtains
*Get guttering replaced back and front
*Get quotes for DD2's bedroom window and back room bay window so I can save up for them to be replaced in the new year... these are now being replaced in TODAY AND TOMORROW!
*get new locks for front and back door and get the back door one in the french doors
*get curtains back up at the french doors.. they blew a hooley through there last winter!
*get girls room plastered..
*make sure everyone has hats, scarves, gloves & vests..
* stove kettle for power cuts.. which we get a LOT of!!

Adding a shopping list.

* curtains tracks for front and back doors
* Boots for DGS (9/9.5F)
* Plastic carpet protector for hallway.. it is getting grotty and was hideous last winter with leaves and mud etc.
* coal/logs .. in case of dead boilers we WILL have heat!
* snow shovel is a good idea.. might help OH with snowman building!
* Refill medicine cupboard.. calpol, tixylix, ibuprofen, cocodamol, day/night nurse capsules, anbesol, infacol, savlon cream, lip balm, strepsils, vicks sinex, rennies,
* Wind up light
* Battery charger

Idiot questions...

What is the rough and vague price for coal??? I want to get a couple of bags for those just in cases and power cuts.. a nice fire also provides light and I am happy enough to sleep down here with the baby if it is freezing upstairs

protective doormat/runner for the hallway and kitchen.. where is best to get them of a decent quality? The plastic clear stuff was on ebay but the reviews were awfu.. ditto Amazon.. I am not averse to a carpetty runner type thing.. recommend me something!!

oh.. electric fan heater.. I want one for my mother 2Kw min. has anyone seen any bargainous ones anywhere????

bluebag

I bet that now we are all prepared, shoveled up, yaktrakked, wellied and buried in dishwasher salt we will get half an inch of snow for two days, it would be just typical!