Preparing for winter III

Quasar

Ohhhh today I bought two LARGE fleecy blankets in Primark for £12 each. They're the softest, warmest things I've ever touched. When it gets really cold I';ll put one under the bottom sheet and one in place of the top sheet as they feel wonderfully warm and cosy against the skin.

shirleymarye

I went over to Antartex in Alexandria,Dunbartonshire yesterday and they were selling off Yankee tarts for 60p and the small votives for 87p,this was in the EWM part. I was very tempted but I checked my candles the day before and have 2 very full carrier bags already!

Pooky

I'm a big fan of Yankee candles and we have a branch in a local outlet village - got a large jar of "berry passion" for £12 instead of £19......it smells divine. They also had lucky bags for £3.99 so I took a chance and got one....2 glass tealights (apple scented), 2 small pillar candles (clean linen and lemon zest), 2 tarts (candycorn and a mulled cider) and a sage and lime car air freshener! I was very impressed for the money.

Anyway - I can't remember who mentioned coals 2 u but I ordered from them last Friday afternoon, got a phone call on the Saturday to say they'd deliver on Monday (they then called Monday morning as the driver was off sick and rearranged for Tuesday). We weren't in for delivery but it was stacked neatly at the top of the drive. Very impressed with their communications and price. I ordered 10 x 25kg (can't remember which coal it was but wasn't the cheapest) and it was £106 including delivery. Considering our local home base were charging £8.99 for 10kg I feel as though I've been very MSE!

bohemia

Saw this on groupon. It's not a national deal but they deliver to your door so it could be. It's for those warm blanket things.

http://www.groupon.co.uk/deals/west-london/matching-bedrooms/1346582

(I hope it's ok to post links like this...?)

Toonie

toottifrootti wrote: »

I know its off topic but I just wanted to wish Toonie the very best of good luck for the flat she is after. It will be great to have your own place and be able to move on - big bonus on the double glazing and I am sure with a little thought and female ingenuity you will over come the storage and freezer problems - smaller places are easier to heat so smaller bills:T- what about putting the freezer in the bedroom or the hallway-with a pretty cloth over it you could use it as a table or something? and you can store your tins under the bed - on top of cupboards - single tins fit in lots of places:rotfl:will be keeping everything crossed foryou.

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Keeping everything crossed Toonie:) - as Tooti said earlier, you'll find little nooks & crannies to store stuff in and it sounds like it'd be economical which will be fantastic.

Thanks, still haven't heard whether we've got it yet, but I'm thinking that if the credit checks had come back unfavourable, we would know about it sooner...so still crossing everything-not sure if I'll be able to uncross them after this amount of time.

It's a bright, crisp morning here and I'm off to a Halloween party later, it's supposed to be fancy dress, but I do really do fancy dress, so I'm baking a cake and will go as a "cook".

Winter wise, my Mum has given me some more of her old flannel sheets, lovely and warm, so that will be good and I'm on the look out for some new PJs as mine have holes in (they've lasted 15 years, so maybe it's time to renew them). I want to get flannel ones again, is that what "brushed cotton" is? Also, any recommendations for good ones?

Fruball

Toonie wrote: »

Thanks, still haven't heard whether we've got it yet, but I'm thinking that if the credit checks had come back unfavourable, we would know about it sooner...so still crossing everything-not sure if I'll be able to uncross them after this amount of time.

It's a bright, crisp morning here and I'm off to a Halloween party later, it's supposed to be fancy dress, but I do really do fancy dress, so I'm baking a cake and will go as a "cook".

Winter wise, my Mum has given me some more of her old flannel sheets, lovely and warm, so that will be good and I'm on the look out for some new PJs as mine have holes in (they've lasted 15 years, so maybe it's time to renew them). I want to get flannel ones again, is that what "brushed cotton" is? Also, any recommendations for good ones?

You can't go wrong with Pr!mark PJs - They wash and wear really well - I go a size up so I can tumble dry them when needed without fear that they will shrink too much - to be fair, they hardly shrink at all anyway, even in the tumble.

Bought some PJs from Marks & S about a year ago - label said they could be tumble dried - shrank so much I can't wear them :mad:

Yes, brushed cotton is the same as flannel/flannelette

singlestep

Finally managed to get the freezer drawers open. It was much easier to see in daylight and one of them was actually quite straightforward. With the top drawer, I did have to use a knitting needle and kitchen knife, which I wouldn't recommend. Then I pulled as hard as I could and next thing I knew I was flat on my back (not easy in my narrow kitchen) with a drawer and its contents - chilli, soup, potato waffles, stew, part-baked baguettes, pork chops and frozen pizza - all over the place (and me). :rotfl:

I was a little winded but I have learned my lesson about leaving room for expansion and using plastic tubs for soup.

I've decided to look for a new handbag for mum for Christmas as the only one she has that she can use is getting a bit past its best and it was only ever meant to be a stop-gap while on holiday years ago. Due to health problems, she needs a very light-weight bag and even this can get too much for her. Does anyone have any ideas as to where to start looking? I've thought of Kipling as their bags are light, easy to open and have decent straps that help distribute the weight but she does prefer leather and their leather bags aren't cheap! I'd not mind paying it but she'd go spare if she thought I'd spent too much. I'm going to have a good look later, though - it might just be a matter of finding the right one.

pigpen

toottifrootti wrote: »

Hi Pigpen xx

what about the halogen heaters - I got a 2KW one yesterday in dunelm for 9.99 - the glow puts me off a bit but it is very effective and safe - and cheaper to run.

I am not sure on the coal front hopefully someone else can help there.

She likes the fan ones.. I darent suggest introducing a "new" thing.. you know what these mothers are like :eek:


thanks though xx

prepareathome

I know this is really off topic in one way, but not in another - here is the link to all the energy companies offering help on the Warm Home Discount Scheme

http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/funding/whds/whd_broader/whd_broader.aspx

- if you are accepted you will receive a one off payment sometime between Jan and March - so not exactly preparing for winter as in stocks but is in way of ensuring you can pay winter fuel bills. I just phone British Gas who we are with and have been told I am accepted on scheme due to low income ( and if I do not get ESA - form arrived today it will be even lower gulp). So worth a look by everyone, even if you think you are not entitled you might find you are.

Good Luck

If this should be posted to another board can someone point me in the right direction, there are so many boards I just get lost trying to find my way around and never seem to put in the right search terms to find the boards I want to - although at last managed to find the monthly grocery challenge one for November )

CH27

I've just been to the garden centre. I bought no plants but got some Yankee tealights.
I got Autumn Berries which is really rich & Christmas Rose which is divine.
I've put the Christmas Rose ones away until nearer xmas.