Preparing for winter III

mi_jardin

I just thought I would share, I went into Halfords to buy some de-icer for the coming months, and it was bogof. I got two 500ml trigger spray bottles for just £1.99, worth stocking up if you are passing.

bravobeastie

Clas Ohlson (Merry Hill) had the lightweight snow shovels for £3.99 when I went in on Sunday!

singlestep

Congratulations, darkrev!

Am so glad my freezer is full and will require minimal re-stocking, and the bulk of my preparations made. My work schedule is shaping up to be scary (not really a complaint ...yet).

I really can't abide anything in my tea/coffee but skimmed milk. I'm not a big fan of any other dairy products but that is my one big pet hate about sharing a fridge at work - people opening/finishing my carton especially. My French flatmate also used to think nothing of finishing my fresh carton and replacing it with UHT - the only thing that ever drew me in to the screaming arguments my flatmates would have with each other. Those were the days! :rotfl:I do have small cartons 'acquired' from when I've been out more for other people than me.

fluffymuffin123

Evening All :wave:

I have baked my banana bread and the house smells sweet and extreamly bananary now..

This evening has quickly become very autumnal and dark clouds have appeared on the horizon. It's official...Summer has left the building..!!

Whilst going over my list of things to do with regards to my winter preperations, I have been thinking about what happened a few years ago, when one afternoon we had a almighty dumping of unexpected snow and many people were stranded on motorways and stuck at work with no way to get home.

My Mum and Dad were travelling home from work at 4pm, they were both told to go home early as the snow was really coming down heavy and fast. The journey usually takes 15 minutes at the most. Over 6 hours later they arrived home, cold, hungry and tired.

While they waited in the traffic they phoned me. I live in the same street.. They were worried about their cats at home and needed me to go and find out if everything was OK and feed them.. (it was ok:))

So, my thought was this, do we all have a "Plan B" should the snow hit the fan?? does a trusted neighbour or friend have a key? could they pop in to check on pets or generally check to make sure things are ok while you are delayed? Maybe someone could look in on older children who are home after school as it might be some while before you get home? It might be an idea to have their phone numbers handy just in case. Even if a slow cooker has been put on for the day, a six hour delay means you might not have any edible dinner left. It's just something I thought of, a little extreme maybe, but it could happen. :eek:

Thriftkitten

D&DD wrote: »

Having a quick sit down during a baking marathon..
Oliver I'm a carer too Have you been in touch with your council re the grit/salt ours gave every household a free bag last year.
Hi I'm a carer also and worry about being able to get to my elderly clients, I currently live on a very steep hill which was a total nightmare last year, could you please let me know the story of free grit/salt as I'd be interested to have a bag of this for getting to work in the early mornings.;)

rising_from_the_ashes

fluffymuffin123 wrote: »

So, my thought was this, do we all have a "Plan B" should the snow hit the fan?? does a trusted neighbour or friend have a key? could they pop in to check on pets or generally check to make sure things are ok while you are delayed?

This happened to me last year - was waiting and waiting for a bus and panicking about the dog needing a wee .... my best pal has a spare key and is only around 5 miles up the road but it might as well have been 50 with the weather like that.:eek:

Managed to get home OK that night and asked my neighbours if they'd mind holding a key "just in case" - got one cut the next day and when the same thing happened the next week and I phoned to ask if she'd mind popping in, her DS said she'd just gone over as she'd seen I hadn't got home yet..... they've still got the keys as I feel a lot more "secure" knowing they're right on the doorstep should anything happen again.:D

oldtractor wrote: »

re Horse, I have 2. have been a horse owner for 40 years. never any money dont go on holiday dont go out for meals second hand everything...............but, I wouldnt and couldnt live without them. Its a very special relationship.

Rainy-Days wrote: »

It is and yes most people who own horses are not the sloaney rich types just ordinary people who are a bit broke but have a unique affinity with these wonderful creatures. I wouldn't be without my two either and everytime I hear the biggest one call to me first thing in the morning when he hears my footsteps it just makes my day. If DH walks down not a shout, me big neighs and kicks on his door or gate!! I affectionately refer to them as my fag and beer money!!

I still miss mine so much:( - it's my dream that one day I will be in a position to have another....

ETA: maybe I should start a "horse fund" to kick my butt into action!

Jedilibrarian

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

I got the folding one on e*bay - it's like this one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Emergency-Folding-Snow-Shovel-Camping-Digging-Spade-/130533931172?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1e646db8a4 (:eek: that's a weird link, hope it works ..... there are some cheaper ones but thought this one looked reasonably sturdy).

Bought! Thank you

oldtractor

rising from the ashes ,yes do start a fund. One of mine was rescued from the meat man, he only cost me £210. He is a yearling. The other was a bit more but not much. Hes LOVELY. I am fortunate in that I own my own yard and paddocks, we make hay but buy in straw and a hard feed. then theres the farrier and vet fees ,wormers etc. I wouldnt be without them, they are very special.

deb68_2

darkrev wrote: »

I havent quite started to make anything yet, got married yesterday lol and waiting till I see some bargain fleece or material remnants to get going, but I've had a quick run through and its all good !:rotfl::T

Congratulations hope you have a long happy life together
xx

singlestep

fluffymuffin123 wrote: »

I have been thinking about what happened a few years ago, when one afternoon we had a almighty dumping of unexpected snow and many people were stranded on motorways and stuck at work with no way to get home.
...
So, my thought was this, do we all have a "Plan B" should the snow hit the fan??

Good idea

We had plenty of time to worry about this at work last winter when we had to stay overnight and people were worried about childcare arrangements, extended family and pets. Some people walked for five hours or more to get home because there was no public transport and even the busiest roads were blocked. None of us had experienced that kind of sudden dump of snow in that part of the country before but I think we are all better prepared for such an eventuality now!

Another thing we have in place is a texting list: should it happen again there should hopefully be fewer frantic 'where are you?/did you get home safely?'-type messages because everybody is buddied with two other people and not trying to contact 20 or more other people asking the same thing (we all check in when we do get home). We've only used it in order to arrange an impromptu night out and check people got back safely for rather different reasons, but it does work. Whether it'd be the same when the networks are struggling to cope with sudden intense volume of similarly frantic texts/calls is a different matter.