Preparing for winter III

Confuzzled

ok so tenative reports on my dehumidifier, ran it for about 2 hours, room didn't feel any different to me other than a bit warmer which the thermometer confirmed, the RH was dropped by 2% though and when i poured out the water from the resevoir it filled a standard sized coffee mug to the brim!

wow!

so tonight i shall be putting on some washing and using the dehumidifier overnight on cheap electric and see how it goes, just it not the storage heater as we really don't need the heat it was really uncomfortable last time, felt like a sauna in here... hope this works i have at least 3 loads worth backed up!

CH27

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Hi everyone - way behind on the thread so apologies & I will try to catch up (lost my darling dog last week and struggling with a few things).

Anyway, finally managed to get a portable radio yesterday after forgetting for around 3 months:o.

Mr Ts have them for £8.97 if anyone's still in need - nice and small but I've managed to get a great reception (no mean feat as surrounded by hills here & can't get a telly signal).

HTH

Sending you a dodgy hug:grouphug:

tugrin

So sorry rising- its one of the most difficult things -saying goodbye to a beloved pet and so many people just don't understand. Remember the Rianbow bridge- you friend will be waiting for you.x

prepareathome

cosmomo wrote: »

I know what you mean! I have ventured into acrylic for the first time to knit 'Weasley' jumpers for my children for Christmas (should save on the heating bills if they wear them!!). But it's just not the same as real wool...

!

I was very lucky in that when my children were small in the 1980's real wool was still cheap so I would spend all summer knitting their woolies in real wool for the winter, it became a tradition in the family that the first time they wore them was bonfire night as it was my night off and hubby would take all over 2 ( sounds like I had hundreds, I had 3) out to see firework display and then go to Maccies ( was a big treat then as was so expensive way back). In winter I would start knitting the lightweight woolies for spring and summer. That all stopped once they reached teenage years and would not be seen in HM. Grandchildren are dressed by Next etc as HM except hats, mitts and scarves are not chic. My 12 year old GD has asked me to knit her a hat in black with a white scull on it eeks and she likes black nail varnish, have we a goth in the making. So got to look online and order some black wool, and as she is older will knit it in real wool as part of her Christmas present - an excuse to buy real wool :rotfl:

Still mild here although air definitely has a chill in the air, I look forward to thermometer arriving tomorrow ( had dispatch notice) to see what temp outside and inside really is, but no heating on and at moment do not need anything bar short sleeves.

Oh another sack of flour has been added to my stores, son got me one of self raising flour 16kg for £6.30. This will be shared with a couple of friends but one on her own will just buy from me when she wants some - hubby dropping her off 1kg tonight for 40p. Its crazy how this is a bit dearer than the bread flour yet other way round in the shops, I think it shows just how much they mark up bread flour and wholemeal. Bought some sturdy storage containers today, 50L ones with lids to store the flour in and phew was right size as self raising now its been opened is in there sack and all, I doubt I will store it in there without the sack. Only bought two ( 2 for £10 and £5.99 each) so will buy more on Saturday. Son now under orders to price the sugar that comes in 25kg sacks, I at moment can buy it for 79kg so will see what price his firm says.

LavenderBees

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Hi everyone - way behind on the thread so apologies & I will try to catch up (lost my darling dog last week and struggling with a few things).
HTH

So sorry to hear this, Rising. It's an awful thing to have to go through, and my heart goes out to you. Over the years, I've lost a few darling dogs and cats, and it never gets easier, but each one lives on in my heart. Take good care of yourself and remember, you gave your darling dog a lovely life. Couldn't ask for more, I'm sure.:grouphug:

Quasar

I'm still waiting for the arctic weather that keeps being predicted. I'm completely ready, fleeces and boots and shoe-chains and whatnot, and today I splashed on a fleece lined hat at Poundstretcher, £3.99, feels like it will me warm as toast. Oh well, the warmer it is, the less money goes on heating I suppose...

toottifrootti

evening winter preppies xx

its blowing a gale here tonight so it feels wintery!

rising huge squishy hugs for your loss - they are family I dont care what anyone says but they will always live in your heart.
confuzzled - thank you so much for talking about your steamer - mine has been buried in the corner cupboard since I moved here and before that I used it almost daily - I am annoyed at myself for forgetting - that a job for this weekend to dig it out and start using it - I am not a cook so find being able to stick things in the separate tiers great and its very economical. I did wonder about using the 'stock' for soups so you have helped me there too.

got more of the Christmas shopping done and a bit more prep (by accident) so the list is shrinking even if slowly!!!


Winter Checklist

Clothes
[STRIKE]Find cosy jumpers and cardigans[/STRIKE]
Polish all shoes and boots

Food
[STRIKE]Make a start on your Christmas food shopping list, allot of it can be frozen.[/STRIKE]

House and garden
get chimney swept and checked if suitable for using 20/12
[STRIKE]get electric fire for sitting room[/STRIKE]
Clean your home - Including Washing all light units and glass shades in the house
get door curtains hung
Clear away all fallen leaves
get draught excluder for the front door
Clean windows inside and out
keep a torch on standby and use in emergency.
[STRIKE]Buy in Flannelette sheets. [/STRIKE] [STRIKE]wash and dry your sheets to remove the preservative that the manufacturers use to keep them damp and mildew free.[/STRIKE]
Think about treating the bird table
Oil all shed and gates locks, it will prevent rust and stop them seizing up when you most need to open them.
Wash your vacuum cleaner filters out. It will help with your HEPA filter and keep your home cleaner as well, it will also make your vacuum work and perform better.
Put food out for the birds they will so thank you for it. Buy in their food now while it is plentiful.
Paint the gates and the hand rail
Clean and polish wheelchair - remember to charge even when not in use
Finish tidying in the garage
find leaks in garage
deal with leaks in garage
fill in holes/ cracks etc
Clean windows
find torches
rug for kitchen
rugs for both bedrooms
rug for conservatory
rug for the hall
look for 2nd hand airer as extra for garage
batch cook for freezer

Left To Purchase that I know of!
hot water bottle covers (hoping I might make them)
compost
[STRIKE]flannelette sheets[/STRIKE]
rugs
[STRIKE]Hammerite black paint to finish off the gates![/STRIKE]
food and cleaning materials and loo roll:eek:
matches

hopefully thats it:rotfl:
unless anyone can see something I might have missed - I still have to do a little more food shopping too.

toots xx

Quasar

LOL toots, anything at all left to chance?

Oh, another thing I did last week. I bought two fleecy blankets from Primark, large ones, and use them instead of sheets as they feel sooo warm on the skin and don't strike cold when I get in bed. Besides, they wash well and dry fairly quickly.

prepareathome

toottifrootti wrote: »

!matches [/FONT]

I knew I needed something else today - :T so top of my list for tomorrow or Saturday

I am so glad I have really stocked up this winter as today hubby and all other drivers were called into a meeting. They were told work is looking for 8 people to take redundancy and if none come forward they will choose......hubby has been there 11 years but in 2004/5 he was off for 8 months, second time slipped disc and sciatica and they medically discharged him, they took him back when he was ok, but as it stands he is second last in. So my winter stock might become my survival stock. They did say the would evaluate everyone look at points on license ( thankfully clear) taking days off a lot ( rarely off) and complaints from customers ( one or two but only one was his fault, did not leave enough papers, others office mix - up) so as horrible as it sounds we can only hope some of the other 108 drivers have more black marks against them than he has, as job might be part time but its money coming in and more importantly giving him self respect and at 57 not much chance of finding another job.

I used to always try to be prepared for any emergenices that might crop up in home but let health problems drag me away and got so lazy, so am very, very glad you were all here to help me get on the right road again.

i did a freezer inventory on Tuesday night and found I have 60 main parts of meals in - fish, meat etc not quite enough veg, pasta or rice to go with them, but with the flour could make plenty of bread, would not have so many without all of you and house is ready, all little jobs done so if worst happens we are starting off better prepared than many.

:A all of you

LavenderBees

prepareathome wrote: »

I am so glad I have really stocked up this winter as today hubby and all other drivers were called into a meeting. They were told work is looking for 8 people to take redundancy and if none come forward they will choose....../QUOTE]

I have everything crossed that your hubby's job is fine. And also hope that you aren't both kept in limbo for too long - the not knowing and uncertainty is a dreadful place to be. But well done for beng so prepared! I'm well impressed! :T

x