Preparing for winter III

rising_from_the_ashes

A def feel that winter's arriving today - been a max of 5 deg and there's a bitter wind. Been raining / howling gale all day but thankfully no sign of snow yet

Got a free kit bag thing (like a gym bag with a drawstring - not sure what you call them) at the sm the other day - they were giving them away to promote the Prepare for Winter Scotland info.

Wasn't sure that I could find a use for it - but never one to turn down a freebie!;)

Anyway, it's now safely in the car with a spare hat, gloves, scarf and thick socks in - which should make finding them a lot easier in an emergency.

Still need to buy/stick in some emergency rations which I'll must sort out at the weekend - haven't got any choc bars etc yet:eek: and then that'll be the car totally sorted.



For heating - I've reset the minimum temp on the thermostat to 12 deg which I believe is the min to stop the house getting too cold & taking ages / costing loads to heat up.

I tend to flick it up to 20 when I come in but sometimes have to turn up a bit further as the [STRIKE]idiot[/STRIKE] person who fitted it decided to put it above the radiator in the hall :mad:.... not the best place as it turns off before the rest of the house warms up at all.

Luckily I don't like it warm upstairs (only have radiators on frost protection setting) and I have the gas fire in the lounge which I use to warm it up a bit if it's cold in there (only takes about 5 mins with the door shut:)).

cleggie

After having had the flu for the past 3 days, i have also decided to stock up on medicines and multi vits!

PixieDust

no chocolate?? :eek: Sacre bleu!!!!

rising_from_the_ashes

PixieDust wrote: »

no chocolate?? :eek: Sacre bleu!!!!

Well, there's a 1/2 eaten box of After 8's left from last Christmas but ......

I'm not a big choc person and tend to eat one now & then but a choc cake wouldn't last a day!;)

Pooky

Still no heating on here although we did find a leaky radiator (we've only been here 3 months so still finding stuff out). my dad has turned it off completely and as we've got 3 other rads in the same room (through loung/diner) it won't be missed and we will sort it in the new year.

Man over the road is a builder and keeps putting his wood offcuts/scrap out the front, he told us to take what we want and that his friend picks some up now and then if he's passing.....I leave it a day or two but if it's still there I've got it chopped and bagged up in the garage within the hour! Can't go turning down free heat!

Solar panels are being fitted on the 2nd of December so really keen to see what difference it will make (not that we've had a winter here yet to compare to)

I've got a two week supply of tinned/dried goods in storage, some long life milk and a couple of huge bottles of water......plenty of frozen veggies/meat in the freezer to pad it out with.

So apart from the last couple of Christmas presents that I'm waiting to be delivered, I'm set!!!!

rising_from_the_ashes

Now I've thought about putting the gas fire on, it's reminded me of a wee issue I've not managed to resolve in 5 years of living here:o

Probably won't explain this well so please say if it doesn't make sense! OK, here goes!:D

The fire is lit / adjusted by a turning circle knob thing (sorry!) at the side - I click and hold and the pilot flame comes on and can then adjust up or down.

I can fully turn off - or leave with just the pilot flame on (supposedly in case there is a power cut as the front of the gas fire is sealed so I can't light it with a match etc).

However, I never leave it on the pilot flame (and hate the thought of doing so) as worried that one of the cats may knock the knob thing and turn the fire right up.


Any suggestions for something I could put over the knob to stop it being turned?

If that makes no sense at all (which I think it might not!) I could take a pic if no one would mind me posting it?

I did have a quick hunt to find a link to one but all the ones I could find only showed the front view and you couldn't see a knob anywhere!

runnerbean17

Interesting reading about the weather today 1 expert says bad weather coming Daily Mail says mild winter :rotfl: I'll stick my neck on the line and go with the first..

Think I've got everything I need but going to get a few extra bits in this weekend to top up the freezer then it can snow as much as it likes

k66yla

Hi all, its been a while since I was here last (too tired after work). I've done no more prep....yet. I'm thinking of buying a heater for the front room, nothing flashy/expensive. Just want something to warm up the room. I use to have a gas fire in here but the landlord removed it when they upgraded the boiler. Can anyone recommend one?

Everyone talking about temperatures made me think about a meeting we had at work yesterday concerning the winter weather.
Manager....we will suspend service when the temperature drops to what we believe is an unacceptable level.
Me.....what do you class as an unacceptable level?
Manager........minus 20
:eek:
glad I bought my snow boots :rotfl:

salome

Hi

I now have a new laptop, my other one died on me :-(
Lot's of knitting the go at the moment, pressies and all sorts :-)
Have been doing a scarf, looked at it this morning, and thought I couldn't be bothered with it, and was going to unpick it. Dinner time I picked it up and did some more, and have decided to keep going.
Ordered some patchwork for beginners books today, going to learn to do it with my 24yr old, who has been wanting to have a go for a while now. I did do some when I was 12. My gran taught me. I went to stay with her and grandad when the schools went on strike in the early 70's, and she was doing some. To keep me occupied, she taught me, and I quite enjoyed it :-) Didn't do any after that lol. Think all the talk of teachers going on strike must have re-kindled something, and made me want to have a go again lol.
Have a blessed and prosperous weekend. Hugs to all in need ((((hugs))))

x

toottifrootti

mardatha wrote: »

Winter's started here, we have sleety snow and gales. My poor wee chickens!

Same here - I think I am in your neck of the woods so to speak - but not so high up - its only 2 degrees here at the moment and has been bitter all day.

rising depends on how you feel about the way it looks but what about something like a rigid yoghurt pot taped in place - would that sort of thing work?

I have had a very very very very busy day and totally cream crackered but have acheived loads thanks to the help of a lovely friend - Landlord was also here and sorted the door curtain rail and the bath and all my dud bulbs

My best friend and her hubby were here in the am and brought me the tree they were changing and its now up, lit and decorated in the conservatory - I know its early but I am into hospital on the 6th so wanted to enjoy it a bit more before and it would all be here to come back to and not my usual scrambling to get it done when I get out.

Got a lovely wee fire from B&Q which fits in my heart and makes the room all cosy with its glow - its only for backup in the severe cold.
New curtains went up in sitting room - all sorts of stuff done and it all looks cosy and inviting.

will update my list. there's not a lot on the prep side but loads done on my re-organising list!!

Winter Checklist

Clothes
Polish all shoes and boots

House and garden
get chimney swept and checked if suitable for using 20/12
Clean your home - Including Washing all light units and glass shades in the house
[STRIKE]get door curtains hung[/STRIKE]
Clear away all fallen leaves
get draught excluder for the front door
Clean windows inside and out
[STRIKE]keep a torch on standby and use in emergency.[/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
meal plan

Left To Purchase that I know of!
hot water bottle covers (hoping I might make them)
compost
rugs
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 but would survive with what I have I think.

another few Christmas presents sorted today as well so a very productive and satisfying day - would someone please remind me of that tomorrow when I ache all over:rotfl:
toots xx