Preparing for winter III

ScottishOstrich

Rainy-Days wrote: »

I think you might mean Red Doe and she got her fuel supply sorted out in the end, which was great news!!

!

Oh that is fantastic news and apologies for getting the name wrong.
I am having a chat with my coal man tomorrow.
For the first time since i moved here, one of my neighbours let me know i was the only person who did not have a lock on their coal bunker. He said, not that bad people have moved in, but a lot of people are opening up their old coal fires. so since i have put a lock on it, I forgot to unlock it and therefore missed my delivery of two bags. So this week, I will pay for 4 bags.
The news of snow up north this weekend is not a good one for me.
I am trying to work out my back up plans of getting to work.
Mum says i have watched the day after tomorrow too many times, but she did say thank you for the bag of rock salt i delivered yesterday.
is it wishful thinking that they are all wrong and it wont be so bad this year ?
ostrich xx

Starstream

Hi guys ,i have been a member of a weather forum for years,and the forecasters on there,particularly the site owner thermohaline conveyor are fantasticly accurate forecasters.
If you want no hype,accurate weather info then it is the place to go.
I don't wish to break any site rules,but if you were to google
met monkey forum,you would find it.

His knowledge and accuracy,is invaluable in the winter,for preparing and just knowing when snow is coming is worth it's weight in gold!
If he says you will get snow,then you will.

Also it's free,just like here x

maryb

Onionbreath wrote: »

These supermarkets are cashing in on people's fear's....save your £8 and use a garden shovel that you probably already have at least one of, or in my case use a kid's sand shovel (again we 2 of these already...and they cost 50p)

We live in the house at the bottom of a steep shared drive and I made a point of keeping the bottom of the drive as free of snow as possible last year so that our neighbours (and we, except I don't drive in snow!!) wouldn't end up skidding into the main road. Using a proper snow shovel makes a huge difference compared with a garden shovel. You need to push the snow as much as possible rather than digging it and it was comparativley easy with a snow shovel. I would say £8 is a bargain - I paid twice that and would say it was worth every penny.

I bought another one recently assuming that the neighbours I lent my spare one to last year, and who broke it, had forgotten about replacing it. The doorbell rang yesterday and it was my neighbour. He had spotted snow shovels on sale so he stocked up with four for the block of flats they live in and one for me. So now I have 3 shovels. Means I can lend one without worrying if a neighbour needs it next time we have snow. But as I said to him, that should guarantee we have a mild winter!!

rising_from_the_ashes

maryb wrote: »

I bought another one recently assuming that the neighbours I lent my spare one to last year, and who broke it, had forgotten about replacing it. The doorbell rang yesterday and it was my neighbour. He had spotted snow shovels on sale so he stocked up with four for the block of flats they live in and one for me.

That's fantastic Mary, I remember you saying a few weeks ago that they hadn't replaced it!:D

Rose_Crow

pumpkinlife wrote: »

I found this http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2011/02/body-insulation-thermal-underwear.html#more
It's about the thermal properties of clothes vs space heating. It's quite technical but interesting. I remember someone around here was asking about tog ratings and fleece and it sort of covers that, if it is any help.


Aurora

Quite an interesting read, basically wear more clothes and turn the heating down :rotfl: I work from home, and resent putting the heating on during the day (if I worked in an office the heating would be off at home) so last year I refused to put the heating on until my hands were numb and I could use the keyboard! Our house was only built in '93 so is well pretty well insulated. We find that when it's really hot, providing we keep the windows and curtains closed the house stays lovely and cool, however in the winter if we leave the heating off for any amount of time the house cools down considerably.

Quite like the look of these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/220809580023?var=520041351799&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_1718wt_1139
I had a really cheap pair of fingerless gloves but they didn't really work too well and I like the way these come further up the wrists. Obviously they have to be fingerless so I can use my computer whilst wearing them.

These ones are probably better at they're a more practical colour and better value, however I don't need 2 pairs to if someone wants to go halves with me... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370542690119?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_3632wt_1110

Rainy-Days

ScottishOstrich wrote: »

Oh that is fantastic news and apologies for getting the name wrong.
I am having a chat with my coal man tomorrow.
For the first time since i moved here, one of my neighbours let me know i was the only person who did not have a lock on their coal bunker. He said, not that bad people have moved in, but a lot of people are opening up their old coal fires. so since i have put a lock on it, I forgot to unlock it and therefore missed my delivery of two bags. So this week, I will pay for 4 bags.
The news of snow up north this weekend is not a good one for me.
I am trying to work out my back up plans of getting to work.
Mum says i have watched the day after tomorrow too many times, but she did say thank you for the bag of rock salt i delivered yesterday.
is it wishful thinking that they are all wrong and it wont be so bad this year ?
ostrich xx

Don't worry about the name at all, the fact that you remembered to ask is pretty decent of you.

We have a CCTV camera on our storage tank, not that I suspect any one would nick it, but you just never know. Thieves are targetting oil tanks allot to steal the fuel because it is so expensive to buy and they in turn sell it on again to make a profit. It is worth putting locks on your coal bunker, ours is in a locked stone shed along with the wood and I keep the key to it in a pot near the back door so when I am on my way out I can just pick it up. You might want to keep your key in a place near the back door so if you forget you are not traipsing back through the house to get it. I can pretty much open the back door and put my hand in without stepping foot inside the house!

It's a wicked thing to think that basic supplies such as coal, wood and oil are targets for thieving sc&m but that is the way we have become. One criminal even told me that he watched as someone filled up their car at the petrol station, he followed him home and then stole the fuel to his car knowing full well he had a full tank of fuel. I do believe in karma but for some it doesn't come fast enough!

Pooky

It's turned very dark and windy here, but still 19degrees so not so bad. Had my logs delivered this morning, a local chap who brought a trailer load, he and his wife stacked them all in the garage as part of the price too, looks lovely and neat. He's setting aside another load at the same price for us for later on in the year and can deliver with 2 days notice! Now that's what I call a great service.

MaxSusie

tugrin wrote: »

Susie - good luck with the interview - have you done all your preps dor that/ I always hate the bit when they ask you if you have any questions of your own and I go totally blank and look like a dur brain.

I have thank you. I've also spent the entire afternoon doing an application form for a job back where I was made redundant from. It's a different contract and guaranteed for 5 years so am hoping like mad it comes off. My ex boss seems very keen to get me back and I've just emailed him the form to 'pretty up' before I send it in on Friday In answer to your question I always used to advise people to ask the following at interviews when they get to the dreaded 'Have you got any questions bit'

1. When will I find out if I've been successful?

2. Is there a company pension scheme?

3. What progressions are available for me to work towards within the company?

4. Does the company have any plans for expansion/recruitment in the near future? (Just a nosy one really but it really impresses!)

Hope this helps someone. You are all such angels for remembering about me :A

abankerbutnotafatcat wrote: »

Hello everyone, my first post on this thread.

:wave: Hi and welcome to a lovely thread with loads of fab advice. You're doing much better than I am on the prep well done!

maryb wrote: »

I bought another one recently assuming that the neighbours I lent my spare one to last year, and who broke it, had forgotten about replacing it. The doorbell rang yesterday and it was my neighbour. He had spotted snow shovels on sale so he stocked up with four for the block of flats they live in and one for me. So now I have 3 shovels. Means I can lend one without worrying if a neighbour needs it next time we have snow. But as I said to him, that should guarantee we have a mild winter!!

:T Well done on your neighbour for remembering!

Hope everyone is well? No luck with the curtains yesterday but I'm ever hopeful The forecast here for tomorrow is for 11degs (Can't do those little circle thingies ) and very windy. DH & I have been in the garden this morning and tied a decent sized piece of plastic over the bbq, stacked the chairs on each other and dismantled the table. I didn't have any pots this year as I couldn't afford them but at least it saved me a job of sorting them all out now.

I've found a pattern for crochet hot water bottle covers and have lots of random wool in my stash so some interesting colour ways will be created :rotfl: I read on here somewhere about extreme crochet. You use several strands of yarn and a large hook and am thinking about giving it a go. It'll grow quickly which'll stop me getting bored. Hopefully I'll come up with some sort of colour schemes - blues, yellows/oranges, reds etc so everyone will have their own.

notjustlaura

MaxSusie wrote: »

...In answer to your question I always used to advise people to ask the following at interviews when they get to the dreaded 'Have you got any questions bit'

1. When will I find out if I've been successful?

2. Is there a company pension scheme?

3. What progressions are available for me to work towards within the company?

4. Does the company have any plans for expansion/recruitment in the near future? (Just a nosy one really but it really impresses!)...

I'm not in the job market at the moment but shall remember these should the need arise in the future. I always hated the 'any questions' bit when I was looking for work and often just muttered 'I think we've covered everything, thanks.' Which I'm sure wasn't good!

suki1964

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!!

That really warmed me reading that:)