Preparing for winter III

PixieDust

We have a camping lamp in the house for emergencies, it runs on small butane gas cylinders and gives off a LOT of light

Looks like this: http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=butane+camping+lamp&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1366&bih=649&tbm=isch&tbnid=fQG56FnkozY_OM:&imgrefurl=http://www.shopzilla.co.uk/8B--Camping_Hiking_Equipment_-_cat_id--13748__keyword--butane%2Bcamping%2Bgas%2Bcartridge&docid=3zOhr1ha0gn1zM&itg=1&imgurl=http://image.shopzilla.co.uk/resize%253Fsq%253D80%2526uid%253D1707247870&w=80&h=80&ei=jfvUTr7CJdGhOqzixFU&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1019&vpy=372&dur=165&hovh=74&hovw=74&tx=72&ty=37&sig=115436703154234883230&page=1&tbnh=74&tbnw=74&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:12,s:0

[Deleted User]

Eliza wrote: »

Having just had power restored after a 5 hour blackout I realise that what I really need is decent emergency lighting. As this is the second power cut in so many days, I can see a fun winter coming!!
Liz

omg, I was just in the middle of reading eliza`s post and we had a power cut, not a long one and we already had 3 candles burning so could see a bit. Otherwise it was black as pitch, I re charged all torches and lanterns last week but I think I`ll now put something by the door in each room that we live in. It is pretty disorientating when your eyes don`t have time to adapt

Fruball

Blimming windy here - I can hear bins blowing around the street :eek:

and my stupid letterbox is rattling :mad:

Batten down the hatches folks!

ETA the wind just howled thru the trickle vents... a creepy howl :eek:

RAS

Frugal wrote: »

ETA the wind just howled thru the trickle vents... a creepy howl :eek:

Close the trickle vents (note to self - check the covers on the wretched airbricks)

prepareathome

We have wind up lanterns, you can also charge them via cigarette lighter in car. I have I think 5 of them plus lots of candles, and some oil lamps. I decorated living a few months ago and as yet not put the wall sconces back up as they light the room really well, two have mirrors behind then which make the light from the candles brighter ( bought them years ago in a Past Times sale), they hold two candles but have a few wall sconces that hold 5 candles, have one in each bedroom, in the kitchen and in the hall for emergency. We also have wind up torches and a one that has a radio as well, as well as it charging on solar power, also a solar power radio that hubby has been using for years to listen to football matches and never needed to put a battery in it. I do have ordinary torches in every room as well just in case as well as one in the hall and I hope enough batteries to do if we needed to use them a lot. I have also bought a solar powered charger for mobile phone and as my kindle and phone can be attached to laptop with same cable I hope it will work charging up kindle - I keep meaning to check when kindle needs charging but stick it on charge from power as never remember. It does charge my mp3 player as tried that. Its not a very expensive solar charger, was about £17 a few months ago so doesn't hold to much power but hoping it will do.

I try to make sure everything is kept fully charged rather than let them run out, although when anything is new I do let them run out to stretch the battery.

Its expensive building up a stock of alternative lighting, heating, cooking but I have been slowly buying things over the years didn't go out and buy everything at once.

Nearly forgot - make sure you have a plug in corded landline phone, as your cordless ones won't work if the power goes off, as base station runs on your power. Landlines do run on electric but power comes from the exchange not your home so if you have a plug in corded phone so long as the exchange is working you will be able to receive and make calls.

[Deleted User]

prepareathome wrote: »

my kindle and phone can be attached to laptop with same cable I hope it will work charging up kindle - I keep meaning to check when kindle needs charging but stick it on charge from power as never remember.

Nearly forgot - make sure you have a plug in corded landline phone, as your cordless ones won't work if the power goes off

Oh the vibes are running wild today I just put my kindle on charge 20 minutes ago. The cover has a light so I`ll be able to read in a powercut, ds lite is also going on charge tomorrow

we only have a plug in phone so have to run around 3 corners to get to it but I won`t have a dect phone and its emissions in the house. I must have missed loads of calls tbh but am not fussed on the telephone anyway

lizzyb1812

prepareathome - Candle Sconces with mirrors - what a great idea. I don't want to go to the expense of having electric wall lights fitted so these would be fantastic - I usually have a candle or 2 going in the evening anyway so they might as well be on sconces. Thank you.

I suspect for many of us today is the day that has shown us how prepped we are for winter. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that my current state of being warm and toasty without being worried about the heating bills is down to this thread and the fabulous ideas people have contributed. Currently wearing items previously unknown in my wardrobe like fingerless gloves indoors and stripy legwarmers. Thanks guys :T:T

toottifrootti

have been away all day at a family funeral and on our road back it was sleet and snow and 2 degrees - its only 5 here now!

the wind and rain this last few days has been horrendous - i think i would rather the snow!!!!

must go find a 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
Clear away all fallen leaves
[STRIKE]get draught excluder for the front door[/STRIKE]
Clean windows inside and out
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.
[STRIKE]Put food out for the birds they will so thank you for it. Buy in their food now while it is plentiful.[/STRIKE]
Paint the gates and the hand rail
Clean and polish wheelchair - remember to charge even when not in use
Finish tidying in the garage
[STRIKE]find leaks in garage
deal with leaks in garage[/STRIKE]
fill in holes/ cracks etc
Clean windows
[STRIKE]find torches[/STRIKE]
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

I still have to do a little more food shopping too but would survive with what I have I think.

keep warm everyone
toots xx

Fruball

lizzyb1812 wrote: »

prepareathome - Candle Sconces with mirrors - what a great idea. I don't want to go to the expense of having electric wall lights fitted so these would be fantastic - I usually have a candle or 2 going in the evening anyway so they might as well be on sconces. Thank you.

I suspect for many of us today is the day that has shown us how prepped we are for winter. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that my current state of being warm and toasty without being worried about the heating bills is down to this thread and the fabulous ideas people have contributed. Currently wearing items previously unknown in my wardrobe like fingerless gloves indoors and stripy legwarmers. Thanks guys :T:T

:mad::mad::mad:That reminds me of yet another thing that the ex didn't bother to return when we sold the house :mad::mad::mad: I had some beautiful wall sconces

Add to that all the other bits I have slowly remembered inc (amongst many other things) ALL my candle holder collection which was boxed up by me, and I suspect went to the tip :mad:

Still, even though I don't have those things, at least I don't have him :T

Sorry to hear about the family funeral Tooti

Fruball

lizzyb1812 wrote: »

prepareathome -

I suspect for many of us today is the day that has shown us how prepped we are for winter. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that my current state of being warm and toasty without being worried about the heating bills is down to this thread and the fabulous ideas people have contributed. Thanks guys :T:T

Ditto :j

:beer: