Preparing for winter III

mardatha

We have a weather warning for snow from later on today until tues :j:j:j

Rummer

Snow forecast here too so I have to get the car kit ready this weekend

mcjordi

nothing forecast for at least 10 days down here. .(well thats the max amount of time uk weather will do a forecast for)

Confuzzled

we have a small possibility of snow on monday and friday here in my part of fife, i'm so excited, wait til i tell my daughter :T


finally decided to use one storage heater each night on low, it's got the living room temp at 17C that's fine for us. after 3 days in a row with it being only 15C in here when i got up i figured it was time to cave in...

i will say i have a new found respect for hotwater bottles. the heat lasts so much longer than in my rice sock and a hotwater bottle in bed with me at night makes me fall asleep so quickly, what bliss!

mardatha

O yes, HWB is an amazing invention! And can be used anywhere not just in bed

LavenderBees

Well, have had a bit of a mixed day on the winter prep front - it doesn't look like our Fire Brigade offer electronic checks on things like leccy blankets, but there is advice on their website. Actually, no different to what you sensible lot have given me. If only I'd known how to store it all those years ago.

As the blanket and wiring looked absolutely fine, I moved everything out of it's way, and plugged it in. Lights on the controls appeared as expected, and I sat back well pleased, at least the house electrics weren't knocked out by it. An hour later, though, the blanket was still stone cold, so I've put it in my porch to go to the tip. I don't know anyone who knows enough about electrics to take a look at it (where I'd be confident that it's ok to use afterwards) and I'm assuming that there is some kind of safety lock on it, presumably for a good reason, so better not try to use it.:o I'll stick with my lovely HWBs and extra duvet underneath me. I'm not above wearing socks, jumpers, fleeces anything else in bed to keep me warm! Not sexy, that's for sure, but the pusses don't care :rotfl:

On the plus side, I've at last, finally, thank goodness, managed to finish the freezer food, and the freezer is defrosting quickly this afternoon, so I'm off to the shops later to see if I can get some bargains to restock it with. I LOVE restocking the freezer :T especially when I feel like I'm in a race against time to do it before any 'orrible weather hits.

I've also turned off my heating again. It's an 'orrible cold wind here, but I'm so warm! I recommend housework and soup making as a cheap method of heating

Keep warm & safe, All.

Lavvy x

Eliza_2

Raksha wrote: »

For those with old electric blankets - I think the Fire Brigade run a checking service each winter - you might like to give them a ring to find out (NOT on 999 though )

I'm worried some of you seem to be putting extra layers on top of your leccie blankets - I seem to remember that they are only designed to work under a sheet...

Didn't realise that. I don't think you could use them directly under a sheet though, it wouldn't be very comfortable you could feel the wires. Like others, I use them under a duvet which is under the sheet. Gives out a lovely glowy heat, I think having it directly under the sheet again would be too hot straight onto the skin.

Last night I woke up cold at about 2pm, despite 15 tog duvet, and put blanket onto lowest setting. Oh heaven!!!

horseykitty

I have my electric blanket just under my sheet and I can't feel the wires. This is my first winter with a leccy blanket and I am a total convert - it is bliss getting into a warm bed - much better than just have the room at a nice temp.

I am kicking myself though as I got mine in the Homebase sale in the summer for £6.99 and whilst I was having a think about whether I should get some more for my sons' beds some cheeky so and so pushed past me and cleared the shelf - that will teach me to procrastinate!

Confuzzled

since so many of you are so fond of marks and sparks thermals i thought i'd post this link, they are having 25% off of them today only

http://www.marksandspencer.com/Thermals-Lingerie-Underwear-Womens/b/43307030

this appears to include thermal socks, too, i believe the discount comes off at the checkout page

prepareathome

I used to love having mine, but for past 4 years I have had my own central heating, so I am to be found on the coldest nights lying with windows open and bedclothes thrown off. Actually this milder weather is costing me a fortune, well not that much as I get so hot I bought in the summer a tower fan, very, very cheap to run, so quiet and have a breeze and night setting ( so runs even quieter) so still using it now - its remote controlled so wake up hot grab the control, leave it where I can reach it even when mainly asleep, switch it on, throw of covers and soon able to fall asleep again. Its the one thing I do not have a non electric alternative for, just not seen anything suitable as all battery ones are to small. Seems an unlikely thing to consider in winter preps but to me it is. Gave away electric blanket a few years ago. So if its a night I actually feel cold out comes hot water bottle - last winter internal central heating was at it seems its peak and not once did I use the hot water bottle but so far this winter have used it once one night when temps did take a nose dive below freezing. Most of my life have suffered from ice cold feet, but they went for a few years but coming back now. I live in hope that maybe am coming out of this phase in my life, but doctor said can last up to 10 years and can ease and come back again, I hope not but cannot complain as only thing really I have had. Hubby just prefers hot water bottle.