Preparing for winter III

mama67

Pooky wrote: »

Still no central heating on here, although we do have a fire going tonight but my youngest cat is very poorly so I've made him a cosy bed in front of the fire (he's got a nasty abcess that the vet opened up this morning so he's feeling very sorry for himself). The DDs complained that their rooms were chilly so they've layered up in pjs, socks and fleeces and are in the family room doing homework (next to the living room so they're egetting the benefit of the fire too)..... I shall make them a hot water bottle in a bit to warm their beds up and make them hot chocolate and jammy toast to keep them happy. (both teenage girls with hollow legs for toast and hot chocolate)

Pooky, I have 2 teenage boys with the same hollow legs :rotfl:

jamanda

Thanks for the heads up about next week. I've just rung me muvver and told her to make sure she has bread and milk etc. in so they don't have to go out in it (shopping days tend to be the same each week)

Confuzzled

PolkaDotsAndLace wrote: »

Big snow dump down in Fife - I thought it was only forecast for NE Scotland? Certainly unexpected, I thought it would just be frosty when I looked out this morning!

awww *pouts* i'm in fife and WANT snow and we've had none... if you blow really hard do you think you can send it my way? :rotfl:

prepareathome

Turgin, we had a blocked toilet yesterday and hubby surprised me by unblocking it, my hubby is not renown for DIY but he got our big plunger and used that to get water down, then put some caustic soda down and left it an hour then flushed and water went down, he then put quite a few buckets of water down just to make sure it was clear, I am very proud of him as he never would consider doing anything like that in the past, just leave it to me. I hope you can clear yours.


I know not the right thread but had to share I went to farmers market, its the first time I have felt able to go anywhere on my own in well over a year, mentally and physically up to it. Can make it winter related as sun was shinning when taxi dropped me off, but then heavens opened, at first it was heavy rain but then turned to sticky sleet, so everything just for a short time looked white, with all the Christmas things in the market - its only small just along one street in the village about 20 stalls, it looked perfect, I would have taken a photo but didn't want my phone to get wet, hubbys birthday present to me a brand new blackberry £329, not likely to get another good phone like that ever again, so you can understand why, but just made it so perfect for me, everyone huddling up but I had put my silk lined socks on under my trainers and although short sleeves under my coat, the white cotton duffel with quilted cotton lining, I was as warm as toast, and hood kept me perfectly dry. I spent more than I planned but the butchers stall were full of such lovely meats so we have enough in to keep us going for quite a while. Treated us to a lovely piece of organic lamb for Christmas Day, I was going to do a lamb joint I had in freezer but this looked so good even raw. I got my wreath - £15 for nothing special in flower shop but only £8 for a really lovely one, even bought some mistletoe. As I was waiting for taxi home sleet stopped and sun came out and was so sunny, but now just 30 mins later its gone so dull again. Sky is leaden as if its heavy with snow, but most likely will be rain, or maybe some more sleet.

[Deleted User]

oh my heart is in my mouth now and I am not being cryptic, so no hidden meanings. I was washing my hair and just imagining no electricity for days and horrendous wind and snow, everything we have here is based on the elctricity supply, the upside is that the house retains warmth. I have made a mental action plan for a `just in case scenario and assuming that we cannot get out the house

No warm food as it would be too bad outside to get messing with a barbeque, so I`m thinking on my feet now, it would be a diet of cold cereal and very cold milk and cold tins of fruit and tuna, chocolate, biscuits and sardines plus my big stash of crackers, which are all wholemeal fortunately so are substantial. The house will cool, so we retreat to our small snug and we light candles in there, they will keep us warm enough, together with throws. Our small camping gas stove will be ok for boiling a camp kettle full of water and that will go into a flask for a cupasoup and a tea each

Honestly, I kid you not, dh and I have 9 items on charge right now and a queue of items for later. Kindles, ds`s, lanterns, radios, torches, toothbrushes, mp3 players. I pulled out my enormous stash of candles earlier and have been busy trimming wicks, ready to use and I owe thanks to tk maxx for tempting me over the past 6 years. Some of my yankee ones are too smelly ie strong so I have taken coverings off in hope that the scent lessens

I am thinking a lot about all you people in the north and especially about the ones with no electricity and I am sure some are from this thread. We will be able to learn a lot from each other for next winter

oh I was also thinking about those who have big cold rooms. How can you make a room smaller on a temporary basis? maybe a pop up tent in the room. I am not being flippant, I am really really concerned.

beanrua

tugrin - hope you get drains sorted.
I've had 4 men digging up my front drive and garden these last 2 days looking for a mains water leak. Finally sorted yesterday evening and pipe replaced. They put everything back again but my flower beds are just raised builders muck beds and muck everywhere.We've had a light covering of snow but a good heavy dump would hide the muck, I'm thinking, but be careful what you wish for, I need just enough but not too much! Got a little extra oil yesterday in case of heavy snow making hill unpassable for a while. Keep thinking I'll have my car back soon and I can get all I need but it looks like I'm just going to have to walk and get everything in bit by bit - anyone know where I can get a donkey at this time of year? Take care everyone and can't wait to see some photos. I remember last year my OH took photos of 3 legged cat's footprints in snow.

beanrua

prepareathome and kittie - two brilliant posts. Thanks.

prepareathome

I to have been thinking along those lines kittie, checking over and over how I would heat us, cook for us, light us and entertain us, only asked hubby last night what else he would want if no tv or pc, would portable dvd player be enough, did he want me to put any books on Kindle for him.

Maybe I am cynical, but I do wonder if weather was to get really bad all over if power companies would say they have to do rolling power cuts as they cannot cope, but in reality they could cope, but to make us realise how much we need it that we will put up with any pay rises in future without complaining, also government may tell them to do it, as they put a new tax/levy if I remember rightly on to power companies last year, so they to have a vested interest in us using more, so they both might consider if we had to do without during the worst weather ,it will be worth the deaths from cold that will result ( and they would most likely be either elderly or ill so most likely on benefits so no loss as far as government is concerned, if they continue to get plenty of money out of us. Told you I am very cynical.

Still dry but dull out there, but not dark and temp has gone up to a balmy 4c.

greenbee

Don't be too cynical about the power companies PAH - they do need you to make money, but i don't think that in the current market rolling power cuts would be easy. It takes a lot of work to fire a power station up or shut it down. I used to work for a power company, and when a power station was flooded a few years ago and had a to be shut down, the staff turned the turbines by HAND to prevent damage and ensure it could get up and running asap. It wasn't an easy or fun job, not something they had to do, but they did it because they knew it was important. Don't forget, all those companies have really people working for them and those with private pensions probably have their pension funds invested in them too, so we need them to make money...

tugrin

Go Preppers with all your great advice - THE DRAINS ARE CLEAR!!!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH - I was on the verge of a big wobble before you guys rode to the rescue!!!!
Now for the great sort out while weather here is OK - I am assuming worst so need to check all supplies and bring some solid fuel up to the house in case fire is needed.
Car is sorted except for cereal bars (which I ate Im afraid).
It was 0 degrees this morning so I have broken out the Craghoppers - oooh they are so warm- hope they have a similar deal next year>
Keep calm everyone - we are the Home Guard of winter extremes so think Blitz spirit NOt Captain Mainwaring!