Preparing for winter III

Spirit_2

tugrin wrote: »

I love the metrociel link someone posted a while back and looking at that you cant even see the UK inder the low pressure purple - it just looks appallling (this from one who understanding of weather extends to low pressure =bad high pressure=good) - frankly I m a bit scared by it all. I dont know what to do about my shed roof and now my drains (loo) are blocked and I dont have any drain rods (I have overflow from the inspection cover) and literally only £20 for me and the dogs til a week on Monday. I feel like my life is constantly like that line from Jaws '-just when you thought it was sae to go back in the water.....'
Any advive on drains would be appreciated!

Do you have any neighbours who have drain rods? Could you ask on freecycle?

Hobsons_Choice

Oh Tugrin, I'm so glad you got that sorted out.
I'm trying to sort out cupboards and stocks of things. Unfortunately, OH is often with me at the supermarket shop..."We don't need any more toilet rolls/tins of beans/pasta, we've got loads in". Well NO we haven't actually so I sneak into Mr A's when I'm in town and smuggle them into the garage under a blanket (the food, not me)!
Had some luck yesterday, a friend gave me a lovely jacket that I'd admired two years ago, she was bored with it (in two years?!) and it fits a treat. Faux fur, lined and cosy. This'll probably be my fave for the next five winters at least.

Baileys_Babe

beanrua wrote: »

anyone know where I can get a donkey at this time of year?

Sorry they are all busy in Nativity plays

Fruball

jamanda wrote: »

Thank goodness - the penny has dropped. I've been wondering all morning why she didn't buy some better ones. :rotfl:I thought she'd gone as scatty as me.

:rotfl: LOL!!!

Edinburghlass wrote: »

Its beautiful here in my village, the trees and bushes are all covered, off out to get a photo of the village green while the light is good. Just looking at my cat's footprints to see where she has headed. Off to Glasgow for the panto, sadly its raining through there.

Wow! Clever cat! Does she have far to walk? Would a kittie raincoat help?

tugrin

Just to let you all know - I didnt use drain rods - I cut a 6 foot bit off my extra long hose and as it is rigid with cold it was just flexible enough to do the job. It was ultimately disgustling but hey Id rather deal with my own **** than ask someone else to IYKWIM! I have also put lots of soda crystals down there and hot water. NOW the problem is how to get the ghastly black marks on the porcelain letf by the cheapy plunger I got from Mr Ts which broke whilst trying to del with this prob. I think I may have to empty the pan by hand and scrub with loo cleaner and an old nail brush. Ho hum - such is domestic life!
PAH - Im similarly impressed by your OH - when I had one he would NEVER in a million years even clean the loo. It made me wonder if being a plumber (cos they are nearly all male) is some ind of genetic speciality.

prepareathome

tugrin wrote: »

!
PAH - Im similarly impressed by your OH - when I had one he would NEVER in a million years even clean the loo. It made me wonder if being a plumber (cos they are nearly all male) is some ind of genetic speciality.

Got to admit I am impressed as well, as he told me when I woke up yesterday the toilet was blocked and I thought urg don't feel up to dealing with this, then a few hours later informed me it was clear. Its only this year he has started doing anything around the house, he now vacumns when he remembers and I try not to nag, but it seems at last my poor health is making him realise I cannot do everything as I used to. If its a good day for me and something needs doing he will not do it, but bad days he will try if its something that cannot wait - he hates using the downstairs toilet as there is not heating in there and by the back door its cold, so it was a case of needs must, but he did it.

Well done you for working out how to do things, its amazing what you can accomplish when you have to, you deserve a very big pat on the back.

rachbc

kittie - if you have a woodburner could you cook on that? My parents managed to boil eggs and even pasta on theirs when they were without power.

I need to buy a couple of torches, more candles and some uht milk

rising_from_the_ashes

kittie wrote: »

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.

I was quite annoyed at the news last night .... they interviewed some people whose power was off who were saying how awful it was and moaning about it etc etc (and I appreciate that it is) but they had an open fire in the lounge and a gas hob in the kitchen so they did at least have a source of heat and an easy way to heat hot water / food which a lot of people won't have - and that wasn't even mentioned.:mad:

DM & DF's power was off for 8 days a few years ago - they are in a very rural place with only a few houses and no-one bothered at all. Yet when people down south had their power off a couple of weeks later for (shock horror) 24 hours, it was all over the news.:mad:

Thankfully DP now have a generator which will at least run the clock for the central heating and fridges/freezers etc.

mardatha

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51405939@N02/6486309921/in/photostream/

Not much snow and its pretty wet, but it is snow. KITTIE!! woman lol stoppit
Keep Calm and Find Some Sweeties!
We have frequent powercuts and frequent huge storms and there is always a way to cope. Main thing is to always have a plan B. For cooking, for heating, and lighting. Remember if you have nothng else in the house then you can cook on a circle of tealights under a shelf from the oven . Take the oven or grill shelf out, balance it on bits of wood about 2" high, a triangle shape is best. Light the tealights, plonk the kettle on top of the shelf, and wait 20 mins. Boiled.
I have coal for heating, calor gas for cooking, and paraffin lamps. You can't go out and buy them all right now but think ahead. Lamps, if you see them at a car boot then grab them cos they so much better than candles. LPG cookers are superb and last for ever, my last big Zanussi lasted me 21 years and I got another one. If you havent got a fireplace then get a calor gas heater, they are terrific for instant heat and can wheel away out of the road when not needed. Preppers R us !:rotfl:
Just noticed the date on that pic is wrong- the camera is mad. It was taken today and husband forgot to set the date!

prepareathome

Ideas anyone on what I should buy for stocks - I have £70, but will have to get petrol so say £40, need to get more trays for the dogs - youngest cannot fill herself up with dry food so has up to one small tray a day ( 20p Mr S beef and veg, only tray she likes out of all of them) as only have one left, so knock off £10 so £30 - so what should I get with the thirty - hopefully will have a few pounds left on Monday after I buy the specials at Lidl, but keeping £200 for then as want to actually look at the food there. Do you think I should buy anything locally or just leave it till Monday at Lidl - never bought food there, only been there twice just for specials ( mattress protectors and cannot remember but not food). After that no more money till 21st.

I have torches, batteries, candles, enough to do a week or so, so I think its just extra food - have 4 cartons long life milk so will get more, using one today that had to be used by 16th other 4 are March 2012.

What else?????