Preparing for winter III

prepareathome

bossymoo wrote: »

If the electric goes we will struggle as oven / hob fully electric. Have gch and one gas fire. Maybe I should keep a camping stove... Lol

I have a flat camping stove like this one

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Yellowstone-Portable-Gas-Stove-Black/dp/B001W78P0W/ref=sr_1_3?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1340034239&sr=1-3

I actually used ones like this for 18 months when cooker packed in and I was getting a new kitchen fitted and planned on having wall mounted oven and separate hob, so didn't want to buy a cooker for that short amount of time. I found one tin of gas would last 90 mins and was great even for big pans - I had two on the go then plus a mini oven.

So now have a new one aside with a stock of gas ( although not much) in case of problems - my hob is gas so should be ok but it might stop working and until it can be fixed at least the stove will keep me cooking.

I always have back door open because of dogs so ventilation was not a problem but if you used one you would have to ensure door or window open even if it was cold, but if no power and only way to have a hot meal its worth it, just wrap up warm to cook, and it does actually give off a good heat.

I just wish they would invent an oven that works off the same gas, I do have the fire that does for emergencies.

fuddle

Righto, thank you. We have gas camping stove from out camping days. I will add it to my list because I'm sure we're out of gas. Thanks for mentioning it

Byatt

PAH, I will give the pots a try, I have to go out of my way for Sbury, but it will be worth it if they are something I will like. Worth a try as you say for 20p!

I was thinking about a camping stove too as all electric. I do have a wood burner but never used it as not sure how safe it is really, was looking at the chimney yesterday and it didn't look too great. Not sure the LL will fix anything either.

Cheapskate

Afternoon all

Despite having a reasonable visit from the big yellow ball, it still feels rather back-endish round here; feel like baking stuff for the freezer and sticking bubble wrap on anything that doesn't move! :rotfl::rotfl:

I've got 2 double or king size flannelette sheets that I'll have to patch so the littlies can have them on their beds this winter; there's a palm-sized hole bang in the middle of each, so can't be used on our bed. If I side-to-middle them, or patch another way, they'll do for the kids and then I just need 2 new ones for our bed. DD has a small junior bed, so I may just cut one sheet in half and hem, thus giving her 2, or turn it into a quilt cover.

PAH - I might try those potatoes, too, even just for emergency fillers for stews, etc. We don't really like tinned veg, but any port in a storm, and it would save having to nip to the shops in bad weather just for a few spuds! Can anyone vouch for any other tinned veg?

Decorator called today - he's doing the exterior paintwork during the next few months - about £600 for everything, gutters, fall pipes, etc., and the paint unless we want something special. I don't think this is too bad for a 3 bed semi with mostly original windows and cast iron pipes!

My list is longer than I thought - must write it up properly so I can see, room, by room, what needs doing, and whether I can do anything now. I now work 2 full days a week, so would like to get organised before autumn arrives properly (assuming we actually get any sort of summer! :rotfl:)

A xo

greenbee

Byatt - find out how much it would cost to get the chimney swept (and if your landlord should be doing this, get him to organise it... Start now and it should be done by Christmas!) as a chimney sweep will tell you whether it is safe or not.

Byatt

Thanks Greenbee, I will give it a try. I'm really quite scared of it, so trying to find excuses not to light it, but also have a very strong feeling that I will love it and wish I'd done it sooner!

fuddle

oh Byatt I would love a wood burner. I wonder if you would feel safer using it with a carbon monoxide monitor? Definitely worth a check with LL, even just to ask is it safe - you never know it might just prompt him to get it checked for you (although as I have a LL I know what a battle some things can be) Good luck with it because having got to know you this last few months I have a feeing once you'll light it you'll never want to stop - not to mention the feeling of cosiness and contentment of an evening. Oh Byatt, I wish, I wish

bossymoo

I will look into camping stove at end f summer and hopefully get one in end of season sale.

I need to write a list of curtains and their measurements:
My bedroom (recently decorated and not replaced yet, only have blinds)
Landing (never had curtains here in 5 years!)
Bathrooms (ditto)
Kitchen (ditto and door too)
Living room (ditto just has blinds)
DS room (has blinds and curtains but they are shoddy and want replacing)

What do people have in their bathrooms at the window? Do you find the damp a problem? My bathrooms are tiled so I'd need help fitting rails or blinds I think...

Rainy-Days

My winter pre list as written down by me last night:-

Rub down and restain patio table and chairs
Wash coats and scarves
Wash dressing gowns
Wash all the winter bedding and throws (including new flannelette sheets).
Vax wash the carpets throughout the house including rugs
Clean car inside and out and give a good wax polish top up all the fluid levels
Replace silicone around the inside windows (they have discoloured)
Clear the gutterings (October)
Put cordylines away
Boiler service in September
Polish boots and shoes (have already ear marked some for cobblers)
Treat with spray, suede gloves and boots
Deep clean house through
Horse rugs to be washed and reproofed.
Oil supply in, gradually buying in the wood, coal and lighting sticks.
Chimney swept and re-blacked
Restock the freezer up
Clean the garage out.

To buy in
Fatballs and peanuts for the birds
Primark fleece socks which were really ace last winter
Gardeners fleece for my cordylines
Stock up on tinned stuff
Straw and hayledge for the horses
Keep an eye out for anything reduced that is freezable.

Much, much smaller list this time round for me this year. Last years was horrendous but I did it, so glad this year I can get this done without breaking the bank and my back doing it.

muffin_man_7

bossymoo wrote: »

If the electric goes we will struggle as oven / hob fully electric. Have gch and one gas fire. Maybe I should keep a camping stove... Lol

remember if the electric goes then so does the heating

we've got gch but no gas fire cooker is gas so plenty of hot drinks and hot water bottles which reminds me we need a few new ones this year just to be on the safe side we are lucky in we don't have all that many power cuts but better safe than sorry i think i will also be getting a few big candles to help keep us warm as well as be able to see i like to save empty jars for this reason as it's safer still have wind up lanterns and torches for going upstairs cos i don't like the dark :eek: