Preparing for winter III

prepareathome

That is why I want to get a fire guard for sons family before I give them the gas heater, I want the type that screws into the wall so it can be safe away from the little ones when they are running around.

I just got lucky again on freegle - woman last night offered a carrier bag full of unused tea lights and some big candles so I asked for my name to go in the hat and she has just emailed me to say they are mine. So that is the bubble wrap sorted and lots of candles for my lanturns - I have a lot of the garden type ones that are full glass with just the little holes in the top which take tea lights so can safely put them around the place and if they get knocked over the flame will go out as bathed in the wax - I know I have knocked them over many a time in the garden but so far never in the house. They of course can also be hung from the wall on brackets. So just got to let hubby know we have a bit of run tonight as going to pick them up at 7pm.

Right better go and get ready as got to go toilet roll shopping, we are down to our last 6 rolls, I keep forgetting to buy it as I buy the Softy one from B&M 9 rolls of 3ply for £1.99 and it used to be near the front of the shop but they revamped it adding lots more aisles and now toilet rolls is right at back of shop and I recently have only been going in for tins and they are still on first aisle.

Also need more fat balls, never mind winter for them for the birds, I bought a tub of 50 in Wilks a fortnight ago and every one has been eaten - so many birds nest in my trees and hedges its like feeding the five thousand. Also need more food for them as the feeders are almost empty and none left to fill them up again - between birds, fish ( must remember fishy needs more food) and dogs I seem to spend a fortune of non human food.

never_too_old

Good afternoon all
My prep for winter (or summer) is to buy a wood burner then save to have it installed.My question to you clever people is this
These are the 2 i like.I did see some on ebay but OH rightly said what if you need spares.
One is over 11kw is this too much or normal
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/parlour-cast-iron-stove?da=1&TC=RV-090310150

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/clarke-buckingham-cast-iron-stove

pinkmami

Be careful where you buy them from. Maybe have a word witha HETAS chap to see what he recommends. I have a Charnwood Country stove 8KW & that is more than ample for my 29 sq m living room! So if you have a smaller room the 11KW will be way too big!

But its lovely & snug!

never_too_old

pinkmami wrote: »

Be careful where you buy them from. Maybe have a word witha HETAS chap to see what he recommends. I have a Charnwood Country stove 8KW & that is more than ample for my 29 sq m living room! So if you have a smaller room the 11KW will be way too big!

But its lovely & snug!

Machinemart? have you had problems with them?

SpikyHedgehog

prepareathome wrote: »

That is why I want to get a fire guard for sons family before I give them the gas heater, I want the type that screws into the wall so it can be safe away from the little ones when they are running around.

I just got lucky again on freegle - woman last night offered a carrier bag full of unused tea lights and some big candles so I asked for my name to go in the hat and she has just emailed me to say they are mine. So that is the bubble wrap sorted and lots of candles for my lanturns - I have a lot of the garden type ones that are full glass with just the little holes in the top which take tea lights so can safely put them around the place and if they get knocked over the flame will go out as bathed in the wax - I know I have knocked them over many a time in the garden but so far never in the house. They of course can also be hung from the wall on brackets. So just got to let hubby know we have a bit of run tonight as going to pick them up at 7pm.

Right better go and get ready as got to go toilet roll shopping, we are down to our last 6 rolls, I keep forgetting to buy it as I buy the Softy one from B&M 9 rolls of 3ply for £1.99 and it used to be near the front of the shop but they revamped it adding lots more aisles and now toilet rolls is right at back of shop and I recently have only been going in for tins and they are still on first aisle.

Also need more fat balls, never mind winter for them for the birds, I bought a tub of 50 in Wilks a fortnight ago and every one has been eaten - so many birds nest in my trees and hedges its like feeding the five thousand. Also need more food for them as the feeders are almost empty and none left to fill them up again - between birds, fish ( must remember fishy needs more food) and dogs I seem to spend a fortune of non human food.

I know, I've spoken to mum about it as an adult & she says 'But it ruined my new carpet!', which I can understand, but she shouldn't have made me feel accountable for a potential accident that could have been avoided. I can now cook with gas, but have seldom had it, & I can light a gas fire, but again, haven't had 1 for 10 years. But I wouldn't use bunsen burners at school, or cook on gas at school. Oddly enough, coal or wood doesn't bother me - I guess because that was a part of my life till I left home. I do have to remember that mum was a year older then than I was when I had DS1, and struggling with 3 children, working part time & with an unsupportive husband... The things I didn't see at the time.

I bought a fireguard that fixes onto the wall from the car boot sale when pregnant with DS1, though Idiot Boyfriend then sold it, so I couldn't use the gas fire. Luckily, we did have radiators in that house, so I kept them on low so the house never got cold for baby.

I'd love something I could put heat into the house now without relying on electric. The house is 5 years old, & the Housing Association only put in radiators. So though they use gas, they also need the boiler which in turn needs electricity... Of course, the houses they are building now are even more eco friendly & have solar panels or other good things.

I did get a camping stove last year, but can't cope with the idea of using gas canisters with it, so have a big stash of tea lights & will use with the grill pan & rack.

Wee_Pilsbury

darkrev wrote: »

have you thought of heated bathroom rail and if you have an airing cupboard using rails in there ? just a thot x we do that instead for cheapness

D'you know, that is something I hadn't thought of - the heated rail that is (it's a small modern-style flat and I don't have an airing cupboard). I was going to get one put in when I had the bathroom redone last year in September but I couldn't think why I would need one other than just liking the idea - so I left it out to keep costs down!

darkrev

Pips_Mum wrote: »

Thanks darkrev - I looked on ISME as I have an account with them and they have them in the sale too. Got 4 sheets for my little boys room, 4 for our room, 6 pillowcases, a double fleece matress protector and also a single fleece matress protector for £30 :T
Admitedly didnt mean to get 4 for each room, misunderstood and added 2 to basket but have since read that you only need to add 1 to get the 1 free, never mind for that price I dont mind and they will last me for forever!!! :rotfl::rotfl:

Really wanted the flannellette duvet cover sets, it said they were in stock but refused to let me add to my basket. Anyone else had the same problem?

Anyone wanting cheap umbrellas dotcomgifts has a great sale, these handbag umbrellas are £12.95 reduced to £1.29 :eek:
http://www.dotcomgiftshop.com/folding-umbrella-pinkwhite-spot?all=1&price=0-5&ctid=5187&pos=214

Oooh and 8% topcashback too!

nice brollies , but the postage is a bit steep for me this week, will keep in mind for a more abundant week xxx thanks

Fruball

Pips Mum - thanks for the link to the dotcom gift shop - got 4 lovely brollies for under a tenner, delivered! Great price!

darkrev

Jjust reading through the posts as not been on this forum for a while, I fully understand what it's like to be cold and have no resources and i'm a huge fan of and very grateful to my local freegle. I am concerned however about about some safety of the doing projects.

Newspaper, bubble wrap , sealants, sellotape ect are all great for drafts and cracks but they are a huge fire hazard, please make sure you have a way of escape from every room possible and that you don't hamper your exits and windows too much in an emergency,

please also remember in an effort to cook and stay warm gas fires and stoves produce carbon monoxide and with ventilation limited by sealing areas of draft this becomes a bigger risk.

please I'm not trying to nag, I'm just a bit worried that in an effort to not be blooming cold . cos all the fuel prices are at a ridiculous price and climbing , that we get lost in the detail and forget the bigger picture of being able to leave quickly if needed and that we could be adding acceleration to our exits. Thanks for reading.xx

Fruball

darkrev wrote: »

Jjust reading through the posts as not been on this forum for a while, I fully understand what it's like to be cold and have no resources and i'm a huge fan of and very grateful to my local freegle. I am concerned however about about some safety of the doing projects.

Newspaper, bubble wrap , sealants, sellotape ect are all great for drafts and cracks but they are a huge fire hazard, please make sure you have a way of escape from every room possible and that you don't hamper your exits and windows too much in an emergency,

please also remember in an effort to cook and stay warm gas fires and stoves produce carbon monoxide and with ventilation limited by sealing areas of draft this becomes a bigger risk.

please I'm not trying to nag, I'm just a bit worried that in an effort to not be blooming cold . cos all the fuel prices are at a ridiculous price and climbing , that we get lost in the detail and forget the bigger picture of being able to leave quickly if needed and that we could be adding acceleration to our exits. Thanks for reading.xx

Totally agree with you - lots of people don't know that by having a gas fire (or open fire) burning, you are using up all the oxygen in the room as well as having extra carbon monoxide - Everybody should add a carbon monoxide to their winter preps, preferably more if they have gas appliances.

I have one in the living room near the open fire and one upstairs near the boiler.

Preferably the battery operated ones rather than the 'spot' ones as you may not think to check it often and an audible alarm is better