Preparing for winter III

Possession

rosieben wrote: »

it looks great doesn't it, especially if you were arty with some felt tips

The comments further down mention using wallpaper - you could tie it in with your colour scheme!

Fruball

Ooooh the nights are drawing in now aren't they?!

A few years ago, before I found this thread, I used to dread the onset of winter... I don't anymore and that is probably entirely to do with the people who have posted here

What made the difference to me?

Being prepared, ie

Winterising the house - something warm and cosy about doing that! (I do a bit each year, and the things I have done I don't have to do the following year, if that makes sense?)
Installing an open fire in my house - was really important to me and took me a long time to save enough.
Dosing up on Vitamin D along with the occasional sunbed
Having suitable clothes and footwear (and yaktrax!)
Having a storecupboard so I don't have to go out unless I choose to
Having fun winter stuff such as sledges and spare gloves, scarves etc
Making sure we have comfort things in, like hot choc and warming/cosy foods

and lastly

Accepting that winter is going to happen and embracing it - I think that has made the biggest difference in a strange way I cannot explain.

So.... Thank you all for your contributions as they have made a big difference to how I view winter!

Anyone else notice the nights are drawing in? Time to Ramp Up those preps!!!

rosieben

Fruball, yes, the days are noticeably shorter now and there's a real autumn feel here, I'm looking out fleeces to line my curtains

Taadaa

I admit I am looking forward to autumn. Such a beautiful season.

I have to arrange for our free insulation, and we have decided to remove the electric fire from our front room - too expensive to run. I have to get a move on and make some curtains for the nursery!

Byatt

http://www.halfcost.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay

this throw/blanket for sale in the smaller size, and free posting if spending £10.

edit my link doesn't seem to work but put these key words in search on the site
RUSTIC WOVEN THROW CERISE

pigpen

I've spent 3 years saving and getting my old and rotting windows replaced with double glazed units, I am actually looking forward to finding out if it has made a difference. I think my biggest jobs I am lazy in putting off are the blinds to be put up in the kitchen which will take a couple of hours and the door curtains which will probably take considerably less time!!

I am still deliberating over getting the huuuuge front door replaced and the back door.. I just cannot decide what to do.. I have a large front bay to replace too but in total those 3 things will cost approx. £4000 which will take me a while to save.. and I am not convinced it will make any noticable difference. I keep the front curtains drawn all winter to keep heat in and draughts out.

I am having a child or 3 sort hats/scarves/gloves at some point before they are back at school. uniforms and coats and boots are sorted already

I need to sort a child a month for christms otherwise I will end up with stuff on my catalogue account which I do not want to happen!

I'll find my list but I am well on my way to having everything done I aim to get done.

pigpen

Winter prep list for Pigpen

I need to..

*make door curtains for front and back door
*get blinds cut to size and put up in the kitchen.. got screws! Now need to kick OH!
*make draught snakes for back, front and french doors... I have a pattern finally
*make linings for boys room curtains and put up their blind
*Tiles for the kitchen.. these are postponed.. they won't make the house warmer, just prettier!
* sort the hat/scarf/glove basket.. I bet at least half can be binned.. getting the children on this task!

Have already.

*Boots for everyone..
* Had installed new bedroom windows.. and the loo and bathroom!
*Draft tape ALL the doors and the remaining 4 non-DG windows.. Mine and Squeaks bedroom window done.. it made a huge difference.. but I needed extra double sided tape and the french doors desperately need doing.
*purchased thermal curtain linings.. will get them in situ at a later date.
*bought OH a fleece slankety thing..
* coats for DS3, DD3, DD4, DD7 and me!

Adding a shopping list.

* curtains tracks for front and back doors
* coal/logs .. in case of dead boilers we WILL have heat!
* snow shovel is a good idea.. might help OH with snowman building!
* Refill medicine cupboard.. calpol, tixylix, ibuprofen, cocodamol, day/night nurse capsules, [STRIKE]anbesol, savlon cream, lip balm, strepsils, vicks sinex[/STRIKE], rennies, piriton.
* [STRIKE]Battery charger[/STRIKE]
* boots/shoes for.. Jacob, [STRIKE]DS3, [/STRIKE]DD2, [STRIKE]DD3, DD6[/STRIKE], DD7, DS2 maybe.
* stockpile nappies/pull ups, sanitary towels.
* stockpile medication.. insulin, [STRIKE]needles, test strips[/STRIKE], lancets, glucose tablets, [STRIKE]batteries for BM,[/STRIKE] growth hormone.. in case stocks struggle to get through to chemists.

Gosh.. that is looking better.. the OTC meds I buy a couple of items every time I go to tesco or boots.. I has me a stash!

EssexGirl

hiya,
does anyone have any ideas of how to cover a back door and window similar to this one? It's so draughty in the winter. It's a well used door so needs to be moveable.

http://www.channel4.com/media/images/Channel4/4homes/rooms/kitchens/kitchen-makeovers/galley-kitchen/Assenheim-kitchen-before-p.jpg

Fruball

EssexGirl wrote: »

hiya,
does anyone have any ideas of how to cover a back door and window similar to this one? It's so draughty in the winter. It's a well used door so needs to be moveable.

http://www.channel4.com/media/images/Channel4/4homes/rooms/kitchens/kitchen-makeovers/galley-kitchen/Assenheim-kitchen-before-p.jpg

I would say fleece panels - you can attach them to the door and to the window around it. Cheap and easy to do. You can get self adhesive velcro which would probably do the job fairly well and you can remove them in summer

I have a similar back door problem but my door opens onto the cooker so it would be dangerous to hang a fleece there :eek:

MrsCD

Fruball wrote: »

Ooooh the nights are drawing in now aren't they?!

A few years ago, before I found this thread, I used to dread the onset of winter... I don't anymore and that is probably entirely to do with the people who have posted here

What made the difference to me?

Being prepared, ie

Winterising the house - something warm and cosy about doing that! (I do a bit each year, and the things I have done I don't have to do the following year, if that makes sense?)
Installing an open fire in my house - was really important to me and took me a long time to save enough.
Dosing up on Vitamin D along with the occasional sunbed
Having suitable clothes and footwear (and yaktrax!)
Having a storecupboard so I don't have to go out unless I choose to
Having fun winter stuff such as sledges and spare gloves, scarves etc
Making sure we have comfort things in, like hot choc and warming/cosy foods

and lastly

Accepting that winter is going to happen and embracing it - I think that has made the biggest difference in a strange way I cannot explain.

So.... Thank you all for your contributions as they have made a big difference to how I view winter!

Anyone else notice the nights are drawing in? Time to Ramp Up those preps!!!

Yes Fruball, I agree, the nights are drawing in a bit faster now. I convinced my parents to buy slip on grips for their boots last year, and it made life so much easier for them. They felt safer walking in the snow when they 'absolutely needed' to go out.
Having the right mindset does help too, as you can then cope with (almost) anything the weather throws at you!

Pigpen - I hope you don't get raided! You have enough there to start your own pharmacy! Still better safe than sorry, as my Mam says!