Preparing for winter III

RedLass

bossymoo wrote: »

I need a couple of curtain poles - for kitchen and landing. I've had a fleece over a tension rod in the landing all this week - wow what a difference!

Genius. Thank you! :T

Now just to find a fleece long enough. Might recycle the one on the bed. I recently rediscovered two heavyish bedspreads at the back of a cupboard (yay for having a good clear out) that will be put back into use so the fleece can be repurposed.

raven83

Fruball wrote: »

When I was there a few weeks ago they were £8.

I am sure they were £4 a couple of years ago....

Primark seem to have put their prices up on quite a few things recently. Saying that I was in there the other day and did get quite a lot of items for my money, including some nice fleecy pjs for the kids and a nice fluffy throw DD1 had been crazing me for. Going back again next week to stock up on more pjs and hats and gloves for the kids

MoonJelly

SpikyHedgehog wrote: »

Moonjelly, I'd try washing the wooly blankets with fabric softener, I've only got 1 wool blanket & the rest of our blankets are fleece, but washing it does make it slightly less itchy...

Slipper boots help too rather than ordinary slippers, though I've yet to get the slipper boots I love for us all.

When my sister had storage heaters, she'd make sure she & her little boy got changed into warmer clothes after work/school.

I got a coat from the CS today for work - massivley big on me to allow for layers underneath, & comes to mid thigh. It's only 1 layer of thick fleece but at least it will wash & dry easily.

Thanks for the suggestions. I was actually considering the electric blanket. I am one of those people who are always cold! But I was told electric blankets are not safe for children. So I am back to hot water bottles and fleece blankets.:p

ellanutella

Can't believe how cold it is. Feeling quite down about it this year. In the past I've made it into a fun game, trying to see how far I can stretch my money, how long we can last without the heating on but have lost my get up and go. Have given in and bought a dehumidifier on an arg*s card. With no heat this summer there's patches of my garden that have barely been dry and I can feel the damn seeping into the house. Smells very musty. So hoping the dehumidifier will create much better atmosphere. I can stand cold but damp and cold is just proving too much!

Also noticed primark putting their prices up. Jammies they were selling off for £5 in July are now £8. Luckily my two pairs are still going strong.

Have made 5 draft excluders out of old jeans and trousers so am getting some sand delivered with the dehumidifier to bulk them up. Next on my list is finding some material to line the bedroom curtains with. Found a fabulous article on making a window quilt but can't afford to get my newly acquired (donated) sewing machine serviced. Think I have some old curtains knocking about somewhere I can steal the lining off. :T

bossymoo

ScattySkewbald wrote: »

Can I pick your brains please????

The padlock to the yard where I keep my ponies constantly freezes during winter and as I'm always up there first I get the task of defrosting it - any easy ideas how I can prevent it happening? I've tried WD40 and wrapping it in an old towel but have only had limited success.

I've found lock deicers on ebay which are like heated keys - anybody used them?

Try an outdoor tap jacket, or just bubble wrap?

valk_scot

ScattySkewbald wrote: »

Can I pick your brains please????

The padlock to the yard where I keep my ponies constantly freezes during winter and as I'm always up there first I get the task of defrosting it - any easy ideas how I can prevent it happening? I've tried WD40 and wrapping it in an old towel but have only had limited success.

I've found lock deicers on ebay which are like heated keys - anybody used them?

The traditional method I'm told is to pee on the padlock, though I've never tried it myself as I'm female and lack the necessary directional part. The more hygenic method is a thermos of hot (not boiling) water.

the_cake

Just popping in to say - don't forget the bedsocks!! I only started wearing them last winter, and they have made a huge difference to how cosy I feel in bed. Teamed with a hotty and a good book: heaven.
Also, don't know if its officially winter prep. but I have been planting lots of bulbs and winter flowering pansies - all cheap from car boots and B & M, so am now much cheered by the little pansy faces and looking forward to seeing the bulbs come up in the spring. Also, garlic for next year should be planted soon .....
Love and warm thoughts to all, the cake xx

valk_scot

MoonJelly wrote: »

Thanks for the suggestions. I was actually considering the electric blanket. I am one of those people who are always cold! But I was told electric blankets are not safe for children. So I am back to hot water bottles and fleece blankets.:p

It's not really necessary to have heating on in a room at night, even for small children. My three toddlers managed perfectly well sleeping in unheated rooms, I just made sure they had plenty of layers that they could kick on and off as required. It's only within my lifetime that CH has become common, remember. So don't fret too much about unheated bedrooms. If it's really cold however have you considered co-sleeping? My boys used to snuggle into one bed with two duvets when the nights were cold, my DD prefered to cuddle in with me. They're too old for any of that now though so usually we argue over who gets our long haired cat, he's very big and very, very warm!

Have to say I wouldn't trust a small child alone with a hot water bottle, I'd take it out when the child went to bed. You can however get microwavable wheat bags in the shape of toy animals and as long as you're careful to just get them warm rather than scorching hot the child can keep it in bed with them at night.

MoonJelly

valk_scot wrote: »

It's not really necessary to have heating on in a room at night, even for small children. My three toddlers managed perfectly well sleeping in unheated rooms, I just made sure they had plenty of layers that they could kick on and off as required. It's only within my lifetime that CH has become common, remember. So don't fret too much about unheated bedrooms. If it's really cold however have you considered co-sleeping? My boys used to snuggle into one bed with two duvets when the nights were cold, my DD prefered to cuddle in with me. They're too old for any of that now though so usually we argue over who gets our long haired cat, he's very big and very, very warm!

Have to say I wouldn't trust a small child alone with a hot water bottle, I'd take it out when the child went to bed. You can however get microwavable wheat bags in the shape of toy animals and as long as you're careful to just get them warm rather than scorching hot the child can keep it in bed with them at night.

Thanks for the suggestions. We are already co-sleeping so I can vouch for the effectivess of sleeping in one bed. BUT I've never heard of microwavable toy bags -will definitely check out.:T

chirpychick

I have to say again how much last years prep is paying off! Our downstairs and our bedrooms are really maintaining their daytime temperatures of around 20-23 degrees at the moment!
Still having issues with the cold hallway, I just don't understand why!
We have a big heavy door curtain and the windows are being fixed before the end of October which hopefully will make a difference. I just cannot fathom why it is so cold in the hall!
The letterbox has the black bristley things and hubby filled all holes etc that could possibly create draught. It is either the front door or the loft hatch (hubby insists its not the loft hatch), thats all I can put it down to. The hall is even carpeted unlike the whole of downstairs. might try putting bubble wrap over the double glazing on the front door?
Any other suggestions?

I made £60 on ebay and brought a winter coat from New Look, a hat from ebay and gloves from ebay.(the rest went on baby stuff). My lovely Mum brought me waterproof trainers and I got hubby some welly socks for his birthday (oct).
We still need to get 2 fleece blankets for the curtains in the nursery.
I have seen a gorgeous fleece all in one for the baby which i am hoping to make enough money to buy (it's £5 so not too extreme) and I am hoping to get a onesie for christmas (the only thing on my list) and hoping hubby will get brought some slippers by someone else too lol.
oh and do the car kit and hubbys commuter bag. (we have everything just need to put together).
That should be us done this winter - i hope to achieve a bit more next year but baby took priority this year.