Preparing for winter III

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

*lots to learn*
I might have blinds down but force myself to go walkies to get daylight hours in and keep heat in home.
use Radiators over awful heaters that make me ill.
Use bed and laptop as control centre.

rising_from_the_ashes

LondonDreamer wrote: »

Still need to...

• Make a keyhole cover - magnets don't work on our plates

Try Blue-tak (I went to put mine back on the door to discover I've not removed it after last winter:o)

I felt quite faint at your loo roll count .....:eek:

happycamper3 wrote: »

thanks for the suggestions re hot water bottles, poundland have run out of them in my local store, and they are having problems getting them from the warehouse

:eek:already!:eek: What's it going to be like in winter?

ILoveSaving

I made two very snuggly lap quilts last winter from an old single quilt. This made them lovely and bouncy. My husband claimed the first one before I had even finished it. The second I made for myself but my two teenage daughters are forever fighting me for it, so I know what I am making them this year as an extra xmas presy.

I dont know if it was down to using these, but my heating bills are actually reducing this winter even though the price of our gas and elec has gone up! But we are getting into the habit of reaching for the quilts first instead of automatically turning on the fire.:heartsmil:heartsmil

tugrin

Hi ILovesaving - how big do you make your lap quilts please-my sister just gave me an old duvet today and Im wondering if it would be suitable to make lap quilts with.
Sis also gave me some squash soup for lunch made with a winter squash I gave her and for a topping she fried some Lidls Bavarian smoked ham and it was deeelicious so I thought Id pass that on as I usually have cheese or cream and it made a nice change.

abankerbutnotafatcat

Darling OH put up the curtainpole and blackout curtains in my sister's room in the loft - they look really good so I ordered some more for the lounge and our bedroom as they are on special in Argos.

Where does everyone buy the candles for electricity cuts? We haven't seen any yet, only tea lights or fancy coloured smelly ones.

Gers

Just a huge big enormous THANKS to folk on this thread!

I now have:

* Cotton trader water proof boots (not the snow boots)
* Yaktrax
* Two snow shovels - a folding one for the car and a 'proper' one for here
* Enough loo roll to keep a gastro-enteritis ward going for four weeks
* A survival box in the car - only got water and flapjacky type things


Bring it on!

:T:T

Mum_on_a_mission_2

MRSTITTLEMOUSE wrote: »

Just wondering,this seems a brilliant idea and I've read all the info on the site.
However could I ask from a users perspective,are they realy easy to fit up the chimney and remove when you want to have a fire on.
I know they say they are on the website but is that realy the case.
Never heard of these before but they seem a very good idea.

Apologies for missing replying - life has gotten in the way!

Yes it easy to remove, just deflate and pull gently. It may pull some soot with it so I tend to put a towel or something below first, and have a something to put the balloon into.

Try this to see how it works? Actually there are loads of youtube videos on fireplace draughts - might be useful?

Moam

toottifrootti

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

[/LIST]

I felt quite faint at your loo roll count .....:eek:

oh dear I had better not tell you that i only have 3 rolls then:eek::rotfl:.......... will rectify that tomorrow - it shopping day with my carer:D
going to get a few things for the store cupboard. and some other winter things.

toottifrootti

just bringing this forward and updating.......

[FONT=&quot]Winter Checklist[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
Clothes
Wash all coats,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Find cosy jumpers and cardigans
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Put away[/FONT][FONT=&quot] all your summer clothes in either those vacuum bags or in a suitcase for the following year
Polish all shoes and boots
Go back through clothing checking what you need and what you need to replace. Think - what will I wear - what do I need?
All handbags sorted through and cleaned/leather treated and stored[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
Food
Stock up on tinned products such as soup, rice pudding, baked beans and spaghetti. These items will keep as good store cupboard standbys.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Soup, beans and general long life bits and bobs bought in.
Check and clean out your freezer, make a list of what you have and what you need to buy in. Keep at least two loaves of bread in the freezer. Stock up from butcherIf anything crops up on BOGOF and it will keep/freeze for winter buy it and store it.
Make a start on your Christmas food shopping list, allot of it can be frozen.
Buy in sacks of potatoes direct from a farmer, it will be cheaper than buying individual bags form the supermarket- protect them from frost in garage or shed.
put milk in freezer[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
House and garden
get chimney swept and checked if suitable for using if not find out about a stove
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Clean your home[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Including Washing all light units and glass shades in the house
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]get door curtains hung Martin[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]get pole hung for spare room [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Martin[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Clear away all fallen leaves
hang curtains in spare room [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Martin[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] get draught excluder for the front door
Clean windows inside and out
Launder all your throws and cushions
keep a torch on standby and use in emergency.
Buy in Flannelette sheets. If buying from new make sure you wash and dry your sheets to remove the preservative that the manufacturers use to keep them damp and mildew free.
Think about treating the bird table [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Martin[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Cut back [/FONT][FONT=&quot]everything in the garden late October to give your garden a big boost the following Spring.
Wash curtains and cushion covers
Buy in or make dehumidifiers from Pound stores or use household salt in a bowl to draw in moisture.
Oil all shed and gates locks, it will prevent rust and stop them seizing up when you most need to open them.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Martin[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] If your interior doormats can be washed in the machine do them.
Re-silicone shower areas where the silicone has turned black or mouldy, take it out and redo it. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Martin[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Having the window open also allows the silicone to cure or go off better. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Re grout floor tiles in bathroom[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Martin[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Wash your vacuum cleaner filters out. It will help with your HEPA filter and keep your home cleaner as well, it will also make your vacuum work and perform better.
Conservatories, clean inside and out, make sure that your seat covers and cushions are washed and that all the frames are clean.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Check lightbulbs and outside security lighting if broken replace or repair. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Martin[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]check if outside light can have a sensor fitted[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Martin[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Put food out for the birds they will so thank you for it. Buy in their food now while it is plentiful.
make sure that the battery in your bathroom scales is new after the Christmas blast
Paint the gates and the hand rail[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Martin[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Clean and polish wheelchair - remember to charge even when not in use
Finish tidying in the garage
find leaks in garage[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Martin[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]deal with leaks in garage[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Martin[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
fill in holes/ cracks etc[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Martin[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
plant hyacinth bulbs for Christmas
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]find torches
fleece linings for curtains
put up blind in bathroom [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Martin[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]put up blind in kitchen[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Martin[/FONT][FONT=&quot]

[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Left To Purchase that I know of!
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]hot water bottle covers
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] potatoes
flannelette sheets
rugs
door mats
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] plants
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] pjs
[/FONT][STRIKE]curtains for SR[/STRIKE]

[FONT=&quot]Hammerite black paint to finish off the gates![/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]food and cleaning materials[/FONT]
[STRIKE]candles[/STRIKE]
food supplies
toiletries
cleaning materials
household supplies
treats:D
extra freezer
paracetamol
tissues
blind for bathroom
blind for kitchen


[FONT=&quot]hopefully thats it:rotfl:


sorry but cant get the bold off![/FONT]

SpikyHedgehog

catznine wrote: »

I can remember in Girl guides, learning to cook little pancakes over an upturned (empty and punctured) golden syrup tin - tealight on a saucer, punctured tin over the top and using the greased lid as a cooking pan! I am guessing something like that would give out a fair amount of heat as well!

DS1 made fizzy drink can stoves at Explorers - you use meths to cook with so I think it would throw out reasonable amount of heat. I can't find the link for the page he printed off, so will edit tomorrow...

DS1 remembered to find me the link... http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36897&page=1 It was easy to make but he's not tried to cook on it at home yet!