Preparing for winter III

fuddle

Rainy-Days wrote: »

Argos still have corded phones. We bought a real cheapo basic BT phone from them years ago now and we have it up in the loft. If and I hope it doesn't happen, it does go then we know where it is to connect up.

Hate to tell all of you I have just been looking at the 10 day weather forecast and next week it is going to get much colder, daytime highs of about 10-12 degrees!!

It's 12 here today and I'm certainly feeling it. My hands are noticably colder, fingers moreso.

This is it - it's on it's way. I need to look right back over the threads to see if I can pick up some tips.

Oh, need a draught excluder!! that is an emergency

tugrin

Re (fork) candles - I have been trying to make a very poor copy of a "Kandle Heeter" I thinks thats how they spell it - it sees to basically be a candle with 3 terracotta pots over it and a steel bolt thru them to make the candle/tealigh 'radiate'more eat rather than let it rise straight up the ceiling. Mine consiste of 1 pot ovr an existing tealight lantern with a fat allan key through the hole so not nearly as hi-tech (LOL) but it does seem to be doing the radiating bit although how much heat it is actually producing I cant say cos Im in and out and the door is being opened and closed too much for therometer to register. Anyway its a laugh and there MUST be SOME heat

kit

fuddle wrote: »

It's 12 here today and I'm certainly feeling it. My hands are noticably colder, fingers moreso.

No idea what the temp is here but am in a Tshirt and am not cold at all. I knew there was a reason why I moved to Devon :j

Have just heard there is snow in Birmingham .... can anyone confirm this??

jamanda

Artichoke - you aren't by any chance in Derbyshire are you. DD has had a 24 hour power cut too.

pinkmami

I'm sunbathing in 17 degrees today! Beautiful & warm!!

Fruball

tugrin wrote: »

Re (fork) candles - I have been trying to make a very poor copy of a "Kandle Heeter" I thinks thats how they spell it - it sees to basically be a candle with 3 terracotta pots over it and a steel bolt thru them to make the candle/tealigh 'radiate'more eat rather than let it rise straight up the ceiling. Mine consiste of 1 pot ovr an existing tealight lantern with a fat allan key through the hole so not nearly as hi-tech (LOL) but it does seem to be doing the radiating bit although how much heat it is actually producing I cant say cos Im in and out and the door is being opened and closed too much for therometer to register. Anyway its a laugh and there MUST be SOME heat

I can't believe what those Kandle Heeters cost.:eek: I was looking at them a few weeks ago. I was wondering about making something similar but decided I CBA

I WILL make a list of things to do next week - things have got behind what with the builders in and i've worked more hours this week so the week has flown and not enough preps have been done - except for clearing out the bottom of the larder to make room for extra winter supplies (which I can't afford to buy because of the open fire building costs ) We have tonnes in anyway, always do

Neighbour brought round some free wood..... Just got to wait for all the cement and plaster to dry now and then I can get the fire going again :j I've got the de-humidifier on to help speed up the process and I had forgotten just how much it warms the room!

Kids have been going to bed with their "warmies" - soft toys filled with wheat - quick blast in the microwave and then I tell the DDs that they better hurry and get into bed before they cool down which makes bedtimes much easier and faster :rotfl:

Tonight I am going to do the back door (again) with the window film - the last one wrinkled and needed hairdrying every day :mad:

On my urgent list now is:

Drain down outside tap and insulate
Insulate outside pipe that some of you will remember froze last year leaving us with no WM for nearly a week :eek:
Car snack pack (new hats, scarves and gloves still with tags on are in the boot from last year so just need moving into the car under the seats!)
Get some more cash in, in case cashpoints run out/power cuts etc
Buy more candles
Get some coal in and some logs (don't mind burning pallets when its just me but will have a 'posh' fire when I have friends over )
Re-arrange 2 small cupboards in the kitchen to free up space for a less cluttered kitchen.

I am sure there are others but that will do for now!

Happy prepping folks and keep the tips coming!!

^!£$&

kit wrote: »

No idea what the temp is here but am in a Tshirt and am not cold at all. I knew there was a reason why I moved to Devon :j

Have just heard there is snow in Birmingham .... can anyone confirm this??

I'm just outside Bham in the posher bit lol and theres no snow here!

Dustykitten

I have a store cupboard question. Do you all have a separate area you keep for emergencies/not to be used?

I have a store cupboard in the garage which is where we keep most of the dry/tinned food especially things bought on offer but we use from it all the time as it is the food cupboard so the stock in there varies. When writing my shopping list each week I do go to it and make a list.

We don't really struggle here too much with snow, we're in a town and have a corner shop in walking distance so can usually get what we need, I just wondered how you all operate your supplies.

tugrin

I think this Birmingham snow thing is a wind-up - remember it happened a few weeks ago. Either that or its code for something we are just not clever enough to understand!

his_missus

Dustykitten, I don't have an emergency store cupboard for food (we're near a corner shop and in a small town so not too affected by snow once we've walked off our Close) but we do keep other things such as candles, fuses, bulbs, basic tools etc on a shelf under the stairs so we can get to them in an emergency.