Preparing for winter III

saverholic

ged1980 wrote: »

Originally Posted by rising from the ashes

Start your car and do everything as normal except do not go anywhere near your accelerator - when you get to the bite in the cluth, release the handbrake/brake pedal, let out the clutch gently .... and the car will move:). Once moving and "stable", you can then move into the next gear/use your accelerator.

It's a very alien feeling and doesn't feel natural at all:o but the car moves just by releasing the clutch (and no acceleration) - it's great for trying to move off from a parking spot or if you're on an incline at a set of traffic lights etc.


.

Another lurker emerging from the wood work :rotfl:

Got to ask, how do you avoid stalling as you lift your clutch up? Am I just being over cautious? Would love to know how to do this, my road always turns into an ice rink.




My 'prep' is going well, though there isn't much I can do as I'm in a (tiny) rented house share. I treat myself to a new duvet the other week and I can now say categorically that the old one was either way past its best or was never a heavy tog duvet to begin with. Can't believe how much warmer I am at night now.

Begun putting together a bit of a car kit. I hope I won't need it but will be driving back and forth across the Pennines in December so would like to have a few bits just in case. Won't be going nuts because TBH if I think there is a risk of getting stranded I will be staying on the couch with a hot chocolate!

Do any of you lovely people have any recommendations of how to keep feet warm. At home I wrap them in a wheat bag but during the day they can get so cold they start to hurt.

Thankyou to everyone whose shared their ideas and progress over the last weeks/months. I've followed the thread along but haven't had much to share. Can't wait to have a place of my own to make cosy :T

smeeth

Bought some wrangler walking boots in the charity shop, £8 (:eek:), but I looked online and new they are £80!
They're brand new, no wear, and still got the labels inside!:D:D

tugrin

Hi ssver - what do you normlly wear on your feet during the day and do you do a lot of walkin/standing in your job?

CH27

Bella2012 wrote: »

Hi All,

This is my first post so bare with me...
I only moved into my own home this year and have never done any prep for winter. Can anyone offer any advice or tips on where to start? What to buy etc

Thanks

Welcome to the thread.

Go round the house & check your doors & windows for draughts. Door curtains are excellent for keeping rooms snug.
Make sure you have some candles & matches in case of power cuts.
Make sure you have some salt or grit for your outside space.

springdreams

kittycatface wrote: »

with radiators do i need to get that special homebase radiator foil or will ordinary household one work just as well??

Ordinary household foil attached to a bit of cardboard and stuck on the wall with a bit of blu tack or double sided tape will work fine.

The 37p silver car sun screens (from Tesco mentioned above) attached to the wall with blue tack or double sided tape will also work

springdreams

CH27 wrote: »

Welcome to the thread.

Go round the house & check your doors & windows for draughts. Door curtains are excellent for keeping rooms snug.
Make sure you have some candles & matches in case of power cuts.
Make sure you have some salt or grit for your outside space.

Other ideas I have picked from this thread and PFW II thread are:

• put a duvet under the bottom sheet
• put curtains up on all windows
• line said curtains with fleece blankets
• triple glaze windows with window film
• stick bubble wrap on windows
• hang floor length, fleece lined, curtains over doors
• spray any mouldy window frames with a bleach & water solution
• draught excluders for doors
• duvets or throws for couches
• rugs / carpets on non-carpeted floors
• flanelette sheets
• single size fleece blanket - cut a slit in it for head to go through, and have a really warm and comfy poncho!
• tin foil wrapped around cardboard behind radiators
• drip strips under the windows to collect the ton of nasty condensation
• Light candles for extra warmth (may be in the head ...)
• Stuff plastic bags under kitchen cupboards to block any draughts
• Cover key holes with blu tack / cellotape / magnet
• Put electric blankets on timers
• Insulate dog house
• Stock up with cold / flu medicines

:T

HelenYorkshire

I have a silly question.... this is my first winter with LPG heating - do I need to protect the outdoor pipework? They're just bare metal.

As for driving on just the clutch, I do this already (but I drive a diesel so it can chug along in 2nd gear without touching the accelerator). I'd guess try it out very gently in a car park to see how you go. Diesels can also set off in 2nd gear (no idea about petrols for this) - the higher gear the better because then there is less torque, i.e. the wheel is "pushing" less against the snow/ice, so hopefully less likely to slip. Does that make sense?

I need to sort my curtains out and probably do something about the back porch. I've probably got enough window-film to cover the lot!

I didn't think of candles creating heat as opposed to being pretty - suddenly I'm more inclined to use that Ikea sack of tealights that I've carted around for 5 years......

singlestep

Bella2012 wrote: »

Can anyone offer any advice or tips on where to start? What to buy etc

Welcome to you and the other newbies springdreams' list is comprehensive (I'm going to check my own preparations against it now because I'm paranoid). There's loads of similar good advice on this thread and the two previous ones. Also, a thread on what has worked and what hasn't. It really is worth taking the time (and a lot will be needed) to look.

There are things you take for granted but, once you've moved somewhere new, sometimes only think about when you've run out. Make sure that you have a stocked food cupboard/fridge (standbys in case of bad weather), that you're good for medication/flu remedies, skincare, soap and personal hygiene necessities and torch.

As for socks, you can get thin heat generating socks from M+S that aren't as thick as the other thermal ones. I must have had a pair on the other day and I really noticed the difference. I'll be wearing these or thermal socks from this point on. I also sw 2.3-tog socks somewhere, possibly Matalan, but can't be sure where.

LondonDreamer

Frugal wrote: »

Great. Yes that is the one I mean - thank you. I have ordered some from fleabay

I don't have any silicone moulds so I could like the top with tin foil - not beautiful but functional

I use a proper tart burner as they're generally larger than oil burners but I picked it up cheap from eBay. But either way, you don't need to line the top. When you want to change tarts, just stick the top in the freezer for a few minutes. The wax will then pop out easily. I then tuck them into my chest of drawers until I next use that one. Free drawer scenters. :money:

NualaBuala

This might seem a bit strange (and nosy!:D) but I was wondering if any of you change your bedtime and getting up time in the winter? I know many will have constraints on when you have to get up for work, getting children out to school etc. But for those with any leeway do you get up later as it gets bright later or go to bed earlier e.g. to save having the heating on? I've been waking up before it's bright these days and since I don't have work I find myself loath to get up when it's dark and cold - if I leave it an hour I don't have to put on lights and it's not so chilly.

Made a draught excluder today - one job done out of the trillions that need doing!

Oh and for anyone in Dublin, Boyers have great value flannel sheet sets - reduced from €70 to €25 for pillow cases, fitted and flat sheet.