Preparing for winter IV

MarilynMonroe_2

I'm not holding my breath either although I have bought my first little BBQ so would appreciate one nice day (not asking for much lol). I think we should prepare for floods again though, already this year we've had one nearby! They don't really affect me too much except on the way to Lidls and back we would be dodging flooded areas but my husband got flooded several times last year.

Your knitting reminded me I need to finish my daughters blanket this year. And I definitly could do with some proper winter clothes this year. I know I am a tough Northerner but even I am starting to think sandles in November is maybe a bit much these days

dandy-candy

Alice Mary, I'm 3 days in to making a shawl for winter although I could do with wearing it now!

life_and_forks

What a great thread! I've only read the last few pages but have already read some brilliant ideas that I plan to put to use - will sit down with a coffee this afternoon and work my way through the rest of the posts! I like the idea of adding fleece to the back of curtains and will certainly be doing this when I can get a little spare cash put aside.

Our house is so cold over winter, we are semi-rural and so don't have a gas supply, no oil central heating here either, so we are reliant on a coal fire in the sitting room and a small panel radiator that is in the kitchen and is moved into a bedroom should one of the children be poorly. We live in the fens and so get to enjoy (!) huge icy winds in the winter - with our lack of heating it is bloody freezing!

Is there a basic 101 type post of the most useful ideas? If not, would anyone be kind enough to say what things they have found to be the most helpful in keeping the warm in and the cold out? We have very little money that I can put aside and I'm worried I may waste it on things that didn't work too well.

[Deleted User]

june is going to be a washout, don`t know about july and august yet. I haven`t put my winter clothes away, no point but am busy spinning and knitting to build up more warm woolies for the little ice age we are heading into. Am also making preps here for alternative cooking as everything depends on electric, I decided to get a cobb cooker and gave it a trial run last night, cooking a whole chicken and baked spuds. It cooks for 2-3 hours so will be a good sub cooker, rather than short term camping gaz

I will be mad busy with dehydrating basics like potatoes provided the allotment (small one) produces enough, touch and go this year. I think it would not be a bad idea to plan a small cosy room that can be used as a warm room. The uk was a few hours away from running out of gas last year and that will affect electricity supply

alice-mary

Shhh, don't tell anybody BUT I can see a bright yellow ball in the sky!!!!!

Alice
xx

[Deleted User]

Hello LIFE AND FORKS we are both retired and decided to install a multi fuel burner in the lounge a few years back, it really is the best investment we've ever made. Now even in the coldest weather we do not need to run the central heating at all, the stove heats most of the house and our room is over the lounge so we pick up the heat from below. We've learned that lots of thinner layers of clothing is warmer that heavy things, we close the curtains as it begins to get dark in all the rooms, it helps keep residual heat in, we always have throws on the 3 piece suite to snuggle in if we chill down, we close doors and keep rooms warm,try to keep active and moving as much as we can that helps too, warm drinks are cheaper than putting on the heating and hot water bottles to cuddle are your friend. Lining curtains with cheap fleece blankets really helps and make sausage draught excluders if you do feel any around the house. We have heavy curtains on the external doors and pull these across when we have finished outside jobs for the day. My favourite keep warm ploy is that I've invested in several Gilet type body warmers which leave arms mobile but warm the trunk very well, I wouldn't be without them, Hope that's some use, Cheers Lyn.

MarilynMonroe_2

life_and_forks wrote: »

What a great thread! I've only read the last few pages but have already read some brilliant ideas that I plan to put to use - will sit down with a coffee this afternoon and work my way through the rest of the posts! I like the idea of adding fleece to the back of curtains and will certainly be doing this when I can get a little spare cash put aside.

Our house is so cold over winter, we are semi-rural and so don't have a gas supply, no oil central heating here either, so we are reliant on a coal fire in the sitting room and a small panel radiator that is in the kitchen and is moved into a bedroom should one of the children be poorly. We live in the fens and so get to enjoy (!) huge icy winds in the winter - with our lack of heating it is bloody freezing!

Is there a basic 101 type post of the most useful ideas? If not, would anyone be kind enough to say what things they have found to be the most helpful in keeping the warm in and the cold out? We have very little money that I can put aside and I'm worried I may waste it on things that didn't work too well.

Hi, main thigns I'd say: door curtains, wooly socks, clothes in layers, blankets over couches and spare to put over you, stock up on fuel if possible, hot dinners and close curtains early to name a few. x

MarilynMonroe_2

kittie wrote: »

june is going to be a washout, don`t know about july and august yet. I haven`t put my winter clothes away, no point but am busy spinning and knitting to build up more warm woolies for the little ice age we are heading into. Am also making preps here for alternative cooking as everything depends on electric, I decided to get a cobb cooker and gave it a trial run last night, cooking a whole chicken and baked spuds. It cooks for 2-3 hours so will be a good sub cooker, rather than short term camping gaz

I will be mad busy with dehydrating basics like potatoes provided the allotment (small one) produces enough, touch and go this year. I think it would not be a bad idea to plan a small cosy room that can be used as a warm room. The uk was a few hours away from running out of gas last year and that will affect electricity supply

I read the other day it was only 6 hours away from running out!

mummytoo

Hi guys, love this thread! I keep checking everyday for new updates and new ideas so I thought I would add my own.

Bought a new fridge freezer and put old one in the garage so double the room for winter goodies.
Thermal bedding! a must in my household.
Put summer duvets over mattresses for extra heat.
Pricing new external back door ( all depending in cost at the moment would love new windows but totally out of our budget this year)
Bought winter coats for DD1 and 2.
Winter boots for DD1 (got for xmas but far too big last year so hoping might fit this year)
Rug for downstairs bathroom.
Mum gave me some lined curtains for the porch, never had any up last year and was so cold no one would use downstairs toilet.
Gloves and hats (courtesy of muddy puddles:) sales).
New drains in garden ( gardens was always sodden).
Hand me down slabs from dads back garden ( to make a walk way to whiry gig to stop me trodden in wet grass to hang washing outside, they just need to be laid now.
Painted all garden furniture.
Painted eaves on garage.
Unblocked external 2 drains (not sure all long gutter drains were blocked done by creating a vacuum with old mop and works perfectly).

Need to buy some solar lights for the garden love the chrissmy look in winter and been looking at a solar charger for my mobile and ipod seem to be charging this everday or so, if anyone with anyone experience of one would love to hear if they are worth it or not. xx

MarilynMonroe_2

*I've priced tumble dryers, £50 with a 12 month guarantee, I'm guessing 2nd hand look like new though... reasonable?

*Been getting on with my painting and had several gaps filled in my bathroom with that spray foam.

*Trying to lose weight ready for winter so I can buy proper winter clothes this year.

^I love my twinkly garden lights, I got them from BM stores.