Preparing for winter IV

Fruball

365days wrote: »

Re cobwebs and spiders - Don't know if anyone has already mentioned this but conkers deter them. Put a couple on window sills/skirtings etc. I don't mind them but my mum hates them and swears by this. Just the right time of year too!

No they don't!

My ex had conkers on the windowsills and swore they helped until I pointed out that one of them had a spider web over it!!!

I have trained my 8mnth cavalier pup to catch and eat them

365days

Here's an interesting page......it seems you may be right Fruball

http://www.thereaction.net/news/y2010/m10/spiders_versus_conkers_definitive_guide.aspx

pigpen

The conkers thing is nothing but an old wives tale.. death is the way to get rid.. them.. not you!

I had ordered Asda fleeces for the 3 outer doors.. do they need curtains too or does fleece on its own work well enough??

pigpen

The winter prep list of Pigpen.

1. Coats for everyone who needs them. [STRIKE]B[/STRIKE], C, [STRIKE]D, M, J, A, F, E[/STRIKE], GS1, [STRIKE]GS2, GS3[/STRIKE].
2. Shoes/Boots for everyone who needs them. [STRIKE]B, C, D, M, J, A, F, E, GS1,[/STRIKE] GS2, [STRIKE]GS3[/STRIKE]
3. Get a little ahead with gas payments as my Dec bill comes Christmas week and cripples me every year.. I WILL be prepared this year!
4. Kitchen 'stock up' list. Make sure we have lots of non-perishables in case it is too cold/snowy/etc to get to the supermarket.
5. Medicine cabinet refilling. Cold/flu caps, [STRIKE]calpol, calpol melts[/STRIKE], ibuprofen, calprofen, anbesol, canesten, [STRIKE]metanium[/STRIKE], cough medicines, [STRIKE]throat lozenges, lip balms.[/STRIKE]
6. blinds up in kitchen
7. curtains.. DD2's room, DD3/4's room, front door, back door
8. Draught snakes.. French doors, front door, back door.
9. Service for electric fire in middle room.. it has been cutting out after half an hour or so.
10. Car service & MOT.. December
11. Car bits.. antifreeze spray,[STRIKE] screen wash, blankets for tiddlies,spade,[/STRIKE] cardboard for traction.. it is also used to protect the carpet in the boot from muddy pushchair wheels!
12. in the house activities for the children. I might actually have them doing stuff like stuffing draught snakes etc. I wonder if I can have them knitting squares so they can knit a blanket for themselves!!
13. Replace drip thing on back door to stop rain sneaking in.

Just crossing off a bit more!

bossymoo

Pigpen :wave: I just used fleece at the downstairs loo window last year and it really helped. It was doubled over though. It gets cold in there - side of the house where the bins are and never really sees sunlight... I could tell a difference.

rising_from_the_ashes

Fruball wrote: »

No they don't!

My ex had conkers on the windowsills and swore they helped until I pointed out that one of them had a spider web over it!!!

I have trained my 8mnth cavalier pup to catch and eat them

The spiders or the conkers?

Hopefully the former .....

pigpen

Having bought my new curtain poles and fleeces.

..I am now decorating in my head... I really need to get a grip lol... Yesterday I was looking at new sofas for 2 of the downstairs rooms as the one in the middle room is dead.. but that apparently means in the front room the wooden valance and old curtain track coming down and the holes filling wall painting above the picture rail .. that requires new wallpaper/paintwork .. and a new carpet.. and then possibly new curtains.. but it has to fit with the black firesurround... And a new carpet and repainting of the middle room.. all this from a new curtain pole for the bay because I was getting one for the doors!!

Anyway... the sofas are pulled out in the front room ready for the first curtain pole going up.. I washed the curtains ready to go up on the new rail.

Why do I always have to go overboard?.. there is no happy medium or bare minimum with me!

pollys

Everyone now has wellingtons. DS3 has requested some walking boots which I am really pleased about. He is now at big school and walks. It is only a mile or so but his school shoes will not stand up to snow and slush. I do suspect the fact that two of his friends have them has something to do with this, but I'm not complaining.

I bought myself some sensible work shoes, a must for playground duty. Last years coat is fine.

I'm loving this sunshine, but according to the weather forecast it won't last much longer.

Drying washing is a problem, despite having a tumble drier lots of our clothes cannot be dried in it. I have just invested in the Lakeland drier so will see if that helps. I also got some of their moisture traps so will report back - they should arrive this week (found a £5 off voucher in a magazine)

Pollys

bossymoo

Getting my list together;

Car:
Winter check, regassing aircon, wd40 in locks, Vaseline on rubber door jams (mine seem prone to freezing stuck)

Kids:
DD needs long sleeved thermal tops, both have coats, boots and plenty of warm layers. Also have warm bedding, mini hot water bottles and waterproof trousers.

Me:
Just needed a coat and few smaller clothes :T but think I'm all set. Perhaps some new slippers in a month or two.

Conservatory:
Just had solid insulating roof added :T will need to paint and get blinds back up before moving furniture back in.

Garage:
Boiler check-up, switch second freezer on and fill, good old tidy once conservatory furniture is out of the way... - it's a converted room rather than a car garage, but I still call it garage, and may need a spot of decorating...

Bathrooms:
Make some blinds, tidy airing cupboard as its great space for drying laundry...

Storecupboard:
Check what's in, top up

Think that's it really. We did plenty last year and are well insulated.

ETA Garden! Need to lose summer bedding, get spring bulbs in then add some winter colour, a good sweep up and maybe hose down the playhouse too. Trees are already pruned.

XSpender

I didn't get our bedroom curtains taken up this weekend but we have managed to get the front garden tidied up and the winter bedding plants in. I used some garden vouchers I got for my birthday so only a minimal spend. We still need to tackle the back garden.

All my summer clothes and sandals are packed away and I have had a ruthless clear out of my wardrobe. I don't need any more clothes to get me through the winter.

We should get the quote for the windows tomorrow and have decided at a bare minimum we will get the 2 windows at the front and a new front door.

DS new bed didn't turn up on Friday, no phone call and when I rang them the department I needed to speak to was shut:mad: I don't know when they will get it to us now as I am at work full time.