Preparing for winter IV

Ellie83

Grimbal wrote: »

My apologies if this has been done within this thread before (or elsewhere for that matter!), but I was wondering if you guys could advise on what needs to go in an emergency car kit ? Hubby drives only 40 mins each way so not too far, but I'd like to put something in there "just in case". So far, I have:

water
choc/food
first aid kit
silver foil blankets x 2
re-useable handwarmers
shovel
whistle (has compass, mirror & magnifier built in)
wind up torch radio

I just feel I've missed something obvious?!

ETA: oh, and hat/scarf/gloves too

During the winter we also carry some grit we bought in B&Q. Just enough to help if the car gets stuck. But for some reason it is very hard to store as it seems to "eat" the pastic box

SpikyHedgehog

MarilynMonroe wrote: »

That's what I am after for next year, a chest freezer. We always had one growing up, I once got my tongue stuck to it licking inside it!

I also want a tumble dryer too. I dont have a washing line so always end up putting hte radiators on to get the washing dry, fine in the winter but not in the summer, would be cheaper to run a tumble dryer.

Has anyone else got this winter bug? It's knocking me for 6.

I've got a tumble dryer, we had a mini one from PIL as a wedding present (Spiky to Errant Husband 'Well, you won't want to take the tumble dryer, I know your parents gave it to us but of course it was to benefit the boys and I as well as you...'
EH 'Oh, The Girlfriend has a bigger tumble dryer that doesn't need the hose sticking out of the back door, so I don't need it anyway!'
Spiky thinks 'Grrr...').

I'd actually look into alternatives first MarilynMonroe - there's a few threads around about drying washing indoors and here's one:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=97093
My tumble dryer is a dinky little one that has a hose that has to be shoved out of the back door so all the cold/wet then comes in the house. And it takes about 3 hours to dry a full wash load becasue I have to do it in 2 or 3 instalments.

What I would like is a dehumidifier, as several people have said they help get washing dry too. And/or one of the heated drying racks - I think Pigpen got one recently? It was discussed in the last thread...

westlothianlass wrote: »

HI all
Apologies if it has already been mentioned, but if you are a member of Unison or your partner is a member you can get a Will for free. I would guess that since they provide the service other unions may do the same.
hth
WLL x

I'm with Unison - I'm going to ask them if the free will for partner can apply to an adult child at home in the absence of a partner.

I had a discussion with DS1 earlier about where he'd like to live if anything happened to me, as Errant Husband would want DS2 living with him, and Ds1 wouldn't want to live with him. This then led onto funeral arrangements - maybe a little morbid, but it was worth talking about, as I'm now revising my thoughts based on my discussion.

Ellie83 wrote: »

You're good! We've left the guinea pigs' outdoor runs in the rain etc and now it means we have to paint another protective coat on them or they'll rot I'm just terrible like that

Can I ask people what you do with garden plants in the winter? Our newt house won't have a garage so I wonder where to keep them (they're in pots)... We don't have a shed either and probably won't have one soon as the initial cost is a little too high for us

You can get mini greenhouses for the garden like this one
http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?q=mini+greenhouse&hl=en&prmd=imvns&cr=countryUK|countryGB&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&biw=1360&bih=602&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=2895910697654690174&sa=X&ei=vt5xUJKwFYyN0wXFwoC4Bw&ved=0CGkQ8wIwAA
(picked as the first answer on my search...) I have one in my garden but need to get a new cover. If you manage to get it in the most sheltered part of the garden, they can help a lot. Remember, some plants will die off in winter but come back in the spring, so you only need to protect the non hardy plants.

Uniscots97

We've just put up bubble wrap on our toilet window. I'm now wondering whether to do the patio doors as our dining room is always freezing. I recently started having to rely more on public transport as my new job is in a location that is a nightmare to drive to or park in. Getting the train I was finding that my feet were getting cold. I've started wearing those shoe liners under my tights. They are thick cotton with lycra in them and are menat to be worn so that you aren't wearing trainers or shoes with bare feet and don't show when wearing the likes of court shoes. But they do keep your feet warm. I got 2 pairs for £2 in Mr T's.

Oog

Hi,
I've been reading this thread for a while and just wanted to post some about the 'polar' fleece material I ordered from fabricland.

I ordered an entire 50m roll of black to do cheap curtain linings (as I have large bay windows that have a 3m drop and need at least 8 pairs :eek:) and it came the next day so I was very pleased with the service. Just need to measure and cut them, now...

They have some really nice patterns,too, if you wanted fancy winter linings!

MrsCD

Ellie83 wrote: »

Can I ask people what you do with garden plants in the winter? Our newt house won't have a garage so I wonder where to keep them (they're in pots)... We don't have a shed either and probably won't have one soon as the initial cost is a little too high for us

Put your pots somewhere sheltered, and if it gets very cold, you can wrap them in garden fleece, or old sheets, net curtains etc. Just make sure you check that they're not 'sweating' as it can cause mould to grow, and kill your plants. Could you make a temp shed with a frame like a cold frame against a wall to overwinter your pots in? Sorry I'm not much help. Maybe the gardeners can help more.

Grimbal wrote: »

My apologies if this has been done within this thread before (or elsewhere for that matter!), but I was wondering if you guys could advise on what needs to go in an emergency car kit ? Hubby drives only 40 mins each way so not too far, but I'd like to put something in there "just in case". So far, I have:

water
choc/food
first aid kit
silver foil blankets x 2
re-useable handwarmers
shovel
whistle (has compass, mirror & magnifier built in)
wind up torch radio

I just feel I've missed something obvious?!

ETA: oh, and hat/scarf/gloves too

Grimball - here is the 'official' advice, but I'm sure we can all add to it

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069859
Vehicle maintenance, safety and security
Icy and snowy weather

228

In winter check the local weather forecast for warnings of icy or snowy weather. DO NOT drive in these conditions unless your journey is essential. If it is, take great care and allow more time for your journey. Take an emergency kit of de-icer and ice scraper, torch, warm clothing and boots, first aid kit, jump leads and a shovel, together with a warm drink and emergency food in case you get stuck or your vehicle breaks down.

Betty_Crumble

hi guys, loved joining in in here last year and so looking forward to it again, hope you dont mind.
just realised I never got my ikea throw/curtain linings back from a friend who used them to protect some furniture when she moved so will have to get some more, thank goodness they wernt too expensive.
Going to have a think and start getting an action plan together as there are some things i didnt do last year that i am going to this, such as the bubble wrap at the window, no-one uses the downstairs loo at all in winter so im hoping i'll notice a difference.

squiggles

Has anyone tried using a silver foil sheeting ontop of bed itself for warmth ? between duvet and top blanket say to lesson the rustle noise and stop it sliding off the bed.

Cheapskate

Morning all

Not done all I planned the last week or so, but we've had a joiner mending the garage - he's made a new door to replace the old one that was kn**kered, and he's making a new side gate to keep the back garden secure when the littlies are playing out.

We need to have new tyres for the car, almost down to the bare minimum tread, so an absolute must! Would like to get to !kea this week for a couple more fleeces, too.

Still haven't found anything for door curtains, so think I'll end up making some; all the curtains I've seen in CS are far too short. Best option I've come up with is some Basics bed sheets from SM, add header tape and lined with fleece or another sheet, think this will work out the cheapest, as CS prices for all sorts are rocketing here.

Also need some storage boxes fro various things - to keep dry goods dry/safe from anything that will eat them, to act as car box, etc.

It's felt a lot cooler here the last few days, so need to crack on - feel a bit like a squirrel or something getting ready for winter - love it!

A xo

SpikyHedgehog

unixgirluk wrote: »

We've just put up bubble wrap on our toilet window. I'm now wondering whether to do the patio doors as our dining room is always freezing. I recently started having to rely more on public transport as my new job is in a location that is a nightmare to drive to or park in. Getting the train I was finding that my feet were getting cold. I've started wearing those shoe liners under my tights. They are thick cotton with lycra in them and are menat to be worn so that you aren't wearing trainers or shoes with bare feet and don't show when wearing the likes of court shoes. But they do keep your feet warm. I got 2 pairs for £2 in Mr T's.

2 winters ago, I had to start taking DS2 to the school breakfast club, which involves us leaving the house at 7.30 to stand and wait for the bus, in the cold and wet, then me waiting for the bus to work in more cold and wet.

I have to admit, last year, after various chest infections for both of us and steroid tablets for my asthma going out of control, I decided to use taxis, but also some friends were taking DS2 some days so I only needed to take him to breakfast club myself once or twice a week. (better than every day.) Not very money saving on the face of it, but as it meant neither of us were off sick, it helped with looking at it laterally...

What I do is make sure I've got things to change into if I get to work wet. We have layers - I wear tights, then work trousers, and socks; DS2 has long johns. Mittens/gloves, hats, scarves, bodywarmers under/over coats. Fleecy insoles in footwear. Hot breakfast before leaving, hot drink when we get home. Change out of cold wet clothes when you get home.

It's the waiting around that does it - the winter before he started breakfast club, I was walking him to school in the snow and ice, and coped much better. Of course, we still had all the warm clothes, but becasue we kept active, the core temp doesn't drop so much.

Cheapskate wrote: »

Morning all

Not done all I planned the last week or so, but we've had a joiner mending the garage - he's made a new door to replace the old one that was kn**kered, and he's making a new side gate to keep the back garden secure when the littlies are playing out.

We need to have new tyres for the car, almost down to the bare minimum tread, so an absolute must! Would like to get to !kea this week for a couple more fleeces, too.

Still haven't found anything for door curtains, so think I'll end up making some; all the curtains I've seen in CS are far too short. Best option I've come up with is some Basics bed sheets from SM, add header tape and lined with fleece or another sheet, think this will work out the cheapest, as CS prices for all sorts are rocketing here.

Also need some storage boxes fro various things - to keep dry goods dry/safe from anything that will eat them, to act as car box, etc.

It's felt a lot cooler here the last few days, so need to crack on - feel a bit like a squirrel or something getting ready for winter - love it!

A xo

Since I lined the then cotton curtains in the hallway with a flannelette sheet, it really does feel better out there - sheets & fleece/other sheets will be great, I think.

Gettingtherequickly

MarilynMonroe wrote: »

I dont have a washing line so always end up putting hte radiators on to get the washing dry, fine in the winter but not in the summer, would be cheaper to run a tumble dryer.

Has anyone else got this winter bug? It's knocking me for 6.

I don't have a line either, but bought a portable rotary line. Best thing I have ever bought, as I can put it outside if the weather is good, or in the spare room or bathroom if not. When the clothes are dry, folds up out of the way, best of both worlds.

Paid about £30 a few years ago from Lakeland I think.