Preparing for winter IV

Wills106

Hi all been a long term lurker on these Oldy worldy threads. Mostly this one and the SHTF one where I did my main intro just.

Anyway for the past few weeks I have been getting a few jobs done around the house (Bungalow)

I have put up net-curtains in all but one room. Some of the rooms have no curtains at all at present so more for privacy, but will also help keep a smidgen of heat in I guess?

Put up a thermal curtain on the front door, not sure what to do about my rear door as it's in the kitchen and don't really fancy a curtain on it :S

Ordered yet more fabric samples. I really want to make some curtains for my living room with out any seams. But how each curtain needs to be at least 150cm high and 350cm wide its quite hard finding decent quality plain white material at least 160cm wide.

I have replaced the seals on my UPVC front door, and both front Windows. (Just the seals on the bits that open) Each opening part is double sealed so the seal doesn't go very far, but at just under £18 it's cheaper than new doors / windows if all that's the problem is flat / torn seals etc.

Also filled a few gaps around the front and rear door from when I replaced the Alu ones for UPVC, been using expanding foam and those PVC flat profiles to tidy it all up.

Opps been auto told off for trying to post a link. Basically search on Toolstation for uPVC Universal Seal Black item code 57199.

I have also been running down the chest freezer to get it restocked up for winter. I have also been buying in tinned foods, mostly base ingredients that you can make into actual meals.

Although I do have a few all day breakfasts etc as always handy when when you can't be bothered to think what you want to eat.
O and enough SPAM to have my own Monty Python Sketch! Can't beat SPAM :P

alice-mary

Evening Peeps,
I have had my coal and logs for the winter delivered already but I have only just remembered that I need to get the blooming chimney swept too!
I am hoping that there won't be too many people thinking of doing it in this heat so that when I ring my lovely sweep tomorrow, there will be an appointment available very soon!

I am not enjoying the current oppressive heat (please don't hate me) although I do like the sunshine, I just prefer it with a breeze alongside or on a nice crisp autumn morning!

Alice
xx

moments_of_sanity

alice-mary wrote: »

Evening Peeps,
I have had my coal and logs for the winter delivered already but I have only just remembered that I need to get the blooming chimney swept too!
I am hoping that there won't be too many people thinking of doing it in this heat so that when I ring my lovely sweep tomorrow, there will be an appointment available very soon!

I am not enjoying the current oppressive heat (please don't hate me) although I do like the sunshine, I just prefer it with a breeze alongside or on a nice crisp autumn morning!

Alice
xx

Alice, I too love Autumn, Winter and Spring. Summer has never been my favourite season

timehastoldme

parsniphead wrote: »

I have lurked on this thread for a long time now and have always enjoyed reading through all the ideas. It's getting to the point in the year when I'm starting to think about the colder weather coming. I love all the seasons, especially the autumn but really feel the cold.

I had a dream last night where I was in the local town. It was dark, raining heavily with sleet mixed in and I was freezing. When I woke up I was dithering, covered in goosebumps. Blimey the temperature had dropped a lot over night.

So its time to look back on this thread and start planning for the colder months, especially as I live in a Victorian terrace with single glazing.

Looking forward to all the tips.

Ali

I'm mostly replying because it cheers my heart to see the Black Country flag anywhere!

But, in terms of winter prep in our red brick end terrace, after being horribly stung by our inherited utilities company when we bought this house, log burner is half way to fitted. So freaking excited!

lobbyludd

horribly jealous of the wood burner...... but very pleased for you! at least 2 winters to get through before I can afford one

I've put exterior silicone sealant around the backdoor today as was starting to part from the masonry (only hairline, but lets water seep in if it's driving rain.

I can't really think of anything we need for the next winter (that I can afford) - kids will need new boots at some point, they have winter coats aplenty (although ds needs a black one for high school, he has one khaki, one navy/grey and one orange - fair enough on the last one but grr on the others).

some stocking up on medicines will be required. I KEEP washing the soft furnishings and people KEEP daubing them with various sticky substances so never really feel I get on top of that!

next year the flashing under the roof must be done, but it will have to muddle through this.

school uniform to sort and perhaps 1 door curtain to make. I'm sure more will occur to me as I read!

UnluckyT

hello everyone, hope I can join too?
I seriously need to get organised for winter as ive muddled through somehow in the winter.
ive managed to get 2 blankets for curling up on the sofa with. 1 fleece, not brilliantly big but a good size and a red picnic style one a bit bigger.
I need to start making a list?

twiglet98

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

I forgot to say I got the Zebra child a really nice plush COT BLANKET with an appliqued 'doggy' on it from Aldi this morning to go in his new cot to use here and it was only £4.99. It should keep him toasty warm on winter visits to Oma and Opa.

"Oma and Opa" are such lovely names for grandzebras. I only have a grandspaniel at the moment, DD and her fianc! bought a cottage last August and they are getting married next summer, though I probably shouldn't assume my eldest will necessarily be the first to reproduce.

I get lots of wood through our local Freecycle group and have at least a couple of years' worth stored in the barn. I get pallets from work to cut up for kindling, not ideal burning but they're free and plentiful, and collect fallen branches during dry weather, spending many a happy afternoon with the chainsaw. When - if - younger DD moves out I will use the oil boiler only for hot water and the towel rail. I need to change the open stove for a multifuel with doors so I can keep the fire in all winter!

brightidea

Long time lurker - have finally got front door curtain rail sorted, winter coats and boots done but have silly huge conservatory that is soooo cold come September, ideas for keeping it warm! Rented- have plug in heater that eats electricity!

parsniphead

Glad you liked it timehastoldme. I'm very jealous as I would love a wood burner but it will be next year at the earliest.

Thought you may enjoy this.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZljTIibjd6M

I've got the huge job of sorting out the cellar today while the little one is at kindergarten. He still had to go when I'm on holiday as it gives me a chance to do some jobs and it's only one day.

The cellar tends to be very damp and all the clutter is holding the damp and makes to room above very cold in the winter. I also need to finish trying to insulate between the cellar rafters to make to room above warmer.

Also this will give me more storage where I can store some extra tins and free up room elsewhere so that I can have a proper store cupboard.

Have a good day everyone.

[Deleted User]

TWIGLET it's the german form of Grandma and Grandad and from when we lived there for a few years so my little Zebra will know us from his other grandparents who will be Grandma and Grandad to him, make his little life easier it will !

We don't run the central heating (floor standing very old gas boiler) at all these days as we have the woodstove, we have the water heated for 1 hour in the morning and again for 1 hour in the evening but not using it for the radiators, we do however leave the radiators upstairs open and turned on as the hot water thermosyphons up and gives a 'warm up' hour that keeps a low background heat in the whole house. Yes we do get chilly some days when it's particularly cold but the best thing for that is to have layers of thinner clothing, topped off with a body warmer, wonderful invention, and when we stop being active in the evening/late afternoon to wrap in a throw which is permanently on the back of the sofa (1 each) and drape the throw over shoulders and back if moving from the chair into the kitcen etc. works very well for us and saves heaps on the heating. The boiler is in the utility room and I have a fixed bar across this from wall to wall and lots of hangers as it's the best place to dry washing even in the middle of winter so no tumble dryer needed thank goodness and even heavy towels dry overnight.