Preparing for winter IV

Dippypud

singlestep wrote: »

What I really need is:

* A few things that would make a meal in the event of a power cut.
* My rooms 'dressed' for winter - thicker curtains washed and hanging, more candles.
* A thermal mug or flask (I make a note to self to buy one for commuting fairly regularly, always forgetting but it would come in handy in cold/flu season when maybe there's a real reason I cba). Any recommendations?
* To think of strategy should I have more than one person staying overnight when the weather is bad - extra tootbrushes, fleecy blanket etc.

Hopefully will be back on course with prepping tomorrow.

Stanley make a very good stout flask that's good for soups and drinks.

PipneyJane wrote: »

On the travel mug/flask thing, most travel mugs are not water tight so will spill if knocked over. An American friend recommend Contigo travel mugs which are built to remain sealed - you have to push a button to drink. However, they aren't cheap - I saw some in John Lewis on the weekend for £30. Amazon has them listed from £22. I paid $35 for a pack of two on Amazon.com a couple of years ago. Excellent product but I have managed to break one. This time last year, Costco sold a similar travel mug in a twin-pack for £14. It has the same seal. (I bought several as backups and gave others Christmas presents.) For the life of me, I can't remember the brand name.

Note: these mugs are great for tea and coffee but I wouldn't use them for soup - they aren't designed for thick liquids. Also, you have to make sure the mechanism is flushed out, if you drink something more sticky like a capaccino or hot chocolate.

Rainy-Days wrote: »

I got the rose trees/bushes cut right down the other day and mowed the back law as well (front didn't get cut as it has not grown as quick as the back for some reason). I bought some bark chips today and spent an hour putting those down in the front borders. They do a good job keeping the weeds at bay. Only trouble is the Blackbirds seem to enjoy having a good scratch around in the bark once I have done it.

I wonder what this winter will bring! Hopefully, it won't be as bad and as cold as 2009/2010 was.

Next week the weather is forcast to be warmer ...but only for the week

The blackbirds will sort thru and eat any grubs or seeds they find in your bark ...so good for them really

Confuzzled

mineallmine wrote: »

And this pink snuggler £2.99
http://www.halfcost.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=11&catalogId=10001&productId=77251&assocProductId=82186

:A

got the pink snuggler as a birthday present for my daughter, she loves it

Prittstick

Well I have just spent an hour making radiator reflectors, and very therapeutic it was too. All my friends think I am mad with my penny pinching ideas, but with the rising cost of heating, I'll give anything a shot!

All I used was some old wine boxes from the supermarket, cut to the size of the back of the radiator. Bubble wrap that came from something I purchased on EBay, Sellotape and some turkey foil from the 99p shop.

As I haven't turned the heating on yet, it could be a while before I know if these make any difference :rotfl:

Next job, blanket knitting. This could get messy! :cool:

pollys

Half term starts today for me and DS. It's a lovely day so I have been out in the back garden and tidied up. I have to be really careful as I have a back problem so didn't stay out as long as I would have liked to.
It looks much better though. Hoping to get out a few times over the holiday and get the job done.
Winter clothes shopping midweek and lots of autumn cleaning to be done.

Happy prepping.

Pollys

abwsco

We've got to do our winter garden tidy up plus my loo roll stocks need replenishing.

DD's boyfriend is coming to put insulation in our extension flat roof on Sunday. Also, still have to buy the two replacements rads.

However, DH has rediscovered golf and I've started lessons and playng so that's taking priority at the moment...........:o

mineallmine

Started the winter prep list yesterday and already feel a bit overwhelmed... Going to focus on the basics first of getting stuff in/sorted that have to have for day to day living. That if we didn't have it we'd have to battle through snow and ice to get. That's really helping to focus on what has to be sorted.

Off for some tea and a think about how best to progress our winter prep :j

SpikyHedgehog

MarilynMonroe wrote: »

Those cable leggings sound really nice. I get them for my daughter too, and with tights underneath, snug as a bug!

I never got my garden done yet, just don't fancy messing about in the wet, hopefuly tomorrow.

*If anyones interested in what Lidls are getting in from Monday:
..some oil filled radiators £39.99
..microfibre pillow and quilt sets £19.99
..microfibre blankets £7.99
..hot water bottles and cover £3.99 (going to get to replace my duff £1 one!)
..luxury heated underblanket £29.99
..jersey sheets, £4.99, £6.99 and £7.99

..2 pairs ladies fluffy socks £2.49
..fur trim leg warmers £2.49
..winter insoles £1.29

.. girls top and gillette sets £5.99
..kids slipper socks £1.99
..kids slippers £3.99

.. mens padded gilets £9.99

I buy alot of stuff from Lidls and the quality you can't knock.

I'm going to stock up on fleecy insoles, they make such a difference to the comfort of shoes as well as the warmth. Furry legwarmers make me smile - I was at high school in the 80s and we were allowed to wear knitted legwarmers, but not furry ones, and I remember 1 girl being sent home for wearing them (very strange!). Might have to get a pair in case I draw someone out of the work secret santa who was at school with me and also remembers it.

mineallmine wrote: »

Started the winter prep list yesterday and already feel a bit overwhelmed... Going to focus on the basics first of getting stuff in/sorted that have to have for day to day living. That if we didn't have it we'd have to battle through snow and ice to get. That's really helping to focus on what has to be sorted.

Off for some tea and a think about how best to progress our winter prep :j

Don't get overwhelmed, just start with what you can do. I only started last year, and have added bits this year and will keep adding stuff. I do have a list of all the stuff we'd like to do, but it ranges from very cheap and easy to long term changes to our home.

Skint_yet_Again

Its been really windy last week here and the felt roof on my shed has perished/blown off

Thankfully my mum and dad are visiting at the moment and dad has paid for and fixed it today. (value felt & adhesive from b n q about £35)

At the same time me and mum hacked back the [STRIKE]jungle[/STRIKE] garden so there will be a trip to the [STRIKE]tip[/STRIKE] recycling centre next week. I would have liked to give the grass a final cut for winter too but it was too wet.

darkrev

re contigo mugs , saw these on ebay, http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=contigo&_sacat=0&_from=R40

not sure if genuine but maybe worth a go ?

2tonsils

Hi , I was on this thread for a while and then we got unseasonably hot weather here in Greece and then five days of non stop thunderstorms, so I gave up the winter prep for a while. I did however unpack my winter clothes, washed them all and got them ready to wear when I need them.

But I have just seen our weather forecast and we are dropping from 28 in the shade to just 10 degrees in the daytime next week. The scary bit was at the end when they added the comment that Northern Greece could well get down to MINUS 30 this winter!!!! Seeing that most of us can't afford the heating oil at 1.65 a litre its going to be a killer!

I have the thick curtains up, the quilt under the bottom sheet and fleecies on the settees ready to cuddle up under. We both have thermals from last year (best thing I ever bought from Lidl) and loads of warm coats, hats, gloves, and scarves and layers.

I was just wondering if anyone could suggest any preps with extreme cold in mind? If its very cold here its usually dry and sunny which is the good thing about winter here. If its raining its usually around 14 degrees in the winter. It's usually one thing or the other, not mixed.

Last year most of Europe absolutely froze solid and people sadly passed away in many countries. I want to be prepared for the worst even though it may not get that bad.

Any suggestions will be gratefully received. We already have emergency food, gas for the cooker (calor) , lights and oil lamps, and will be getting fire wood as soon as they start to cut the trees, hopefully next week.

Thanks xxxx