Preparing for winter IV

SpikyHedgehog

Skint_yet_Again wrote: »

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.

Aha, I'll get Errant Husband to run me up to b and q tomorrow, I think! As I have the same problem, but not the same solution... Dad wouldn't be able to fix my roof and would stress seeing us climb on ladders to do it ourselves, bless him. I know what you mean about the grass, it's so wet and horrible.

2tonsils wrote: »

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

Oh gosh, 2T, that's so cold!

I know KMiller4 (Kathy) sometimes posts on here and I think she said last year it gets pretty cold in the part of the US she lives in. I remember her talking about what her winters were like, so there might be some good advice there. I'll have a look.

Done some trawling

This is the post I was thinking about http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=46243233&postcount=5353

Other things - close off as many of the rooms as you can and concentrate the heat in the open rooms. Keep eating and drinking, but not alcohol. Keep dry and warm.

kara7758

Hiya everyone. Long time lurker here. Thanks to all for lots of very helpful tips!

Just wanted to say that B&Q are giving 20% off this weekend (should have posted earlier sorry).

Link here:

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/index.jsp?tmcampid=29&tmad=c&ecamp=Sea1104137:

I went to but my mum a leaf vacuum and came away with blinds which were drastically reduced, for 4 windows which basically I didn't pay for due to the 20% off! Apologies if its already been posted somewhere.

Hope its of help to someone?

2tonsils

Spiky thanks for that link.. I enjoyed reading it but circumstances mean we are not as well prepared for the weather as it will be unusual for here. Most houses are not even insulated here in Greece!We are lucky in that we are in a very old house (1791) and the walls are 3 feet thick stone. If we manage to get it warm it stays warm downstairs but upstairs is colder.

The main thing will be that we have to be really careful with our money. We have a tank of diesel (500 litres) and it will have to last the whole of the winter as we can't afford any more heating oil at 1.65 a litre. That will allow us to have the heating on for about half an hour or so , once in the morning and once at night. Our hot water will be on the electric water heater, which is new and well insulated, we only put it on when we need it.

Last year we burned olive wood on the open fire and we plan to do the same, so downstairs is warm. Olive wood will be around 115 euros a ton when they start to cut it. They deliver it and we have to move and stack it at the back of the house.

Upstairs we have a calor gas fire and an electric blanket if the heating is not on. The floors and ceilings are solid wood and the curtains are lined and thick so keep the heat in and cold out.

One big problem might be the rain water tank we have under the downstairs tiled floors, it holds 28 cubic meters of filtered rain water for out emergency supply. The good thing is that if the mains freezes we would still have access to the rain water......but could it freeze under the house in extreme temperatures? ....I don't actually know the answer although it hasn't been a problem before...

We have a car and scooters for transport in the winter but if we got ice on the roads or snow (a rare thing here on the island) then no one would be going anywhere as we almost on top of the mountain. The roads would be impossible with the hair pin bends and straight drops over the edge.....

Going to give it a fair bit of thought....it may not happen.....but you never know, I would rather be prepared for it.....

mineallmine

SpikyHedgehog wrote: »

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.

Thanks SpikyHedgehog It feels like there's loads to do and that I'm bound to forget something. But I've decided to go through this thread from the start and note things for my list. Then prioritise it and group things like a trip to Lidl etc.

Winter prep list:
1. Write winter prep to do list :rudolf:

dandy-candy

2tonsils you could have serious problems this winter and I don't know that anyone UK based will have advice for minus 30 temps! Can I suggest you ask on this prepping forum in the US http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/survival-emergency-preparedness/.
I've been a member for years and they are very knowledgable (and a bit tin-hatty)

mineallmine

unixgirluk wrote: »

My prepare for winter list (so far):

1) put bubble wrap up in bathroom window
2) Look out all winter clothes (wash if necessary, repair i.e. reheel boots or sew on buttons etc) and replace anything that you know will be essential (i.e. gloves for me as now getting train to new job).
3) Remember vest tops and t-shirts from summer can be used as base layers to keep warm.
4) Put up (as extra liners) thin fleeces on curtains in biggest room or room you spend most time in. I did this with our living room and its definitely the warmest room in the house.
5) Stock up on candles (give off extra warmth but also needed if there's a power outage), batteries, tinned or non-perishanle goods (I have loads but will probably make for some interesting meals), medicines, and essential toiletries (ladies!).
6) If you have to drive in winter then check your car over (or see if your local garage will do it). I also keep screen wash topped up. Also put some clean empty plastic bags in the car (carrier bag size). These come in handy for wet wellies/boots and for putting over your gloved hand when pushing snow off your car there by you don't end up with wet gloves or cold hands.
7) Have some emergency stand by games, books, wind up or battery radio in case of a power outage to keep everyone entertained.
8) I keep some money in the car in case of an emergency, not much about £5 in change. Which can be used for payphones (I needed this once when my phone stopped working!) etc
9) A list of emergency numbers written down i.e. in a diary for doctors, vet, dentist, breakdown service etc rather than in your phone.
10) Invest in an emergency blanket. The foil ones. They take up very little room (I need to look mine out again) but are great for keeping in the car or (as I'll be doing) in your bag if you travel on public transport. I noticed the other day when the train stopped about half a mile outside one of the stations the train got very cold very quickly and if you are stuck on a train you can't go anywhere.


Thats what I have so far, some I've done some not yet but I will soon.

Just catching up on this thread. Thanks for sharing your list :A

Where does everyone buy these silver/foil blankets to keep in the car?

I'm also after a plug in torch - the sort that is permanently plugged in. Acts as a sort of night light and also a torch you take out of a holster thing. Led lights. Saw one at a self catering place. Think this may be useful to have.

singlestep

Thanks to PipneyJane, Dippypud and darkrev for the advice about travel mugs.

I've spent the last couple of days with a bereaved friend. Just grateful that I've been able to be of some use due to holiday from work. Got back this afternoon and made the food I'd bought the other day in to chilli and tomato and basil sauce and it's now in the freezer. Have pea and ham soup on now.

There's only tomorrow to try to get myself organised, but I think I'll be preparing for work, not winter!

bluebag

2tonsils

some sleeping bags may be useful, they don't have to be state of the art all season ones. In my student days when we had no heating I used to lounge in one with a hot water bottle inside on the sofa .

You can also use them inside the bedclothes too if it gets really bad. They are quite cheap. Warm hats and fingerless gloves are useful too.

If you have sun you can make a solar heatcatcher for your windows, cardboard with foil on one sde and a black bin bag on the other. Put in the window with the black side facing the sun. Adds a few degrees of heat for free.

SpikyHedgehog

2tonsils wrote: »

Spiky thanks for that link.. I enjoyed reading it but circumstances mean we are not as well prepared for the weather as it will be unusual for here. Most houses are not even insulated here in Greece!We are lucky in that we are in a very old house (1791) and the walls are 3 feet thick stone. If we manage to get it warm it stays warm downstairs but upstairs is colder.

The main thing will be that we have to be really careful with our money. We have a tank of diesel (500 litres) and it will have to last the whole of the winter as we can't afford any more heating oil at 1.65 a litre. That will allow us to have the heating on for about half an hour or so , once in the morning and once at night. Our hot water will be on the electric water heater, which is new and well insulated, we only put it on when we need it.

Last year we burned olive wood on the open fire and we plan to do the same, so downstairs is warm. Olive wood will be around 115 euros a ton when they start to cut it. They deliver it and we have to move and stack it at the back of the house.

Upstairs we have a calor gas fire and an electric blanket if the heating is not on. The floors and ceilings are solid wood and the curtains are lined and thick so keep the heat in and cold out.

One big problem might be the rain water tank we have under the downstairs tiled floors, it holds 28 cubic meters of filtered rain water for out emergency supply. The good thing is that if the mains freezes we would still have access to the rain water......but could it freeze under the house in extreme temperatures? ....I don't actually know the answer although it hasn't been a problem before...

We have a car and scooters for transport in the winter but if we got ice on the roads or snow (a rare thing here on the island) then no one would be going anywhere as we almost on top of the mountain. The roads would be impossible with the hair pin bends and straight drops over the edge.....

Going to give it a fair bit of thought....it may not happen.....but you never know, I would rather be prepared for it.....

I did remember the rain water tank, & that did worry me, but the tanks are all over the island, & there must have been other harsh winters before, so it should be ok... I'd float a football in the top so if the top layer freezes, you still have a hole in it, like a fish pond.

Do not try to drive down the mountain in icy conditions! I've got a sledge & bungy cords so we could go shopping on foot - could you get 1 in the T3scos shopping? I wouldn't sledge down, but you could drag shopping home...

mineallmine wrote: »

Just catching up on this thread. Thanks for sharing your list :A

Where does everyone buy these silver/foil blankets to keep in the car?

I'm also after a plug in torch - the sort that is permanently plugged in. Acts as a sort of night light and also a torch you take out of a holster thing. Led lights. Saw one at a self catering place. Think this may be useful to have.

I got my blankets in a pack of 4 from amazon - I think they were about £2, but I'm on my phone now, so can't do a link.

The torch thing sounds great!

rosieben

mineallmine wrote: »

Just catching up on this thread. Thanks for sharing your list ...

worth looking at Rainy-Days excellent check list too, its in post # 4033 on the previous thread