Preparing for winter IV

kiss_me_now9

Freezer and washing machine are here

So my day is going to be - go down town, finish my car kit and get new pillows (we've also had a new bed and mattress delivered and the old pillows are just not cutting it any more - I think my parents got them about ten years ago ), also going to get the rest of my soup ingredients and some containers to freeze the soup in, and then spend the afternoon baking, making soup and tidying up a bit

Not sure what I'm going to bake yet; I'm half tempted to try macaroons. Never done them before and I bought some desiccated coconut a little while ago that I've not touched so maybe today is the day. Alternatively, I do like the idea of baking a fruit cake... but I'd have to go buy all the fruit and other ingredients which is a bit much.

[Deleted User]

Hello KITTIE I'm much improved today thank you, I actually slept fairly well last night propped up on a small mountain of pillows and the congestion seems to have broken which while it brings it's own set of problems and is pretty antisocial does make you feel a bit better doesn't it. I have unequal ears at the moment and they keep popping so I feel unbalanced but managed a trip on the bus to the local shops and back without any problems, (balance is wonky, left hand list!) and managed some housework before I went. Blitzed now and if the Lurcha would only agree to his afternoon walk (Mummy!!!!! it's raining out there, what are you doing trying to take me out in it?') I could make a cuppa and sit for a while and watch the rugby, we'll most likely ALL have to go, some days it's the whole pack or nothing!!!

We've been lighting the stove up in the evenings for the past few days and it's made such a difference to the way the house feels, that background almost dampness has gone and everywhere feels dry and a bit warmer I think it might be why the cold has improved as much as it has. I think sometimes we get stubborn about not lighting up to conserve wood and leave it later than we should.

I hope you get an improvement in health really soon and feel better too, stay warm, Lyn xxx.

pollys

Get well soon Mrs LW and Kittie. I too suffer from sinus congestion, Kittie I put a little Vick in my sinus cup thingy, it's does the trick for a little while.

I have replaced the lost torch. It cost £3 complete with batteries. It's only small but handy to have in my bedside drawer. In the past we have been without power during the night on a couple of occasions, so reassuring to have.

The dehumidifier is now on and collecting a fair amount of water. It's rained constantly for the past two days the Lakeland airier and the tumble drier are both in use.

The wool duvet from the wool room is lovely. Even when DH is away I've been lovely and warm.

Keep warm and cosy.

Polly

Living_proof

What a horrible dreich day. I was about to say cold, but it's actually 11C outside and 21C indoors so it's psychological I think. The BBC weather site have it down to a T with the dreariness only now clearing, just in time for the light to go.

I am sorry for all of you suffering with colds and sinusitis. In the past I had a lot of trouble with this but since I stopped taking all cold remedies other than paracetamol I have fared much better.

Today felt like the first day of winter because the weather really stopped me doing anything other than catching up on some reading. The light was so poor and my eyesight's not good, so housework would have been a waste of time - I would just have to re-do it tomorrow when I will be able to see more.

[Deleted User]

I don't take cold remedies, I think they just slow down the symptoms and make the cold last for longer, then when you stop taking the medication it comes back full force and runs its' course. I do take cough medicine though to stop the tickles to start with and them an expectorant to shift the mucus when it gets to that stage. Paracetamol works for me for temperatures and headaches/general acheyness so that and a good old menthol rub are always in and ready to go. Lots of liquids preferably hot and as much rest as it's possible to get really are all that seems to be effective. I must be a pharmacists nightmare and nature is a great healer even at 66 years of age!!!

SpikyHedgehog

It's actually been quite a bright day in Suffolk - I got 1 load of washing dry enough this morning to finish off in the airing cupboard, and it was worth putting the other 2 loads out though they'll need the clothes horse at least over night. Curtains and blinds shut now and the kitchen and living room lights on.

I got 4 pairs of gloves for DS2 at the supermarket this morning - 2 sets of th1nsulate, 2 stretchy knitted ones. I also got a pair that I hope will be okay for driving, for me - I didn't want leather, but these ones didn't slip on the trolley when I tried them on, so should be okay. If not, I'll make good use of them anyway - I have a weird habit of rubbing my thumb against my fingers which creates worn places on gloves (which is how I realised how often I must do it), so need fixed or new gloves more frequently than one would hope.

Having a car is new for me (only passed my test this Autumn), so I'm making notes and making sure the car is both winter ready (had it serviced at half term) and is ready for us. Various snacks & a first aid kit already been put in, so now it's the keeping warm things that are needed, and making sure I keep the tank at least half full.

We don't have much storage or room for storage in our tiny entrance hall, so what we've done is put up 3 different height boards of coat hooks, and on the highest, I put a coat hanger and hung one of those hanging wardrobe sweater organiser thingys from it for hats, gloves, waterproof trousers, etc. I had a basket for them all before that, but it was harder to find what you wanted in it, especially as the cat would bat her toys down the stairs into it, and DS2 would leave his school bag on the top.

kiss_me_now9

First batch of soup made and ready to go in the freezer (french onionwith additional french stick croutons - not sure how well they'll freeze but I'll give it a shot) and I've had a bowl for dinner, it's nice but a bit too sweet as I didn't have any garlic, so I'll put some more salt in it. I used reduced salt stock cubes when I normally use normal so that might be why as well.

I've made my macaroons as well, oh they smell lovely I'm going to start the carrot and coriander now and then chocolate the macaroons whilst that's cooking.

[Deleted User]

seeing as christmas is during winter, hence not too much off topic . A couple of months ago I bought the most fantastic building toy, they were on dragons den and I liked it so bought the set of 350 pieces. Dh played with it, just to test it and it was absolutely amazing. By half term I had bought the bigger set of 850, so now had over 1000 pieces. The grandchildren (6 and 7) stayed with us and enjoyed it so much as did dh again. They built huge robots that walked with help, a t rex, a farm, musical instruments, a tractor and trailer and I am not talking small models. I caught dh zooming around the room with a plane he made. Anyway this is way way better than lego and far cheaper, it is very robust and my grandchildren are getting sets for christmas. We got the 7 year old involved in planning with paper and a pencil. Anyway I thought you might like the link http://www.bizzy-bitz.com/
It was the only time I got a few hours peace

I am waiting for elderberry mix to cool down now before adding the raw honey. Compared to the benecol, I will have about 600ml at a cost of under £6, the price of 1x 120ml bottle of benecol. I put extra ginger in as ginger is good for clearing sinuses. My last batch kept well, ever since the berries were on the tree and now I am using frozen berries

Tomorrow I will unearth 30 clear wine bottles and new corks as I have 5 gal of lovely white wine ready to bottle. I made a nice red two months ago, so will have lots of lovely wine for this winter. This time around was the valipolicella and viognier. Last one I made before this lot was barolo. Everything is in the kit you just need the equipment. I do make wine from scratch but the ken ridge is easier and cheap at £1.50 a bottle for a very nice wine

Have a look at this article for selfish behaviour
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/investigations/11217309/Somerset-Floods-Village-submerged-after-alleged-tampering-of-sluice-gate.html
We are just uphill from the levels, far enough and high enough not to be flooded but one lane out of the village was flooded for weeks

Got a case of stuff ready for the cs this morning, I hope someone can use the things I don`t need, including wind up lanterns. I am using makita battery powered lamps as we already have the rechargeable batteries for various tools. Powerful lights and long lasting batteries

Mrs_Cheshire

Which macaroon recipe did you use Kiss me now? Watched a programme last night where the lady made macaroons, hubby wants me to make some now!

[Deleted User]

I am with mrsLW (again) I only take a thinning cough medicine and then an expectorant as coughing is very essential. If I am desperate then I will have a squirt of sudafed spray when I go to bed as I need to keep my nasal passages running. I can tell when my sinuses are getting bunged as I get that achey feeling in my face and I am prone to very bad congestion if I ignore it. My neti pot works wonders as does salt water gargle and warm honey and lemon to drink