Preparing for winter IV

greenbee

Kittie - someone tried to CLOSE a sluice gate in our village to 'save' the city downstream, even though it would have meant flooding at least two houses in the village. Luckily someone found out, so the flood warden and various others were out in the freezing water in the middle of the night, unblocking it, as it had been jammed. Why the individual concerned thought they should do this, when the army were damming the river further down to flood farmland (as opposed to houses) beats me. We're in the process of having all our drains cleared by the highways dept, and as I have two streams in my garden, I'm currently clearing vegetation from them and dredging the mud that has built up over the summer. Cold, wet and muddy, but essential to avoid issues upstream. Hopefully other people downstream are doing the same, but I doubt it.

SpikyHedgehog

kittie wrote: »

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

I've had to increase my inhaler to 2 puffs twice a day - coughing is very essential! Hoping I can follow last winter and keep my asthma under control enough not to need steroid tablets as they are evil. Will do some steam inhaling before bed to try to loosen up my chest and keep my sinuses clear as they do get horrible when I get a cold.

It's funny, when I was younger, it was my tonsils that were the most affected when I had a cold - it would always start with that tickle in my throat, and that roughened voice would be the last sign to go. Now, since I had a chest infection that took 3 lots of antibiotics to clear up (probably mainly because I took so long to go to the doctors), I've got asthma and it's my chest tightening that's the first sign, and my throat isn't too bad. Tonsils are still there though!

Went out with DS2 this afternoon to take stuff to the dump - some from home that I'd asked Errant Husband to take some time ago, some from preschool - then the plan was to go & curtain tracks from dun3lm m1ll, plus a cheap toilet brush from the r@nge which is next door to our dun3lm. This was a stupid idea from me. The car park was absolutely full, I scraped someone's car, so had to squish into a tiny space to write a note to put on their windscreen and take a photo of where I'd scraped it & their number plate. It then took 45 minutes to get out of the car park, and there were so many other drivers determined to get out of the car park, I thought we were going to see crashes.

I've had no phone call from the other driver yet, so either the note had blown off/they thought it was junk so threw it away without looking or they're not too bothered. The marks should come out with t cut though I've not tried my car yet. DS2 said he never wants to go near those shops again - I said at least not in the car!

So I've ordered curtain tracks for home delivery, which should be here by Wednesday - coming Tuesday would be lovely as I'll need DS1 to help put them up and he'll be at work by the time I get home Wednesday, so then we'll have to wait till Saturday till we're home at the same time in the day.

Uniscots97

We had a power cut this morning, it only lasted 30 minutes but luckily had my torch to hand, candles and layers.

pollys

I've just tested the £3 torch from Asda. It's great, it lights up the bedroom no problem. It's 9 led and comes with batteries.

Polly

Princess_kate

Fleeces are up in the lounge, attached to the curtain rings with string. No effect to the curtains & hopefully a warmer room. The cold from the large window was noticeable & even OH said you could tell the difference once the fleeces were up.

I'm going to hunt out the hot water bottles tomorrow, we have an electric blanket on the bed but these are for just incase!

Most of my prep is then done. Hubby has been informed where the scarves & gloves now live, sure it will not be long until they are required, although more an umbrella at the moment!

quidsy

Well I can thoroughly recommend the thermal curtain lining from Dunelm. It put the living room ones up yesterday & not only does it stop the draught but also blocks the noise from the street. I live on a high street & have a pub opposite so we get a lot of noise generally in the living room, which we sort of filter out but last night I was watching TV & had to think what was different, then it occurred to me that I could only hear the TV & not low level noise from traffic, people talking or from the pub. Best 20 quid spent.

nicki_2

quidsy wrote: »

Well I can thoroughly recommend the thermal curtain lining from Dunelm. It put the living room ones up yesterday & not only does it stop the draught but also blocks the noise from the street. I live on a high street & have a pub opposite so we get a lot of noise generally in the living room, which we sort of filter out but last night I was watching TV & had to think what was different, then it occurred to me that I could only hear the TV & not low level noise from traffic, people talking or from the pub. Best 20 quid spent.

I may have to invest in these! For some reason it sounds like our windows are open all the time even when they're shut. I have complained to the landlady but she's not done anything yet. Off to have a look on the Dunelm website

chirpychick

Hi everyone. I haven't been on here in a very very long time 2 years I think.
I really don't have time to go back through all the pages so I hope you don't mind me asking here.
Apparently we are going to have a really harsh winter.
I am not prepared for that.
I thought it had been so mild we would be in for another year like last.
So I really want to get prepared before hand as we literally live hand to mouth.
I have an almost 2 year old and a husband and a dog.
What would you say are the absolute most important things to tackle top priority and on a shoe string budget?
I still have all my door curtains up and im getting my thermostat fixed and boiler serviced in the next couple of weeks.
But top priorities so I can make sure we are sorted just incase would be really helpful

calleyw

well put the curtain up on the inner front door if that makes any sense.

Now need to sort something out for the inner back door now!!!

Yours

Calley

nicki_2

I need to get my curtains up on tracks or poles asap. Having to have the frontdoor curtain down to get in and out the house means the hallway is freezing sometimes! I think we need a DIY weekend to get them and the shelves in the livingroom up. Struggling to do much as I appear to be skint and I still have Christmas to pay for! :eek: I have so much to do, but no money to do it with.