Preparing for winter IV

tryingtobethrifty

Just popping in quickly before the mad dinner/homework/bed rush to say thank you for all the frozen car door suggestions and website addresses for the grease. it happens quite a lot here up mu hill so will save me plenty of time in the morning. I also don't feel safe with the kids in the back of the car if the doors wont open. Thanks again, you're all so knowledgeable!

mineallmine

Damn cold today. I have 3 layers on

Finally sourced a torch/nightlight thing from Lakeland. I like the idea of knowing there's a fully charged torch ready to use whenever.

The BBQ idea is an interesting one, needs must and the thought of it is making me hungry!!

pollys

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Thanks for the reminder ...... I know where the new gas canisters are for the camping stove - but not quite sure where the stove itself is (in the garage somewhere) ..... will have a hunt and dig it out & put somewhere obvious this afternoon!:)

After reading this thread I stocked up on canisters after our summer camping trip. Our stove is in the garage, but I think I'll move it nearer to the door, if we have no gas or electric it will be tricky getting it in the dark.

Pollys

the_cake

Dehumidifier update!
Huge thanks to all of you for the info. on dehumidifiers ... I bought a cheapy one off Ebay, it's been running all day and has made a huge difference already, the room feels much warmer and the washing is drying quite quickly without any additional heat (tho' I am about to light the woodburner). I am going to move it from room to room, doing about 24 hours in each, and then use it where and when needed (we have an old house, and only heat one room). It's great! Thanks again, the cake xx

kittycatface

for those who, like me, are still planning to line the curtains
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available in 4 colours, beige, choc brown, sky blue and purple.

larger size avail for £6.99
http://www.storetwentyone.co.uk/search?q=large+fleece+throw&searchsubmit.x=0&searchsubmit.y=0&searchsubmit=Search

discount code 5 off wys £15 or £10 wys £30: reward21

Thanks everyone for great tips as ever. From this thread I have:
Bubble wrapped the draught coming from fireplace
Fridge magnets on door lock draughts
made a draught excluder
made homemade radiator reflectors out of cardboard and foil
put together a stock cupboard
resurrected the slow cooker
Made a car box for emergencies
Sourced lots of blankets and cushions off freecycle

And generally become a "utility Nazi"! OH comes in lounge of an evening and sees me in candlelight (home made ones!) with a hat coat and blanket on, says "I never thought I was moving in with a bag lady"....

MarilynMonroe_2

Lids are selling big bags of salt for the ground, and they had windscreen covers and just stuff like that for those of you with cars.
They also had some electric radiator style heaters in too.

MarilynMonroe_2

unixgirluk wrote: »

I explained this to the courier company but they said it wasn't their problem as all their couriers are self-employed. We checked and nothing is missing but OH has decided to pop in and speak to the police about it.

I really wouldnt bother the police about it. Nothing was stolen and delivery people do tend to look for a safe place to leave items. The police arent really in a position to do anything, no crime has been commited.
Plus if you get another delivery and its the same guy whats to stop him breaking your stuff out of spite?

Youve told the company, I would leave it at that and make sure your garage is locked.
He might have been on his phone in your garage, doesnt mean he spent 2 minutes having a neb around.

Princess_kate

I don't have a camping stove or gas bbq but I do have a few disposable bbq's in the shed. If we lost power or gas we'd be able to heat something on there, outside of course! Not ideal but something to think of if there you don't have an alternative for cooking.

2tonsils

The weather here is very strange and its starting to feel more like winter now. One minute you are too warm and the next you are looking for a cardi because you feel shivery. It is so damp, I think that is what's making people feel colder. We have the dehumidifiers going , one upstairs and one down and they are taking loads of water out of the air. I am bottling the water to use in my steam iron.

Have just lit a small wood fire in the living room as its now started raining and everywhere feels damp. Hopefully the humidity will start to drop soon. Glad we managed to get two bags of the small pine sticks to light the fire with....firelighters are useless with olive wood logs.

Fortunately I timed my washing right this week and managed to get both loads dried on the line outside. I don't have a tumble drier (too expensive here) so I can only dry on the line. Sometimes I air them off in the room with the dehumidifier on, its easy and quick and costs no extra.

Going to find my thin gloves out so that I can carry them in my bag with me. I hate having cold hands and it happens a lot in the winter due to my thyroid problems. Good news with the scan though, no changes to the thyroid nodule so don't have to go back till July next year.

Uniscots97

MarilynMonroe wrote: »

I really wouldnt bother the police about it. Nothing was stolen and delivery people do tend to look for a safe place to leave items. The police arent really in a position to do anything, no crime has been commited.
Plus if you get another delivery and its the same guy whats to stop him breaking your stuff out of spite?

Youve told the company, I would leave it at that and make sure your garage is locked.
He might have been on his phone in your garage, doesnt mean he spent 2 minutes having a neb around.

We did let them know and they were quite interested as the person is supposedly 'a reformed character' and they'd heard a few murmurings regarding them. Someone's had a quiet word with him, and as in our street we take in each others parcels it was pointed out to him that for him to suddenly open the garage door and disappear in there for a few minutes isn't on. We were advised by the police that these 'courier' companies can take on anyone regardless of their past. I won't be using that company again, I've also advised the seller I got the item from what happened and I've sent a letter to the courier head office as their attitude stank.