Preparing for Winter V

Lucy5781

Looking at my fb this morning, this time last year was the hottest July day on record in the UK at over 36c, today.... Overcast, drizzling and just hitting 16c.

[Deleted User]

What a difference a day makes, 24 little hours etc. etc.........

[Deleted User]

I kept on top of my wood pellets last year so am starting off with a good base of 2/3 of a tonne. They come in bags so I have to physically move a 10kg bag at a time. Last year made 4 trips to get 25 bags at a time in my car, off loaded into my garage to store on cut down pallets. I resolved then that I would keep that mound pretty well intact and managed to get 8 bags at a time when I had used 8. I still have memories of being cut off for 6 weeks in 2010. I do have several electric heaters just in case I cannot cope with the stove for whatever reason

July 1st and the cool weather is already making me want to prep for winter. I have been buying gloves, special ones containing silver for raynauds ie those white fingers that can suddenly appear. Also arthritis compression gloves as this damp is already making my fingers ache

It is hard to find a good day for washing, if the forecast looks good then I set to at 6 am and get several loads done, so it can go outside. I must admit that I am hating the constant damp and the aches that come with it

grandmasam

The weather is making me look at my winter preps as well! Has anyone got any recommendations for a waterproof,or wax type jacket for walking the hound? The last one, charity shop find, has bitten the dust and I have been getting wet on walkies lol, as we walk 5+ miles most days.

Meanwhile, gooseberries and raspberries frozen, the latter when I get there before the hound...she sucks them off and eats them! Looks like a good crop of bramley apples for chutney and apple jam later. The apple jam I use for roast pork in the winter instead of faffing with apple sauce, thinned with a little hot water if necessary.
Thanks
Caz

[Deleted User]

DD1 found a really good quality waxed jacket at the county show we visited near Great Malvern, almost knee length and £40 so a bargain. This one is a specific ladies jacket but they did have some at £20 that were nicely padded so warm in the winter labelled as mens but you'd not know the difference really. Perhaps if you have a country/county type show within reach it might be worth the entrance money to find the jacket?

Margaret54

.Hi everyone Great thread. Lyn the wood burning stove sounds wonderful, and great that you can ask for off cuts as well. The stove must throw out some heat:) We have candles and matches left from last winter, a hot water bottle, lots of warm bedding and full cupboards. We also have the pre paid meter for gas and electricity well topped up. We have good warm coats boots and shoes and I have lots of good thick dark tights put aside . Have checked all of the first aid box and cold and flu remedies etc all in date. I am picking up lots of great tips here as always.

pipkin71

One thing I say I need to sort every year but then somehow forget to do is to buy covers for the two open air bricks on the outside kitchen wall. Last winter the temperature in that room was around 12 degrees first thing and it has always been the coldest room in the house each winter.

I'm determined to finally get it sorted this year :rotfl::o

shoei

I ordered some oil last week, hopefully that will last us all winter. We hammered it a bit at the end of last year so need to ensure we have plenty of wood to hand for log burner.

Doveling

Chimney sweep booked for next week.

Still haven't put the mousemesh over the airbricks yet.
You can't rush these things can you?

Lucy5781

New house seems well insulated so far, bedroom barely drops below 20 overnight which is a bit difficult for me right now at 31wks pregnant... Hoping it keeps in heat over winter, We're now in the middle of a small town, but it's all greenbelt outside the housing areas...