Preparing for Winter V

Brambleberry

Few small flurries up here Eenymeeny, followed by diamond dust snow from a clear sky this afternoon and lovely little paw prints on the path from next-door's kitties.
Currently -9.3 in our garden, but the ridiculously over-lit (and not very MSE) xmas tree is putting out a bit of extra heat indoors so it's justified

tori.k

White Christmas on the cards for many, I'm quite envious, Ive only seen proper snow a handful of times in my life, soggy is the word to use for Cornwall at the moment

[Deleted User]

Laura has absolutely the right idea, to make that one room warm and cosy. Its the sort of prolonged cold now that chills the house fabric and it will remain chilled through much of winter, unless there is constant input of warmth. I know I have an eco house in that the insulation is top range but that would not stop my house chilling and relatively fast too, wind plus cold

I also know the safe minimum temperatures for me and so yesterday I added two thermostatically controlled electric oil heaters, ones I bought in 2015, just before they became extinct. Delonghi dragon 3, just the right capacity for my house, one in the upstairs hall and one in the living area. Both set to come on a timed cycle but only if the temperature goes below 18 upstairs and 19 downstairs. Otherwise I will have to buy and then carry too many sacks of pellets. I moved 3/4 of a tonne last year, 1/4 a tonne at a time, out of the car, into the garage and then again to the stove. Now I have 40 x 10 kg bags left and they are closer to my stove. This way, those bags will last about 50 days if combined with sun and electric and I time my stove output

No snow here but I have ice drops all along my washing line

fuddle

-7 in our rural area this morning I managed the dizzy heights of -4.5 walking home from school. Although the fire was toasty last night the heating, set at 18, came on multiple times in the night. It's times like these where I understand that without the luxury of being able to pay for heat my life would be dire right now.

We're going through wood really quickly. I'm keeping the stocks up but we have decided that we will use the wood and keep the coal for emergencies. The coal store is healthy but not to the point where I can relax about it. More input needed throughout the year.

mardatha

Was minus 7 here too last night - to hit minus 9 tonight. My livingroom stays a constant 22-24C but it costs us £70 a fortnight in coal. Right this minute I think it's worth it, and if I have to live on soup and porridge then I'll do it gladly

[Deleted User]

too right mar, I am never going to skimp on winter heating. I bet fuddle and mar have are wearing layers, sensible beings that they are. The stove is off now and room is 21, I feel warm and cosy because 5 candles are lit and pumping warmth in, as well as the radiator being on safety net thermostat. Then it is electric underblanket tonight and I`m going to leave a small heated towel rail on all night in the hall. Looking at internet houses so far, any without a flue/chimney are being rejected right away. I think when I do get a fire in a new home, it is going to have to be multi fuel, so it can burn coal too.

Wednesday2000

I just took my dog halfway around the block and came back, it is bitterly cold out there!:eek: I'm having jacket spuds for supper tonight. Yum.

Brambleberry

fuddle wrote: »

We're going through wood really quickly. I'm keeping the stocks up but we have decided that we will use the wood and keep the coal for emergencies. The coal store is healthy but not to the point where I can relax about it. More input needed throughout the year.

I'm so with you on this fuddle, last year I totted up how much our coal bill was for 2016 and now allocate 1/12 each month to the coal pot. It does feel weird accounting for coal savings in June, but I am so glad of it now, especially when our coal merchant did a discount in July and we could get a few bags in cheaply.

fuddle

The snow is falling but we're not supposed to get much. You're absolutely correct Kittie. I don't have a summer and a winter wardrobe, I have vests, long sleeve tops, short sleeve tops and sweaters. I wear all in the winter, peeling off or rolling sleeves up.

A chilled person is more likely to pick up respiratory viruses I believe so I have to make sure I'm warm, my home is warm and never step out of the door of a morning or afternoon to do my walk to school without my being been warmed and my body having had a hot drink down it.

I always have 2 pairs of socks on, a scarf, gloves and a hat and on days like today I have either leggings or tights under my trousers or jeans (never jeans in wet weather they attract cold and hold onto water) It might seem like overkill and not very fashionable but I don't care. It's operation look after myself and my children.

elona

fuddle

Had you heard about the theory of not breathing in cold air and having a scarf over your nose?

I read something in a science mag a few years ago that suggested the cold air being breathed in can cause damage.