Preparing for Winter V

thriftwizard

My OH works for the emergency services & seems to be taking the warnings seriously this time, although he usually laughs at them, here in the Deep South where we hardly ever see a flake of snow. He's suggested postponing our planned trip up to London on Thursday, and even helped me to stock up on spuds & chicken food; this doesn't often happen!

C_J

To be fair, we don't often get snow in Oxfordshire and if we do, it doesn't normally settle for long. I'm sort-of hoping we do get a heavy snowfall (currently predicted for Wedesday or Thursday) just so that I can look smug. And prepared. That'll teach him. (and he's emergency services (retired), too).

Out,_Vile_Jelly

greenbee wrote: »

Heathrow grinding to a halt in the face of a few snowflakes...

Heathrow runs so close to capacity that anything other than perfect conditions can cause delays. I suspect it's the sudden flurries that are causing intermittent visibility problems.

Amazed at how many underdressed people I see out despite the advance warning of a cold snap; bare ankles, flimsy shoes, no hats etc.

Witless

mardatha wrote: »

I do love silk and wool, different world from the cheap polyester stuff I always used to have. Funny how your priorities change when you get old!

I [STRIKE]am[/STRIKE] was the same, but I bought one of these a couple of years ago -

LUXURY DUVET HOLLOWFIBRE SINGLE DOUBLE KING ALL SIZES 10.5 TOG QUILT BEDDING DUVET Chancery (TM) (King)
Sold by: Dickensbedding £11.99


I'd buy another one except for a couple of reasons: I don't need two and they're no longer available online (hence no link) from the 'bookseller'.

It was certainly cheap, but far from 'nasty' and certainly aging well (now in its 3rd winter).

mardatha

We need 15tog up here Witless. anything less is a waste of time and ends up given away.

Pooky

We had a few flurries earlier but nothing of note. I did venture out for my daily walk and boy was that cold! Real feel was showing as -9 and I can well believe it.

I am currently in the midst of decorating my hall stairs and landing and do a bit each day around work and looking after DH, I managed to fit a new radiator last week to replace the 40 year old one that was thin and pretty poor, the new double one throws out so much heat it really is amazing and very well timed.

I did a lot of batch cooking over the weekend as our little village gets cut off quite easily so popping out to the shops involves a 7 mile trek down and then back up a very steep hill - we are all stocked up and ready for whatever the weather chucks at us and if we only get 5 flakes there is no waste as it will all get eaten.

I have moved the snow shovel and a few big bags (I use the big blue Swedish store bags) of logs into the porch along with a bag of coal. Saves having to go outside.

Witless

mardatha wrote: »

We need 15tog up here Witless. anything less is a waste of time and ends up given away.

I think the tog can be misleading: a 'good' 10.5 is warmer than a 'cheapie' 15 in my experience - I had a (very) cheapie 15 tog which the dog got after a couple of months (it felt as if had gone solid in parts and threadbare in others) and then bought a pair of 7.5s

It's weird: as above my normal was a7.5 tog but this 10.5, although heavier than a 7.5 isn't uncomfortable when it's mild (IYSWIM) but feels warmer than the 2 x 7.5 when it's cold.

Told ya I was an odd ball!

(Sorry, that reads as very disjointed, but I know what I mean and hopefully you'll get the drift of my rambling).

mardatha

Forecast for climbers :
"MWIS forecast for the Cairngorms / Central Highlands is for a windchill of -30C on Thursday. For the next few days in the hills do not expose any skin!" :eek:

kboss2010

I live in NE Scotland & my 15 tog goose down duvet has got me through the worst winters in draughty student accommodation & mouldy rented flats. I wouldn't trade it for the world. It gets an annual service wash & I've had it for a decade.

Nowadays a 10.5 tog synthetic duvet will do throughout the summer. I've recently started buying jersey cotton bedding covers so it isn't cold when u get into bed - after living in horrid rented places for years, warmth & cosiness is my main luxury.

greenbee

Out,_Vile_Jelly wrote: »

Heathrow runs so close to capacity that anything other than perfect conditions can cause delays. I suspect it's the sudden flurries that are causing intermittent visibility problems.

We also had to be de-iced which adds a delay. But only half an hour this time. Lots of short-haul flights cancelled. Some long haul delayed, but we were OK. Brazil is hot and damp and dark