Preparing for Winter V

3secondmemory

Interesting. 

I have just invested in at 7.5 tog wool duvet with the hope it will help my night sweats. I have been having them for 20 years – it’s the longest menopause in living history
I have been having them for 20 years – it’s the longest menopause in living history 😂😂🤦‍♀️

This recent bout of ill health means I haven’t even been sleeping in my bed because I ran out of bedding weeks ago. 🙁

i’ve also downsized from a king-size to a double to make life easier. 

My next winter prep is to replace  my pj’s with more natural fibres. I have lots of fleecy tops which are great if you need to warm up quickly but that often sends me to sleep so then I wake up soaking wet and freezing cold. 

Honestly never had the money to do this before – not having any carers has given me more money to play with 😃

maryjane87

cornishchick said:

maryjane87 said

I've only ever used windfall ones, so can't be positive, but believe the ones I've used in the past have been a mix of ripeness, so should work.
I am planning on some more chard to supplement the stuff actually in the garden, pakchoi and winter radish and now you have mentioned it, perhaps some spring onions,:) I am wondering if I should put some bubble wrap on the bottom portion of my greenhouse, (it's more a cold frame with a longer base and doors lol ) but like a lean too,, if that makes sense. 

I'll give it a go and see what happens, can't think what else to do with them anyway! 
I think that's a good idea to add some bubble wrap, I'll do the same likely. It's my first winter having a full size greenhouse so I'm really experimenting this year, but definitely want to put it to use for more of the year than less! Seems such a waste to have it sitting empty over winter.

Also managed to put up a big lined curtain over the front door and surrounding windows today, quite pleased with this as the hall is always cool in winter. 
One less thing on the winter list.. many to go! 

Greenglockenspiel

I’ve ordered some thermals (leggings for me, socks for OH) and also bought OH something called an Oodie for Christmas - they’re like thick fluffy hoodies that come to your knees (at a discount - they are a bit £££ at full price). He is a cold bod but coupled with the socks hopefully that should keep him cosy on the sofa or at his desk!

For anyone else that was considering availing themselves of the new government insulation scheme, it is supposedly being launched in September so hopefully details should come soon. I’m hoping to use it towards cavity insulation and a new front door.

Mummy2cheekymonkeys

Greenglockenspiel said:

For anyone else that was considering availing themselves of the new government insulation scheme, it is supposedly being launched in September so hopefully details should come soon. I’m hoping to use it towards cavity insulation and a new front door.

We were looking at this but looks like we wouldnt be eligible which is a shame as we need a new bedroom window and the big bay window in the lounge replacing. Just had someone round for a quote and the 2 will cost £2200. 

Grabs39

We got our first feather duvet this summer and I was surprised as to how comfortable it is in the heat.  The last two mornings have been quite cold and the duvet is so warm.  I'm amazed at how a duvet can be both cool and warm!

Anyhoo I finished clearing out the gutters this weekend (after I did half of them last week then we had torrential rain and of course they overflowed where I hadn't cleared them yet).  I also discovered that we don't have a front drain or soakaway so the downpipe just drained into the ground by the wall of the house; I've added some more downpipe so it now discharges into the garden 8 feet from the house instead.

I've also spent over 2 hours getting the inspection chamber cover up in the patio to check all the drains are correct before our new bathroom is installed in 2 weeks. (and now if there's a blockage I can actually gain access to the drains in an emergency).

I've fitted water saving devices to the taps, and fixed the downstairs loo cistern so it doesn't overflow into the bowl, and so the half-flush no longer empties the cistern completely.  I'm waiting for the water board to install a meter (requested on 1st June) so these should save money on water as well as gas.

I looked at the government scheme but I don't think we qualify for anything we really need.  I need to check the loft insulation - I think we have about 4 inches which isn't up to modern standards but is far better than the house would originally have had.

3secondmemory

I’m confused after watching Vic Derbyshire this morning. 

an interview in a secondary school showed the children weren’t  spaced 2 m apart and they weren’t wearing masks in the classroom. 

I genuinely thought the desks would be 2 m apart – as we’ve been shown in so many other reports on the news.

Grabs39

3secondmemory said:

I’m confused after watching Vic Derbyshire this morning. 

an interview in a secondary school showed the children weren’t  spaced 2 m apart and they weren’t wearing masks in the classroom. 

I genuinely thought the desks would be 2 m apart – as we’ve been shown in so many other reports on the news.

No, it would be impossible to space desks 2m apart in most schools.  It would also be difficult to get a child or young person to wear a mask for 5 hours straight; it would be very uncomfortable.

The mitigation focuses on children interacting with fewer people (at my wifes work classes stay in one room, and the subject teacher comes to them, rather than the other way around.  Year groups have staggered start and end times, and most lessons are now 2 hours long, rather than 1 hour).  Some schools are asking staff and students to wear masks in common areas like corridors, but not in the classroom.

3secondmemory

Grabs39 said:

3secondmemory said:

I’m confused after watching Vic Derbyshire this morning. 

an interview in a secondary school showed the children weren’t  spaced 2 m apart and they weren’t wearing masks in the classroom. 

I genuinely thought the desks would be 2 m apart – as we’ve been shown in so many other reports on the news.

No, it would be impossible to space desks 2m apart in most schools.  It would also be difficult to get a child or young person to wear a mask for 5 hours straight; it would be very uncomfortable.

The mitigation focuses on children interacting with fewer people (at my wifes work classes stay in one room, and the subject teacher comes to them, rather than the other way around.  Year groups have staggered start and end times, and most lessons are now 2 hours long, rather than 1 hour).  Some schools are asking staff and students to wear masks in common areas like corridors, but not in the classroom.

There’s been such a big deal about showing desks 2 m apart . . Not that it makes much difference I suppose, everybody’s breathing the same air for hours at a time 🙁

Greenglockenspiel

It was feeling quite autumnal at the allotment this evening. Then we got massacred by <expletive> mosquitos, who apparently can bite through leggings  so I’ll be moving into hibernation to avoid them...

My wellies (from the supermarket a couple of year ago) have cracked. Can anyone recommend a durable brand?

MrsCD

Avon Skin So Soft is supposed to repel midges, so it might help with the mosquitoes. I use it when I'm decorating. I spray my bare arms, rub it in and wipe the residual on my face, then any paint splashes just wash off without having to scrub.
My DD1 swears by the Jules? brand of wellies from the garden centre. They're stripy with flowers.