Preparing for Winter V

Pennydropped

Fruball wrote: »

For all those who remember, the papier mache repair job I did in the brickwork/hole where the sink waste came out of the wall causing a horrible draught, has held up very nicely. I think we may quite possibly be approaching our 4th or 5th year of this free, very effective repair!

I don't recall seeing this. Could you please briefly highlight what you did? I have a few spots where this could be just what is needed! Thank you!

I'm currently emptying out my sideboard to make room for stock ups for winter. I'm trying to figure out the best place to store a few (okay maybe 8-10) tins of paint that I have - don't want it outside as the shed is awful - needs to be torn down and binned, but I don't have the (child free) time to do it safely, nor the means to get it all hauled away. Perhaps store the paint tins under my bed? It can sit there amidst the dust bunnies. :rotfl: They are taking up space in my dining room that I'd rather use for other things! (the paint tins, not the dust bunnies)

I've found I only need to buy one winter jacket this year, as older child's jacket will fit younger child (and they were identical jackets so younger child will likely not even realise it's a different jacket ) and my jacket is fine, just needs a bit of stitching on the cuffs. My pile of things needing "just a bit of stitching" is piling up though! :eek: Best get started on that in the evenings soon.

Rainy-Days

There are still a few winter jackets available on the Next website under the clearance tab! You need to keep checking daily as the stock they have in changes quite a bit and early morning seems the prime time for grabbing stuff.

They also have plenty of slippers as well just in case you need those!

I had a tidy up of my big cupboards yesterday, it a floor to ceiling larder type unit with pull out drawers. I can now start planning ahead a picking up things on BOGOF or special offers to store.

Eenymeeny

More of a coping with Summer idea than a Preparing for Winter idea really... I've had trouble sleeping recently due to the sun shining into our bedroom window from about 4am. (I know, I shouldn't be complaining!) I decided to hang the heavy velvet curtains that I normally use for the doors in winter, on top of the existing ones. (Dead easy as they are on shower rings ) It works brilliantly! I was thrilled to discover that I'd 'slept in' until almost 7am on the first day, even OH says that he's sleeping better. Doesn't look great but as long as it works I'm not bothered and I'll just transfer them back to the doors when I need them. Hope that it helps someone!
(I also realised that I don't need to find somewhere to store them now. To be honest, they were still hanging at the doors!)

Fruball

Pennydropped wrote: »

I don't recall seeing this. Could you please briefly highlight what you did? I have a few spots where this could be just what is needed! Thank you!

I'm currently emptying out my sideboard to make room for stock ups for winter. I'm trying to figure out the best place to store a few (okay maybe 8-10) tins of paint that I have - don't want it outside as the shed is awful - needs to be torn down and binned, but I don't have the (child free) time to do it safely, nor the means to get it all hauled away. Perhaps store the paint tins under my bed? It can sit there amidst the dust bunnies. :rotfl: They are taking up space in my dining room that I'd rather use for other things! (the paint tins, not the dust bunnies)

I've found I only need to buy one winter jacket this year, as older child's jacket will fit younger child (and they were identical jackets so younger child will likely not even realise it's a different jacket ) and my jacket is fine, just needs a bit of stitching on the cuffs. My pile of things needing "just a bit of stitching" is piling up though! :eek: Best get started on that in the evenings soon.

All I did was tear up some newspaper and put in a bowl with the childrens craft glue (like copydex) and pulverised it to a thick paste, then I shoved it into the hole in the brickwork and smoothed it with the back of a dessert spoon! Incredible difference - no draught and still perfectly fine years later! lol

I wonder if I could do a bit of pointing which needs doing further along the wall? :rotfl: Probably not! (but possibly!)

Pennydropped

FRUBALL - Brilliant! Thanks so much! So that would do well around gaps around the radiator pipes as well, wouldn't it? I have quite a few unsightly "gaps" as well as some that are kind of "out of sight." I think I will need to go around the house and make a list of any and all spots that will benefit from this and get to work on it this summer.

BritishBibliophile

I'm moving out of London in 2 weeks :dance: Living with my parents to start with but since I'll be camping on a sofa and annoying my Mum with my belongings being all over the place, I'm hoping to find somewhere to live by September.

I did quite a bit of winter prep last year so I don't need to do quite so much this year.

- Get new hiking boots. Bought mine from Blacks shortly before they went bust, was told they were waterproof but they're not around the toes, and the soles have worn down quicker than expected as I do a LOT of walking.
- See if Mum can patch up the pockets of my winter coat. Bought it around 5 or 6 years ago from White Stuff and it's lasted well, but there's a hole in each pocket and I don't want to lose my keys or money! If they can't be fixed then I've still got a giftcard from last Christmas that can go towards a new coat, I don't mind the expense when they last so long.
- Possibly get a draught excluder, although it really depends on how cold the place I eventually rent is.
- Should really keep a look out for either another hoodie, or a jumper, as I've only got one hoodie and it's not suitable attire for all occasions, but most jumpers look ridiculous on me or make me itch.
- I'm currently running down my freezer and food cupboard as I can't take too much back to my parent's with me, so once I have a place I'll be restocking for the colder months.
- Since I'm out of London I'll also need to remember to get some candles and matches, I can't remember the last time my parent's place had a powercut in winter but I'm very aware that it's far more likely to happen out in the countryside than in the capital city so need to prepare accordingly.

I'm sure I'll think of some other stuff too, especially once I've got a new place.

Doveling

Milletts have got a good sale on at the moment for boots etc.
HTH

Living_proof

I was delighted to get an electric oil-filled radiator in the box for just £3 at a CBS at the weekend. It's just a 1K type which is ideal for my little office in the house and as I have solar panels I should be able to run it for free on bright winter days. A happy bunny.

BritishBibliophile

Aaarg, just realised that if I'm moving back to the countryside then I'll need to organise a winter box for whatever car I end up buying. As a child there were a few winters where sudden thick snow meant my Dad had to walk 5 miles from the nearest town back to our village as the police wouldn't let anyone drive, all he ever had were his smart work shoes and his winter coat and a hat!!! :eek:

So I'll need;
- An extra scarf
- A thick jumper
- Thick gloves
- Thick socks
- A woolly hat
- Possibly a second cheap pair of wellies, the ones I bought last year aren't wide leg ones and are bloody uncomfortable, so I could buy a second pair this year and then try to work out which pair to stick in the car XD
- Some kind of sacking or old sheets to be used in the event the car gets stuck on ice.
- A bottle of water will freeze if just left in the car so I'll need to remember to fill up a bottle when I leave work if snow is predicted.
- A torch.
- Possibly some kind of High-Vis thing, although if I'm not allowed to drive no one else should be either.

Must remember all this once I move.

richj

BritishBibliophile wrote: »

Aaarg, just realised that if I'm moving back to the countryside then I'll need to organise a winter box for whatever car I end up buying. As a child there were a few winters where sudden thick snow meant my Dad had to walk 5 miles from the nearest town back to our village as the police wouldn't let anyone drive, all he ever had were his smart work shoes and his winter coat and a hat!!! :eek:

So I'll need;
- An extra scarf
- A thick jumper
- Thick gloves
- Thick socks
- A woolly hat
- Possibly a second cheap pair of wellies, the ones I bought last year aren't wide leg ones and are bloody uncomfortable, so I could buy a second pair this year and then try to work out which pair to stick in the car XD
- Some kind of sacking or old sheets to be used in the event the car gets stuck on ice.
- A bottle of water will freeze if just left in the car so I'll need to remember to fill up a bottle when I leave work if snow is predicted.
- A torch.
- Possibly some kind of High-Vis thing, although if I'm not allowed to drive no one else should be either.

Must remember all this once I move.

folding shovel?
chocolate?
water prooof hi viz jacket?