Preparing for Winter V

Si_Clist

Don't worry, folks.  Doris has just now said we'll all be OK ...

Boris Johnson has urged people not to worry about putting food on the table this winter, amid surging energy prices and a cut to universal credit.  The prime minister told BBC News: "I don't believe people will be short of food - and wages are actually rising."  It comes after Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng warned some households face a "very difficult winter".

Right then.  Time to stock up even more ...

Primrose

Having lived for sufficient years to see the predictions of various governments, I've come to the conclusion that when it comes to survival, it's every man for himself, and that the best way of looking after your wellbeing is to take an intelligent interest in what's going on around you and then take responsibility for yourself.  I suspect that this is what most people on this forum already do. 

Si_Clist

@Primrose couldn't agree more!  Anybody who knows me in real life would be able to confirm that for at least the last 15 years I've been saying your best bet is to look after #1 and start thinking it's the 1980s again but this time you're in Soviet Russia

Grabs39

My energy "supplier" claims to have hedged its gas for this year so says it doesn't foresee any problems.  Not that I'm concerned about getting cut off or anything - I just don't want to be switched onto British Gas' SVR, for example, in the middle of winter and have to pay higher costs as a result.

Anyhoo is it that time of year again?  I need to ask the neighbour to borrow her ladder so I can clean the gutters (that I cleaned last year and are full of moss again).

I've just booked a boiler service for 6 weeks time - a little late.  Some gas fitters have a 3 month waiting list though!

I've also today put that silver bubble wrap stuff behind our upstairs radiators which are attached to a (badly insulated) external wall.  I don't know if it's just snake oil, but worth a shot?  Unfortunately I only used half the pack so now need to work out what to use the rest for.

MingVase

Great posts. I'm currently sitting here knitting mohair socks. So fast that smoke is rising off the needles...

Floss

Si_Clist said:

Don't worry, folks.  Doris has just now said we'll all be OK ...

Boris Johnson has urged people not to worry about putting food on the table this winter, amid surging energy prices and a cut to universal credit.  The prime minister told BBC News: "I don't believe people will be short of food - and wages are actually rising."  It comes after Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng warned some households face a "very difficult winter".

Right then.  Time to stock up even more ...

Which shows just how out of touch he is with reality, there are a lot of households where nobody is working through no fault of their own. And yes, my wages rose (by less than inflation) but I bet they won't next year.  

Si_Clist

Floss said:

Which shows just how out of touch he is with reality ...

Bless him, the poor lad thinks he's still at Eton ...

Auntycaz

Totally agree with you, anyone who isn't concerned about rising energy prices and the spirally cost of their weekly shop is living in a dream world. 

3secondmemory

Check out the millets closing down sale! 

They have the small .7L wide neck food flasks and the slim 1.4L flasks reduced atm. 

The food flask keeps food hot for 15 hours - long enough to cook a stew! I found recipes for porridge, soups, pasta, noodles grains and even bread and butter pudding! 

The larger water flask will be ideal for reducing the number of times I need to boil the kettle (and in case of power cuts) 

I’ve dusted out my trusty old camping gas cooker but it’s worth noting that the camping gas canisters have been delisted in many stores as ‘seasonal’ - online places are charging silly money. 

Just thinking ahead 

Also, I usually buy the barista style coffee in tins when it’s on offer (£2.50 for 100 g) I saw that Tesco’s have 1kg jars of Dowe Egberts instant for a tenner. I’m tempted to get a couple just because of the jars! I’m not advocating panic buying - one for now and one in the cupboard. I’d hope that would last me into the New Year. 

nannygladys

I hope it doesn't go back to the bad old days! I remember all the shortages and only having electric for certain hours a day! But just in case I will be hunting down household candles, hot water bottles and perhaps starting another crocheted blanket from my leftover wool, and bringing my camping stove back from the allotment. I think I may buy a summer quilt for the downstairs settee and cover it with some throws that are on the spare beds!  I wear hand knitted socks in the winter, I always find them much warmer as well.
Nannyg