Preparing for Winter V

Toonie

I love changing to autumnal and wintery foods. Makes me feel cosy knowing there is a stew bubbling away or stewed fruit to eat with my granola in the morning instead of yoghurt.

Sunshine and showers here today in east London, we've been doing an "Autumn clean" of the house and doing a room each weekend. Today we've done the living room and freshened up blankets and cushions on the sofa. Tomorrow I'm going to do the dining area as most of the clutter is mine. Time to do filing and shredding I think.

Si_Clist

As part of our autumn re-arranging, we decided that a big leather three-seater sofa was now surplus to requirements.  Nobody on Freecycle or Freegle wanted it, the Council wanted £60 to make it disappear, and it would have been a bit awkward taking it to the dump on my bike.  So ... two hours in the living room with a handsaw and a Stanley knife reduced it to handy-sized bits, and just under half of it filled the landfill wheelie bin just 20 minutes before the dustmen came to empty it  

All bar one chunk of the rest of it has filled the bin right up again, and the last chunk will go with the next-but-one collection.

Fiona236

*I've done last hedge cut of the year. Shame my neighbours never even did one though! 
*Plants all cut back in front garden and leaves mulched into soil.

Primrose

Why, oh why dont neighbours ever consider  the impact their trees and hedges have on their immediate neighbours?.  We,ve been plagued by this problem for years!.  This surely should be regarded as an annual autumn/winter pruning routine once leaves have been shed. 

cuddlymarm

Hi guys
The summer clothes are away and the winter ones are out now. I’ve kept out the older vest type tops and a couple of summer dresses that will also go well layered with tights and a cardigan. I’ve cleaned my trusty Ugg’s and they’ll probably do until next year cos I’ve got a pair of black leather boots if I need smart ones ( they are a few years old, Clark’s sale) 
It’s not raining at the moment and as we are quite sheltered the windows are open to air the place through. I’m on a mission not to use electricity if possible so the bathroom door is open to air out naturally than having the fan on and I’m letting my hair dry naturally. OH has still not filled his van with fuel, we don’t use much and it’s still quarter full. He says he can’t see the point using fuel to trail round looking for it and someone might need it more.
Steak pud with cabbage for tea, yummy. I love winter food.

Fiona236

Primrose said:

Why, oh why dont neighbours ever consider  the impact their trees and hedges have on their immediate neighbours?.  We,ve been plagued by this problem for years!.  This surely should be regarded as an annual autumn/winter pruning routine once leaves have been shed. 

I know, one side is nearly as high as my bedroom window when it was always maybe 5 and a half foot. It's now a house of house sharers not a family home anymore. Other side she's lazy. So my hedge looks out of place being neat. I cut mine weekly so its never a big job. 

MandM90

Finally booked chimney sweep, though he's not available until early Dec! When he comes I'll ask him when I need to book to get an Aug/Sept slot next year.

This week I'd like to:
- give my DuBarry's a treat with a clean and leather treatment
- box up summer coats/clothes/shoes

I'm not going to be any more ambitious than that as I'm 7 months pregnant and working 1 FT job + a few hours a week 'side gig' so I'm perpetually exhausted.

Fiona236

*Today I'm washing all the couch covers, cushion cases, arm protectors, throws etc and my cape/shawl. Then place my fleecy blankets at end of my couch arm out the way. 

fionaandphil

@MandM90 we book just as school is breaking up for summer and he comes first week they go back.  We also book for anybody in the neighbourhood who wants it done and get a discount as he saves on fuel, all gets done in one day.  He is also our local coal merchant so considerably cheaper than some of the big companies

Si_Clist

fionaandphil said:

... get a discount as he saves on fuel, all gets done in one day.

Lucky you!  If we book ours to sweep the kitchen flue it costs us £45.  If he were to come back the next day to sweep the one in the front room it would be another £45.  Both on the same visit (and they're identical is every respect) is £90 ...