Preparing for Winter V

PipneyJane

I do wonder if the reason we haven’t had a particularly snowy winter for the last decade, is because I invested in snow chains for the car in 2011.

I’m not saying that it hasn’t snowed, just that it hasn’t stuck around for weeks at a time.  I had a colleague caught in “The Beast From The East”.  He spent the night in his car on the A303 near Stonehenge.  The road was blocked by vehicles that couldn’t cope and the gritters couldn’t get through.  (Ironic since we’d been working in a highways depot in a different county, and had followed our gritters out to the main road.)

Speaking of gritters, did anyone else see the BBC news item about North Lincolnshire Counci naming one of their gritters after the Duke Of Edinburgh?  They called it The Duke of Spreadingburgh.    

Great list of tips, @summertime_2.  May I beg you to share them again on the Lots More Sneaky Ways to Save The Pennies thread?

- Pip

slm6002

I have been using dishwasher salt for many years now.  We have a sloping pathway leading to the house which becomes really quite dangerous when icy for the postman / visitors.  The dishwasher salt lasts quite a while once laid.

cornishchick

cornishchick said:

After a slip on the ice last winter, My partner "surprised me " with a gift of 2 bags of rock salt, I have put them in the recycling store at the top of my slope. can anyone think of a lightweight way of storing enough to sprinkle on the slope without me having to carry the whole sack or take spades full up and down? I don't have the energy for that. I thought about one of those cereal containers but wondered if anyone had any other solutions. thanks in advance. 

thanks, guys, I might try the empty milk container. I will nab an empty 4 litre one from work. It only needs to be enough to do the slate path down to the car. 

Primrose

Actually the jumbo milk container with handle is an excellent idea.  Think we will keep a filled one handy on our doorstep in winter months to use when snow is forecast.  Sprinkling a narrow pathway from door to front gate would be a thoughtful act for our daily newspaper deliverer and the postie. 

MrsCD

Would a shaker work? I'm thinking of an Options hot chocolate type
 plastic container with holes drilled into the top to shake the salt out of.

tboo

Thanks for the recommendations/techniques regarding salt.

While in Aldi yesterday I purchased a box of dishwasher salt. Washed out a 4-pint milk carton and it is now ready for the predicted icy period that is coming to our shores shortly.

Laura_Elsewhere

Finally, the first frost this winter! It's been a bit of a bloomin' wait but what a glorious frosty morning! 

Stay cosy, everyone!  

Nonnadiluca

That's beautiful Laura. I had to get the hat and mittens out for the first time this winter to walk the dogs. A chilly but gorgeous morning in the forest.

Primrose

MrsCD said:

Would a shaker work? I'm thinking of an Options hot chocolate type
 plastic container with holes drilled into the top to shake the salt out of.

Thought i,d replied to this but my response disappeared into the ether. 

A shaker would work if the dishwasher salt granules are small enough to fall easily theiugh the holes  and kept totally dry.  If the container gets damp at all they will obviously clog the hole but you can rectify this by drying the salt out  in a dish in a warm over 

cuddlymarm

Hi guys
DH had to defrost his van for the first time this year, so chilly hands but he did say how beautiful the sea and sky was. It was a shock to the system being cold, but at the same time rather pleasant 🥶
I put the small heater on for a few minutes last night to take the chill off, the first time it’s been needed this year so I’m pleased with that. We’ve been moved to British Gas and they want an extra £30 month, so it’s cutbacks or has to come from somewhere else.
Warming food tonight, a veggie chilly but using cut up Quorn pieces instead of mince because it needed using up.
Keep warm and well everyone