Preparing for Winter V

TheBanker

Doveling said:

Last years, we bought the little torches from T*sco and hung one on the back door and one on the conservatory door. Useful when nipping out to check the hens. Thought it might be an idea to hang one on each bedroom door handle in the bungalow during the winter in case of power cuts. Went to put some on my weekly T*sco order but they're only allowing two per order! Has there been a run on torches?
Will stick another one on next week 

I keep torches all over my house. The first winter here we had a couple of power cuts (something I've not experienced since I was a kid). So now I have torches in every room - including one I can reach from the loo! I won't go into details about why

I've also got a battery powered lamp that I keep handy - it was bought for use in the loft but it's bright enough to light the living room, and it can stand on the table. 

I've heard of people stocking up on candles. Personally I would be a bit concerned about the fire risk. 

But this discussion is helpful as it's prompted me to go round making sure all my torches have working batteries in them! Will check the batteries in the radio too. 

Primrose

yes definitely check radio batteries if there's no TV as the power goes  off.  Battery radio will be the only source of outside news. 
I suspect  if there's no internet, wi fi or power for laptops, all the teenagers will have nervous breakdowns within 24 hours ! 

Eenymeeny

I used to contribute to this thread years ago and wondered if people realise that it goes back to 2007! I've just checked back and recognise a lot of names that I'd forgotten about. Hopefully they're like me and just read rather than contribute these days. Hello to anyone who remembers me  I just thought that I'd suggest re-reading some of them as the tips still hold good today.
One of my little tips was keeping solar lights on the windowsill in each room so you know where to look if the lights go out suddenly. Also, those LED battery lights which are designed to stick under cabinets are handy to keep by the bed and fit easily into a dressing gown pocket, shining light through the fabric if you need to get up during the night. I always read this thread as it puts me in the right frame of mind for prepping. Although I do find that once you've stocked up you don't need to replace much so not a lot of expense

Uniscots97

Eenymeeny said:

I used to contribute to this thread years ago and wondered if people realise that it goes back to 2007! I've just checked back and recognise a lot of names that I'd forgotten about. Hopefully they're like me and just read rather than contribute these days. Hello to anyone who remembers me  I just thought that I'd suggest re-reading some of them as the tips still hold good today.
One of my little tips was keeping solar lights on the windowsill in each room so you know where to look if the lights go out suddenly. Also, those LED battery lights which are designed to stick under cabinets are handy to keep by the bed and fit easily into a dressing gown pocket, shining light through the fabric if you need to get up during the night. I always read this thread as it puts me in the right frame of mind for prepping. Although I do find that once you've stocked up you don't need to replace much so not a lot of expense

I've been around on here since before that I think. Some of the regular poster became real life friends and others I wonder what happened to them. 

I'm trying to prep for winter, was testing out my solar radio/torch/charger today. 

JinJinBlue

Eenymeeny said:

I used to contribute to this thread years ago and wondered if people realise that it goes back to 2007! I've just checked back and recognise a lot of names that I'd forgotten about. Hopefully they're like me and just read rather than contribute these days. Hello to anyone who remembers me  I just thought that I'd suggest re-reading some of them as the tips still hold good today.
One of my little tips was keeping solar lights on the windowsill in each room so you know where to look if the lights go out suddenly. Also, those LED battery lights which are designed to stick under cabinets are handy to keep by the bed and fit easily into a dressing gown pocket, shining light through the fabric if you need to get up during the night. I always read this thread as it puts me in the right frame of mind for prepping. Although I do find that once you've stocked up you don't need to replace much so not a lot of expense

I have battery operated and wind up lights but I'd not thought of solar lights to charge on the window sill. Thanks for the tip. 

Eenymeeny

Hello Uniscot97, I wonder how many people are long time posters? I think some people have changed their name or have deleted user next to them now? I stopped posting around the time the forum was 'updated' as I was receiving too many notifications which I couldn't seem to stop. (I used to receive one per thread every morning) 
The 'light in pocket' tip arose from when my Dad became infirm and needed hands free when walking around during the night! I still keep one near the bed for myself now! We even take one down the garden if we're sitting until it gets dark
JinJinBlue, my brother keeps a bar type solar on his landing window which he says is enough to 'light their way'

Wednesday2000

We keep two torches by the back door for the garden at night when we let our dog out and we have LED candles upstairs and also an LED lantern for the garden. 

I am going to do some batch cooking today and freeze it. I am thinking carrot soup as the carrots I have bought have been ropey recently. Once peeled and put into a soup I'm sure they will be fine.:)

Primrose

JinJinBlue said:

Eenymeeny said:

I used to contribute to this thread years ago and wondered if people realise that it goes back to 2007! I've just checked back and recognise a lot of names that I'd forgotten about. Hopefully they're like me and just read rather than contribute these days. Hello to anyone who remembers me  I just thought that I'd suggest re-reading some of them as the tips still hold good today.
One of my little tips was keeping solar lights on the windowsill in each room so you know where to look if the lights go out suddenly. Also, those LED battery lights which are designed to stick under cabinets are handy to keep by the bed and fit easily into a dressing gown pocket, shining light through the fabric if you need to get up during the night. I always read this thread as it puts me in the right frame of mind for prepping. Although I do find that once you've stocked up you don't need to replace much so not a lot of expense

I have battery operated and wind up lights but I'd not thought of solar lights to charge on the window sill. Thanks for the tip. 

Can anybody advise where you get these windowsill rechargeable lights and how much they cost please. Sounds safer  than candles and cheaper and greener than continually  buying batteries

Laura_Elsewhere

Just thinking about candles and risks.... round where we are, our hospital trust is in its 5th or 6th 'critical incident' this year due to understaffing (it's been in 'special measures' by the govt since 2016), and the ambulance service averages over 50 minutes for the high-tier of emergencies like stroke or cardiac, the police are desperately short-staffed, and of course the fire brigade are fighting to keep fire stations from being closed, and to keep staff numbers up. 

Those fashionable "tea lights" in their little decorative holders - in my young day they were called "night lights" and burnt for 8 hours, but crucially they were typically placed in the middle of a wide shallow basin of water, specifically so they could be left burning for a light source but in a safe way. 

If people are stocking up for lighting in a potential power-cut, might it be an idea a) to see if anyone still makes night-lights which would work out much cheaper than the fast-burning tea-lights, and b) seeing if you have the necessary bits and pieces to make an old-fashioned safe light? Esp if you have pets or young children or anyone not too steady on their pins. 

It feels like we can't necessarily depend on the rapid arrival of any of the emergency services this winter, so if there are places where we can reduce risk, it's probably worth doing! 

(I've never forgotten the time someone's candle was knocked over and torched the place in my 20s... )

Beige8

Hi , like many of you I used to read this forum many years ago ( last time I looked it was 2013!) so I thought it was time to revisit.

As I have had to restart I am now called a newbie so apparently you all have to be nice to me 🤣