Preparing for Winter V

Primrose

sammy_kaye18 said:

Afternoon all

I'm starting to wonder if a few push button battery powered lights dotted around the place might come in handy for things like if the lights go out and being able to get to bed and the bathroom etc as we are in an old miners house and the bathroom is downstairs at the back of the house so it can be quite a walk if your bursting for the toilet at night, let alone if you cant put a light on to help you! 

Sammy Kaye   If I had that long a walk on a cold winter,s night in the dark  to get to the bathroom to spend a penny  I think I'd be very tempted to invest in a commode !

Floss

Singlespeeder said:

I'm not sure on the thinking behind candles, not in these days of leds. Candles give off very little light, about a candlepower ! Sure USB lights are vastly superior and safer, cheaper to run and just generally more useful...  

But candles also give off heat

littlegreenparrot

I put tea lights in glasses or small jam jars,  keeps them contained. 

Personally I love a head torch, very handy to have about the place. 

That reminds me, must dig out a torch to put in the car....

Eenymeeny

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

I just use the ones that are hung on my fence during the summer. Very mse! I'm not sure where I got them, probably Wilko's. They are a small square shape, a bit like a wedge of cheese (!) . Small enough to keep behind the curtains without being seen during the day

Eenymeeny

Sorry, I forgot to answer your other question. Cost wise they are usually about 6 for £10. Here's a link to the round ones they are selling at the moment: Wilko 6 pack Garden Solar Fence Lights | Wilko 

annieb64

I use those little glass pots that that puddings like creme brulee come in for tea lights.

Laura_Elsewhere

Oooh, thinking of putting torches in the car - dishwasher-salt granules! 

I haven't done a costing exercise lately but every time I have done, these come out far cheaper than even buying sacks of rock-salt or grit or any other kind of anti-ice stuff. 
Get the granules specifically, because then it works in two ways - immediately you get grit to help reduce slipping and then as the ice melts, you get the4 salt released to prevent re-freezing. 

We keep a bag in the car, and a small container in the flat for doing the outside steps; my parents keep a small tin just inside their front door so if they go out in icy weather they can walk safely if slowly, strewing it ahead in a narrow path, and then just leave the tin by the front gate to pick up as they come home. Their postie often thanks them in winter!

TheBanker

Quite a productive morning. In years passed, I've made a few preparations for winter, mainly building my stocks of food in case of bad weather/illness. This year I am doing a bit more, I expect I am not uncommon.

So today I went through all my cashback accounts (Top Cashback, my bank account cashback etc) and gathered up all the money. With it I've bought a curtain for my door, and a nice fleece throw to keep me warm on cold evenings on the sofa. I've also bought another two cheap torches and a pack of batteries.

And I bought some crocus bulbs to plant in the tubs by the back door. I expect this is going to be a tough winter (like winter 2020/1 was with the lockdowns). So I think some cheerful flowers to let me know that Spring is on the way will be very welcome.

amber03

Doing the same The Banker, going to put loads of bulbs and winter plants in my garden, just to give me something to look at and cheer me up over the next few months. Much better to potter around the garden than read or listen to the news.

florianatwobob

That’s an excellent tip @Laura_Elsewhere   I must add some more  to my stash