Preparing for Winter V

Primrose

We bought two new fleece covered HWBs last year.  At first I wasn't too keen as we previously had old rubber "ribbed" ones. on one side.  However I,ve changed my view as these insulating covers really help them retain their heat much longer

Hope  everybody stays safe in the next rainstorm which seems to be forecast to hit many of us tomorrow.

YorksLass

Thanks for the reminder about batteries JackieO, I've added then to my shopping list.  An expensive item but better to be prepared than to not have any spares.

My Nectar card has about £36 on it so that will come in handy for No (or Low) Spend January.  My Co-op one builds much more slowly, probably only about £10 over the year, but it's still a nice to have.

I've delayed ordering new flannelette sheets until today because the delivery time would most likely have been on Thursday when we'll both be out and I didn't want to have to faff about re-arranging delivery.  They should be here sometime next week which is fine as we'll be hunkering down and not going far in this awful weather.

dND

JackieO in France my doctor suggested going down the baby isle and getting the individual doses of distilled water that are used to clean babies' eyes.  I don't know if they do the same here as I'm still using up my France ones but to just add moisture I find them useful.

Primrose

I don't know what else in the way of medication is included in these eyedrops but I suspect a large proportion of it is made up of distilled water which probably makes it quite a profitable product for the manufacturers!

fionaandphil

@London_1 my mum bought some eye drops in Boots yesterday too. She picked up 2 bottles and when they went through the till there was an extra discount which wasn't advertised. It took the price from £4 for one bottle to £5 for 2 bottles. Might be worth a try next time.

ET22

 can i just ask, at what temperature do you all put your heating on ? 

elsien

Mine  was on 16 until I started to get chilblains last week. Now on 17 which it will probably stay at unless it gets really cold outside. It’s a not particularly well insulated Victorian terrace and a bit draughty because of the air bricks and open chimney. 

London_1

thanks for the heads up about distilled water . I always seem to wake up with dry eyes in the morning so a squirt or two seems like screen wash  

I put my heating on for an hour when I get up, and then only for an hour at a time after that if the house gets nippy.

I have double insulation in the roof and wall insulation back and front plus living in a small house its easier to keep it warm
I shut the curtains as it gets dark, and keep the doors shut to keep the heat in. I live in a mid terrace 1930s house in a relatively sheltered road so its rare my house need heating continuously , I'm also a great advocate of an extra cardi, and a believer in keeping the body warm first . Hot soups and drinks soon warm you up as well

JackieO xx

Cherryfudge

London_1 said:

I went across to Boots to buy some of their intensive eye drops , golly they have shot up in price, last time I bought some they were under a fiver now they are £10.22 ! ! ! , so I bought a smaller version for dry eyes at under £4.00 weirdly the same amount of liquid in a different shaped bottle 10 mls.
I handed my boots advantage card and the assistant said do you want to use some of your point I forgot I had some on there so it cost me nothing ,better still .
JackieO xx

So that was a win after all.  

I found Boots were really expensive for the eye drops I use: can't be the same as yours as mine were £12! Slightly cheaper in an optician's, but three for £23 online - so it may be worth shopping around.

Primrose

Our minimum temperature thermostat is set to kick in at 18 degrees.  I,m very disabled now unfortunately and can't  get up and move around briskly or exercise as I would have done previously to keep warm. Like JackieO I,m a great believer in extra layers to help keep warm, especially keeping extremities like feet and hands warm.  Thinsulate fingerless gloves are great for keeping hands warm when sitting and reading.

 Our house has maximum depth roof insulation, cavity wall insulation and windows are double glazed. We also have fitted carpets everywhere which  especially helps to keep the ground floor insulated yet when it rains the whole house temperature seems to dive and my bones really feel the chill.. I don,t know whether it,s a psychological reaction but the days just seem warmer even when a very weak winter sun is shining and sometime the psychological battle against the elements seems as important as the physical  one!  

We do throw the curtains wide open to take advantage of the weak winter sun whenever it appears .  I don't know how much extra heat this actually generates but it certainly improves morale which is half the battle.