Preparing for Winter V

Nelliegrace

We changed from British Gas to Utility Warehouse, so I hope that will mitigate the loss of the WFP. I don’t remember the central heating coming on in September before.

Sarahspangles

Nelliegrace said:

We changed from British Gas to Utility Warehouse, so I hope that will mitigate the loss of the WFP. I don’t remember the central heating coming on in September before.

We have a Nest thermostat and I think it saves us money but they aren’t as smart as they are made out to be. It fires up the heating at some point every Summer. When humans are capable of seeing that it’s a bit foggy this morning and they need a cardigan but by 10am the windows will be open.

Cherryfudge

We've just had to do an emergency pull-out of the freezer as the drainage tray had blocked. The smell was horrible! Not really a winter prep job in itself but for those who are able to, a bit of fridge/freezer maintenance will probably help reduce costs and electrical risk. Our freezer has a back but where the innards are open to the air they can get dusty so a bit of vacuuming reduces build up. You will know by the smell if you have a gungy drainage tray but that can be wiped out (not all of them are removeable) in advance of the stench from the Black Lagoon stage. There's also the drainage inside the fridge that can block. Not sure what's the best way to clean either: we used bleach but vinegar might be better near food.

Wednesday2000

Sarahspangles said

The NHS Covid and flu jabs start on Thursday 3rd October which is later than in previous years but designed to give good protection over the main period that we need it. 

Yes. I just asked in another pharmacy when I bought ibuprofen and they told me that. 

MrsCD

I booked our flu jabs this morning! Saturday 5th October. They do a production line set up at our surgery where you go in one door, in the queue, say who you are, have your arm ready, get jabbed, and out the door at the other end! It's worked well so far. Hubby suggested they could do blow pipe darts out the window, but they weren't having any of it! 😁

Cherryfudge

MrsCD said:

Hubby suggested they could do blow pipe darts out the window, but they weren't having any of it! 😁

Why ever not?  

SuzeQStan

MrsCD said:

I booked our flu jabs this morning! Saturday 5th October. They do a production line set up at our surgery where you go in one door, in the queue, say who you are, have your arm ready, get jabbed, and out the door at the other end! It's worked well so far. Hubby suggested they could do blow pipe darts out the window, but they weren't having any of it! 😁

So funny needed a laugh thank you!  We had our first log fire of the season last nite and it was cosy but it’s back to summer weather today so hoping we won’t need another fire or to use GCH till October now 🤞🏻🤞🏻

Primrose

Yes weather so unpredictable.  We're having a daily debate about how long we dare risk leaving picking our remaining outdoor tomatoes. Keeping an eye on overnight forecasts for frost - my rolling annual diary reminds me it's Sept 20-22nd ( south East England)

Sarahspangles

MrsCD said:

I booked our flu jabs this morning! Saturday 5th October. They do a production line set up at our surgery where you go in one door, in the queue, say who you are, have your arm ready, get jabbed, and out the door at the other end! It's worked well so far. Hubby suggested they could do blow pipe darts out the window, but they weren't having any of it! 😁

I’m in a role where I could actually propose that! I’ll save it for when a meeting is getting a bit dull….

SuzeQStan

Primrose said:

Yes weather so unpredictable.  We're having a daily debate about how long we dare risk leaving picking our remaining outdoor tomatoes. Keeping an eye on overnight forecasts for frost - my rolling annual diary reminds me it's Sept 20-22nd ( south East England)

Our tomatoes have been poor this year!  We have had some minor success  with the greenhouse tomatoes but the outdoor ones are green as anything. Pinched out all flowers and removed unnecessary leaves but if something doesn’t happen soon will just leave them on the vine as we usually get a couple that survive and come back in the spring.