Preparing for Winter V

Cherryfudge

Thank you to all who helped out with information on the soda crystals! My new bag of them (solid!) has been in the fridge for a few days, and it took standing on it and rocking it backwards and forwards a few times to get it to flow, but the cold may have helped because it actually did break up and has now been pored into a solid bottle saved from once buying soda in that form. I had to use a funnel and a skewer to get rid of a few persistent lumps, but it worked.

Incidentally, I noticed the packaging says to store below 25 degrees so the effect of heat on the crystals has been noted.

Reading the packaging drew my attention to its use as a stain remover so I might be trying that. It's been more as a water softener till now.

Cherryfudge

Today I'm going to sort out summer clothes and pack them away, and get out winter jumpers (says she, optimistically).

I resolved this year not to buy so many clothes as I hate getting rid of any, and bought enough at car boot sales in the summer of 2023 to last a few years, I should think. I have genuinely not bought as much this year but there area still more than there were. I think I have three new dresses and how often do I wear a dress? But they are so gorgeous... TBH it's more that I struggle to find shoes to go with them (arthritic feet) so I've been blessing whoever invented the trend for trainers with dresses. But laying loads of dresses out on the bed ready to pack up has brought it home a bit: I will extend the season for some that can have a tee shirt underneath or a jumper on top, and will bring out the tights too.

Winter clothes prep is a poignant time of year! Away goes 'I wore that in ... , the weather was gorgeous' and out comes 'Ah, this again! I wonder how long I've had it? Crikey, it's bobbly, I'd better get the shaver out'  

Sarahspangles

Cherryfudge said:

Today I'm going to sort out summer clothes and pack them away, and get out winter jumpers (says she, optimistically).

Winter clothes prep is a poignant time of year! Away goes 'I wore that in ... , the weather was gorgeous' and out comes 'Ah, this again! I wonder how long I've had it? Crikey, it's bobbly, I'd better get the shaver out'  

Bright side is thinking ‘but I won’t need to shave my legs until the flip side’!

Cherryfudge

Sarahspangles said:
Bright side is thinking ‘but I won’t need to shave my legs until the flip side’!

!

Floss

Sarahspangles said:

Cherryfudge said:

Today I'm going to sort out summer clothes and pack them away, and get out winter jumpers (says she, optimistically).

Winter clothes prep is a poignant time of year! Away goes 'I wore that in ... , the weather was gorgeous' and out comes 'Ah, this again! I wonder how long I've had it? Crikey, it's bobbly, I'd better get the shaver out'  

Bright side is thinking ‘but I won’t need to shave my legs until the flip side’!

It's an extra layer of natural insulation 😉

Nelliegrace

The central heating has been coming on, when the mornings are chilly, for a few weeks now. The thermostat is set at a comfortable 17°C. A quick check was needed to see if any of the radiators need air removing.

It is almost cold enough for that most useful layer, the winter vest. I have old fashioned, cotton interlock vests which are nice and long. I used to buy plain M&S vests which lasted for years, until they started adding elastane. We bought pure cotton ones for MIL at a very good price (5 for £9.50,) from their school uniform section. My men’s long summer T-shirts make warm vests, I have some long sleeved ones too, and if it gets really cold I have merino wool thermals, bought in the sales. 

YorksLass

Thanks all for the tips on keeping the soda crystals free-flowing.  My last bag was a solid lump so I shall be using these when I next buy some.

I've checked the first aid cabinet and all is in order, apart from needing some anti inflammatory gel that I find works better for me than tablets.  That's been rectified today as I got some on my grocery delivery.  I buy the own brand one as (a) it's a heck of a lot cheaper than a branded one and (b) it doesn't contain diclofenac that I'm allergic to.  I hope it doesn't become a discontinued item.

I think the only thing I need now is a new torch as the one I have only works when it feels like it, which is usually hardly ever!

Cherryfudge

Another thing to check - and perhaps sadly most relevant to a winter thread when electrics are coming out of storage - is whether fire extinguishers are in date and accessible, and do you know how to use them? (The best instructions I came across spelled the word 'pass': Pull, aim, squeeze, sweep). 

Also CO detectors and smoke detectors.

@Nelliegrace, coincidentally, my cotton vest has just come back into service today!

SuzeQStan

Cherryfudge said:

Another thing to check - and perhaps sadly most relevant to a winter thread when electrics are coming out of storage - is whether fire extinguishers are in date and accessible, and do you know how to use them? (The best instructions I came across spelled the word 'pass': Pull, aim, squeeze, sweep). 

Also CO detectors and smoke detectors.

@Nelliegrace, coincidentally, my cotton vest has just come back into service today!

So very true and important - am distraught
hearing about people perishing in house fires when they plug something in for their 1st winter warm 

greenbee

Also do not plug extension leads into extension leads.