Preparing for Winter V

Topher

Two winters ago I heard about the experiments done in the Manchester research place that showed a reduction of up to 10% of heat loss achieved by putting up a door curtain across an external door. We bought an over long pair of curtains from a charity shop, £5 for the pair and hung them both on a rail. As the front hall where they were placed was directly onto the lounge (a door on which we’d put a home made double draught excluder that slides with the door), we noticed an appreciable improvement in the heat retention of the house in that area. “Up to 10%” is the figure given with the proviso that there are many variables in different situations. 

Fruball

Topher said:

Two winters ago I heard about the experiments done in the Manchester research place that showed a reduction of up to 10% of heat loss achieved by putting up a door curtain across an external door. We bought an over long pair of curtains from a charity shop, £5 for the pair and hung them both on a rail. As the front hall where they were placed was directly onto the lounge (a door on which we’d put a home made double draught excluder that slides with the door), we noticed an appreciable improvement in the heat retention of the house in that area. “Up to 10%” is the figure given with the proviso that there are many variables in different situations. 

Thank you!  That reminds me that I need to put the door curtain back up!  It's been stored for a couple of years so will give it a wash tomorrow. 

Laura_Elsewhere

Just visited my parents (late 80s) and very struck by how chilly their beautiful but old house is… they each have lap-blankets, and thank heavens a few years ago they finally sensibly got a Chimney Sheep and a good electric fire… after forty years of lugging coal upstairs and ashes downstairs (sitting-room on first floor, traditional in many Scots houses), very good to see how cosy they can now be once settled on the sofa- but jings, you get frozen going out of the room to the loo or kitchen!!!

glad to be back home in our cosy little flat and ironically sitting with the window wide open because we’re so overheated after five days of their central heating!!!  

ET22

It’s is lovely coming home to a cosy flat. I can’t imagine living in a big old house again. I definitely would never go back to one. I don’t think people realise how cold and drafty they are because they are used to it. I know I was. 

Fruball

I have managed to get some real wool packaging so am going to make window quilts for some of the windows.

My sewing machine really needs a service which I cannot do myself but should get it out and see if I can get it to not bunch up like it did last time I used it. If anyone can give any advice on that, I would be grateful!  Otherwise, I can hand sew if needed but would rather not. 

I have a cosy fire tonight as DD popped in and I wanted it to be homely for her.  She recently left home  and I miss her terribly. 

Now she has left, the dogs sleep in with me so that definitely keeps me cosy at night.  The cooler it is, the closer they snug up to me!  It is taking a bit of getting used to as they used to sleep with her, but I am sure I will appreciate the warmth as we move further into the cold months.

beckstar1975

@Fruball my DD recently went off to uni and I was completely floored by how bereft I felt, despite the fact her brother has been at uni for 2 years already and her younger brother is still at home.

It's a tricky but very real kind of grief, so glad you have dogs and can now understand why so many empty nesters get them

Fruball

beckstar1975 said:

@Fruball my DD recently went off to uni and I was completely floored by how bereft I felt, despite the fact her brother has been at uni for 2 years already and her younger brother is still at home.

It's a tricky but very real kind of grief, so glad you have dogs and can now understand why so many empty nesters get them

She is my last one to go.  Her twin left last year for Uni but she stayed for an extra year.  I am totally floored!  I can mostly talk about her going without crying now, with strangers at least.  One of my besties has been subject to hard core sobbing on several occasions now!

Fortunately, she is the one who messages me daily and calls almost daily.  I miss her terribly.  I could go on!

How are you doing?  Is your daughter keeping in touch regularly?  Is she enjoying it?  It helps me a lot to know my DD is really living her best life and embracing everything her new life is offering. 

beckstar1975

So glad she's enjoying it. DD is enjoying it too but has been a bit wobbly this week as she's been proper ill but didn't have a GP, plus a lot of uni friends are away/home this weekend. 

I hid away for a week as was crying so much I couldn't risk anyone talking to me, however well meaning. I popped to the local 'mini' supermarket and saw a mum with a child in the uniform of DDs primary and literally started sobbing in the aisles. Wanted to shake the mum by the shoulders and say 'enjoy it, it'll be gone before you know it'.

Thankfully I've got significantly better and am enjoying our smaller unit.

Really glad you're adjusting too, though I wish it was more warned about. I thought I was mad as well as bereft, so there's comfort in the fact it's not just me

Fruball

beckstar1975 said:

So glad she's enjoying it. DD is enjoying it too but has been a bit wobbly this week as she's been proper ill but didn't have a GP, plus a lot of uni friends are away/home this weekend. 

I hid away for a week as was crying so much I couldn't risk anyone talking to me, however well meaning. I popped to the local 'mini' supermarket and saw a mum with a child in the uniform of DDs primary and literally started sobbing in the aisles. Wanted to shake the mum by the shoulders and say 'enjoy it, it'll be gone before you know it'.

Thankfully I've got significantly better and am enjoying our smaller unit.

Really glad you're adjusting too, though I wish it was more warned about. I thought I was mad as well as bereft, so there's comfort in the fact it's not just me

Oh, bless you.  I have also done supermarket crying when I bumped into one of her best friend's mum and that set the lady on the till crying too as her son had just gone to uni, welling up alone in the car, ugly sobbing on the phone to a friend, multiple times!       You definitely are not alone! 

I saw the lady on the till yesterday and she thinks her son is going to come home.  He hates it apparently.  No such luck here as my daughter is living her best life!  I am really happy for her, genuinely.  It is just a lot for me emotionally.

Yeah, there is no preparation for this.  It's rough!!!  

Fruball

Back to preparing for winter, as I am reliant on the open fire and plug in radiators this year, I have managed to source some wood, cheaper than I was paying so that's good!  I like a cold bedroom but I cannot bear to be cold when I am relaxing downstairs in the evening. 

I have also found that the local car boot does carpet off cuts/mats so I am making use of those on the cold floor in the kitchen.  Will try to look for a rug to cover most of the space but it's an awkward shaped space so joining some of the mats may work better.  Any ideas? 

I need to:
Get the new-to-me curtain pole installed in the living room, DS said he will do that for me.
Paint the other living room curtain pole to match the new one.  Seems better than paying for 2 new ones. 
Make window quilts for the landing window and one of the french doors, using the free real wool packaging I have.
Add new shrink film to the kitchen door glass and insulate the bottom of the door. (bottom of the door has been on the list for years    (Also, find the shrink film! I don't want to buy more as I know I have some left)
Wash, dry and hang the front door curtain.  Was meant to do that today but I forgot!
Possibly make a blind for the bathroom if I can get the sewing machine to work!  
Find my soft, wool wrist warmers. Likewise the wool socks!
Wash the heated throws I got a few years ago freebie from the electricity company. I didn't make much use of them but I suspect I will this year!*
Probably need to buy some vest tops to go under clothes and PJs