Preparing for Winter V

toozie_2

kittie wrote: »

In 1977/8 I had to get urgent prescription medicine for our 9 month baby who suddenly developed bronchiolitis. I drove very cautiously along a narrow village lane, very deep snow that had been cleared just enough for a single track for a car. On a blind bend I met a lorry and he couldn`t stop, I did but he just slid into my cortina. My car was a right off. I was only shaken but since then I have been so wary about driving in the snow and ice. I never go out if I don`t have to. I was amazingly lucky. I have the greatest respect for winter conditions and that includes not wanting to break any bones

I think it was that winter when my husband and I got the real flu, with 3 small children. We sat so close to the parkray fire, we were freezing and couldn`t put one foot in front of another. Horrible and a million times worse than even a bad cold

I've only ever had real flu once too, probably in the mid to late 70's.
We all got it in the house, I physically could not hold a hot water bottle to fill it, I didn't have the strength.
Oh boy did I feel ill!!

Flu is when you see a £20 note laying outside and you simply can not summon up enough energy to move and go and get it, its' actually physically impossible, however much you need the money!

toozie_2

julsifer wrote: »

You guys are making me nervous i only remember 2010 winter which was pretty bad around here everyone stopped using their cars and milk and bread was just nowhere to be seen in the shops. I've just realised I'm more prepared for Xmas than winter. This year is the first winter I've got my own car to worry about which gets parked all night in a public car park as OH has the residential parking space at the back of the house (lucky him) and its also going to be my first time being a mummy I haven't even thought about stocking up on medicines and I have only a couple of candles in the house which wont be very good in case of a power cut, no torches what am I doing...oh my god I'm panicking!

Don't panic, I'm sure there is a winter check list somewhere on this thread.
Probably I would concentrate on enough stock for the baby, warmth (clothes, heating etc) and food.
x

Living_proof

Tonight I lit a small candle, and it's the first one this year. What a huge difference it has made to a quite big sitting room. I think I will keep doing this and hold out on the central heating until 1st October. I wouldn't have believed just a candle could make such a difference, so it might help others if you can light them safely ifyswim.

notjustlaura

toozie wrote: »

Maybe it's a good idea to reminisce about past winters, by airing our memories and how we coped, we might stop the demon long period of snow falling in 2015/16!!

julsifer wrote: »

You guys are making me nervous .....oh my god I'm panicking!

I thing reminiscing is a great idea - very motivating julsifer Don't panic! Put that energy into doing something constructive to prepare instead. I always feel better once I have a list and there's a link to a good winter checklist on the first post of this thread

The winter that clued me in to prepping was the last bad one 2010 I think? The elderly boiler broke so I had no heating or hot water. Then Mr S couldn't get through to deliver the groceries and I had no stocks in the house. The local shops emptied fast because their deliveries couldn't get through either. I felt like I was living in WWII - rumours were circulating "The Coop has milk!' 'There's bread at the corner shop!' I was very cold and very scared and made up my mind that winter would not catch me out again.

Expect the best and prepare for the worst.

boultdj

julsifer wrote: »

You guys are making me nervous i only remember 2010 winter which was pretty bad around here everyone stopped using their cars and milk and bread was just nowhere to be seen in the shops. I've just realised I'm more prepared for Xmas than winter. This year is the first winter I've got my own car to worry about which gets parked all night in a public car park as OH has the residential parking space at the back of the house (lucky him) and its also going to be my first time being a mummy I haven't even thought about stocking up on medicines and I have only a couple of candles in the house which wont be very good in case of a power cut, no torches what am I doing...oh my god I'm panicking!

Like the other's have said, don't panic, put it to practical use, make a list, and if you can afford to, get one or two thing's a week, it'll soon add up.

fuddle

condensation on the bedroom windows this morning. No heating just breathing but it's the first of the season. Great to see that day time temps aren't due to fall below 16/17 up till October here so there won't be any heating to at least then.

The line won't be used as much from then but going to get the airer down, air washing until evening and then finish in tumble dryer (condeser helps with keeping damp in kitchen too) it has to save a little electricity and given that the dryer has automatic cut off when dry I have every faith that I will save some pennies.

We're able to get the kitchen track and baton for the kitchen curtain I made. sadly I am very excited about it. Quite proud of that cheapy curtain.

nicki_2

Do any of you have fire extinguishers or fire blankets in the house? I'm just thinking I really love lighting my candles but our dog has found this new game where he's "killing" his toy (you know the shaking violently from side to side and stomping his front legs) and then he lets go of it so it goes flying through the air. Last night it hit the main light in the livingroom, then he did it again hitting the top shelf of the DVD rack which is about 5ft off the floor :mad: He's been told off but I have visions of him doing that and hitting one of my lit candles (all jar ones ATM but later in winter I like to put tealights or other candles out as well) and causing a fire. I really don't want to stop having my candles, so I was thinking I'd get some sort of fire fighting thing but I don't know which would be best.

missyrichards

I have a small kitchen so I ordered some wicker baskets with lids yesterday and I'm going to keep them on top of the cupboard in the tiny porch. They will hold tins of soup and beans and teabags etc... so I can store some back up food for winter if we can't get out to the shops if it does snow heavily.

dianasnan wrote: »

I can also recall having to put a sleeping bag inside my sheets, having a long flannelette nightie, bed socks and several hot water bottles to try to keep warm whilst there was ice on the bedroom windows. No central heating yet. My cat would usually snuggle right into the bed to try to stay warm. I always used to think that she would suffocate.

Lucy5781 wrote: »

My Mum always talks about the ice on the inside of the bedroom windows, she was 13 in 1963.

notjustlaura wrote: »

I can remember ice on the inside of my bedroom window in the 1970s ...

My mother-in-law was talking about that winter as she remembers it well. I think I remember ice on the windows in the 70s too.

quidsy

Need to stock up on batteries for the lamps in case of black out & a few boxes of matches for candles. Have tinned goods & dry products & a camping gaz for cooking in needed.


Main need are gloves as ds has taken to cutting the ends off the fingers as they are more "pirate" looking? So need a few pairs hidden away in case of need.

boultdj

nicki wrote: »

Do any of you have fire extinguishers or fire blankets in the house? I'm just thinking I really love lighting my candles but our dog has found this new game where he's "killing" his toy (you know the shaking violently from side to side and stomping his front legs) and then he lets go of it so it goes flying through the air. Last night it hit the main light in the livingroom, then he did it again hitting the top shelf of the DVD rack which is about 5ft off the floor :mad: He's been told off but I have visions of him doing that and hitting one of my lit candles (all jar ones ATM but later in winter I like to put tealights or other candles out as well) and causing a fire. I really don't want to stop having my candles, so I was thinking I'd get some sort of fire fighting thing but I don't know which would be best.

I'd go for the blanket, the extinguishers have a 'shelf life', so you need to replace after so many years, even if it's never been used, also the blanket can round people or the dog if the flame bit land's on somebody.