Preparing for Winter V

sesw75

Hello, I was hoping that one of you would share what you keep in your emergency winter car kits. Ive tried to search. I was thinking torches, blankets and water along with the usual jump leads.
Thanks in advance x

julsifer

Today has been such a lovely day blue skies and sunshine, and i was out buying 3 sets of lined thick curtains, hot water bottles, cold and flu medicines, lozenges, vaporub you name it. Madness ��

toozie_2

sesw75 wrote: »

Hello, I was hoping that one of you would share what you keep in your emergency winter car kits. Ive tried to search. I was thinking torches, blankets and water along with the usual jump leads.
Thanks in advance x

I have jump leads, first aid kit, high vis vest, woolly hat ( I hate wearing hats but if I was stuck in the dark in snow- needs must!)
Orange triangle -this is in car anyway from times of going to France.
Couple of bottles of water, cereal bars, £3 in coins. car phone charger. A blanket-this is on back seat anyway, and a thin waterproof big coat thingy-like a Kagool with hood, and it's half way to my knees. I would put this over my work, everyday coat if I had to walk in a snow storm.
Woolly gloves.
Head ache tablets-to relieve the stress of keeping the car on the road in ice!
There is probably more but I can't think!
It's all packed into a box in the boot, doesn't take much room.

I guess that if bad weather was forecast and I had to go to work (there is nowhere else I would be going in snow or ice!) I would probably be wearing suitable footwear/boots/snow boots already-or be taking them in the car that day.

Hope that helps a bit, oh and de-icer

[Deleted User]

The soil in pots and troughs is still soaking so they are too heavy to manage to the tip. Took the bull by the horns today and I have tipped 14 troughs out on the slate patio, as well as all the prunings from last week and the 4 tomato buckets. It all has to go to the tip via me lifting it in and out of my car, so it has to be lighter. Some days of fine weather ahead according to the tv, so figured that cleaning the patio would be an ok job compared to lifting dripping pots

Sheets will be changed to flannel today and am washing the cotton ones ready to store. Bought the car food and water and will pack away under the passenger seat. I am keeping the other car kit near the garage door, no point me having it in the car yet. I always carry the essentials anyway like a high viz vest

I have started knitting again so yes the weather must be turning

*Foxglove*

kittie wrote: »

The soil in pots and troughs is still soaking so they are too heavy to manage to the tip. Took the bull by the horns today and I have tipped 14 troughs out on the slate patio, as well as all the prunings from last week and the 4 tomato buckets. It all has to go to the tip via me lifting it in and out of my car, so it has to be lighter. Some days of fine weather ahead according to the tv, so figured that cleaning the patio would be an ok job compared to lifting dripping pots

Sounds like hard work Kittie. Just curious as to why you take used soil to the tip? I always empty any spent potting compost or soil back onto the garden as it makes a good soil conditioner/mulch.

Spent an hour or so this morning tending to the Veg Beds. Defoliated the tomato plants so as much sunlight as possible gets to the fruits. Harvested a couple of outdoor cucumbers...so salad for dinner. I am going to celebrate today when the sun goes down (Autumn Equinox) with a fire in the chimera in the garden and a few nibbles....LOVE this time of the year.

[Deleted User]

The troughs and tomato pots are root bound and I only use new good soil for topping up pots and raised beds in the back, I don`t have flat garden as such, gravel slate etc. I could put them in my hotbin on the allotment but that is full and I have a stack of stuff to compost plus I would have to get it there. Easier to bag for the tip if nice and dry, no soil falls off as there are so many roots but dry is much lighter to handle

Pooky

Had the first fire of the season last night - was lovely to feel the house cosy and warm but has highlighted I've got to dig out the thermal curtain linings and get them up.

Been out foraging for more berries and rose hips this morning, I've noticed a huge amount of berrys, seeds and nuts this year compared to last. Just waiting for the 3 chestnut trees I've found to be ready.

missyrichards

I can't remember if I said this already but my new curtains arrived and I noticed the difference in the draft immediately. I'm glad I chose them instead of going for blinds!:)

I'm going to start stocking up on a couple of tins of soup and beans each week so I have a store ready if I need one.

I'm also going to get some more ibuprofen tablets and boxes of herbal tea over the next few weeks.

[Deleted User]

yes curtains, much better than blinds in winter. I got a couple of tins of soup in sainsburys last week, always handy in case of feeling under the weather anyway

I have finished with all the troughs etc, saw the forecast and now we are having rain tonight. They were easy ish to do now that the soil was no longer soggy. 1 popup full, 8 sacks and 2 large trugs all in the car ready for tomorrow. I did lug 2 trugs of decent soil up to the top and scattered it on the surrounding orchard, not my orchard so not too much

Patio is still clean, just needed a brush. I have lots of containers to wash but will need a large trug for that and anyway, no hurry now. I always breathe a big sigh of relief when that emptying job is done, I used to have help but am on my own now, so lots more work. Next year, no tomatoes and only a selective few troughs to add colour. So much harder to maintain everything when suddenly being down to one.

julsifer

Well I've got a couple things off my checklist so far:
Curtains replaced in the livingroom and diningroom
Curtains bought for other windows in kitchen/diner
Door curtains bought for front and back doors
Half the front garden weeded and pruned
Sold a bunch of bits online thats just cluttering the place
Did a batch cook last week and continuing to do bigger meals and freezing leftovers
Got medicine cupboard restocked
Bought hot water bottles

So far so good