Preparing for Winter

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

ceridwen wrote: »

Hi Beccatje

...and I shall now sit and get jealous at my memories of JUST how efficient Dutch central heating is......dont know if its all the same....but the mere thought of being able to walk into a cold room, switch the radiator on full blast and having to switch it back off again 30 minutes later as I was "melting". Thinking about Dutch standard doubleglazing as well......didnt matter being pretty close to a motorway...shut the window and instant dead silence!!!!

Jealous now!;)

Longs to live in more efficient country....longs to live in more efficient country.........

Me too,and I agree with you about different standards abroad.We stay in the mountains in Austria every Christmas and the difference in the heating,insulation and double glazing is incredible.Last year it got down to minus 20 outside and we had to open our windows as we felt too warm even with the heating turned down.This country is rubbish like that,we are so behind with things like building regulations..Me and my OH are seriously thinking of going for good when he retires in a few years.We certainly don't intend to spend our old age frightened to keep warm.

Beccatje

True, we do have double glazing all the way around the house and no drafties to speak of.

Food?.. hmmm.. I'll think on it. The Dutch tend to eat quite simple. Lots of one pot meals that we call "stamppot"
Which translates to: Mashed pot..



The basic principle is: Boil potatoes, together with your choice of veg.. be it Andive, carrots and onions, string beans, white beans etc....
Mash the whole bit up when it's cooked..

Add a choice of meat if you like. E.g. bacon, sausage or the likes...
Douce the whole lot in gravy and away you go!

A very filling hearty meal on cold winter days I tell you.

I'll look up the other thread and see if I can write up some idea's.

Becca

parsonswife8

Beccatje wrote: »

True, we do have double glazing all the way around the house and no drafties to speak of.

Food?.. hmmm.. I'll think on it. The Dutch tend to eat quite simple. Lots of one pot meals that we call "stamppot"
Which translates to: Mashed pot..



The basic principle is: Boil potatoes, together with your choice of veg.. be it Andive, carrots and onions, string beans, white beans etc....
Mash the whole bit up when it's cooked..

Add a choice of meat if you like. E.g. bacon, sausage or the likes...
Douce the whole lot in gravy and away you go!

A very filling hearty meal on cold winter days I tell you.

I'll look up the other thread and see if I can write up some idea's.

Becca

______________________________________________________

Hello Becca

That sounds like it would stick to my ribs nicely in the winter!

gillaman

Thanks to everyone for the websites and ideas on flanelette sheets. Might look on e-bay as well - have never bought anything or bid for anything on there yet. Just taken delivery of two sets of thermal undies. Never bought these before either but they look and feel lovely - silky outside, brushed inside. Next delivery hopefully will be some ankle bootee slippers, fleece lined, with a proper sole from https://www.shoeshop.com. Not bought from these people before either so have my fingers crossed they'll be ok. I've also started to stock up on warm, opaque, cotton soft tights from Mr A. The months before Christmas don't seem that cold here, it's the ones afterwards, up to about March that seem worst. On that basis, I'm going to try not to turn on heating until sometime in December (probably the 1st!).

FairyElephant_2

gillaman wrote: »

I've also started to stock up on warm, opaque, cotton soft tights from Mr A. The months before Christmas don't seem that cold here, it's the ones afterwards, up to about March that seem worst. On that basis, I'm going to try not to turn on heating until sometime in December (probably the 1st!).

Hi Gillaman,

I think the same - it's usually Jan/Feb/Mar that are the worst for us.

We're hoping to hold out until at least November before we put on our heating, but as we're on hols next week to somewhere warm, when we come back we're really going to feel the difference I suspect! Our house is always quite cold compared with my previous houses. We are on the end of a terrace, and have all the heat-proofing stuff done except cavity walls filled - I am seriously thinking of this at the moment....

Luckily my DH is not a cold mortal - he is always really warm in bed (well he is 'cuddly' shape and very hairy everywhere - poss. TMI?!? so I think this helps - bit like sleeping with a bear - LOL!) I gave away my heavyweight duvet as it is far too warm for him, so we only ever have a med. weight one and I just add my furry throw from Lidl on my side and cuddle up to him to keep warm. This makes up for the fact that he hates flanellette sheets and would never have them (I gave all those away when we got together too).

There's a real chill in the air today - starting to feel Autumnal - and I still don't feel like we've really had a summer yet!

Keep warm everyone!

FE

[Deleted User]

my dutch mum used to feed us all stamp. She made it with carrots, onions and potatoes. I HATED it and it put me right off carrots for a long time. It was way far too sweet for me. Do the dutch still like chocolate vermiccelli on bread?

Beccatje

kittie wrote: »

my dutch mum used to feed us all stamp. She made it with carrots, onions and potatoes. I HATED it and it put me right off carrots for a long time. It was way far too sweet for me. Do the dutch still like chocolate vermiccelli on bread?

Yep, that sounds like Hutspot to me. Carrots and onions mash. A big fav. here in this house. kids love it!

And yah, chocolate sprinkles is a big favorite on bread. You get them in all sorts of variaties as well. Dark choc, milk choc, white choc, mixed, fruit sprinkles etc..

I know, we are weird. :rotfl:

newlywed

Beccatje wrote: »

And yah, chocolate sprinkles is a big favorite on bread. You get them in all sorts of variaties as well. Dark choc, milk choc, white choc, mixed, fruit sprinkles etc..

I know, we are weird. :rotfl:

Chocolate sprinkles = chocolate spread -not so different - not so weird if you ask me

Then again, when we only had plain digestive biscuits we used to put margarine on and then dip them in sugar!!

trying-very-trying

gillaman wrote: »

Thanks to everyone for the websites and ideas on flanelette sheets. Might look on e-bay as well - have never bought anything or bid for anything on there yet. Just taken delivery of two sets of thermal undies. Never bought these before either but they look and feel lovely - silky outside, brushed inside. Next delivery hopefully will be some ankle bootee slippers, fleece lined, with a proper sole from www.shoeshop.com. Not bought from these people before either so have my fingers crossed they'll be ok. I've also started to stock up on warm, opaque, cotton soft tights from Mr A. The months before Christmas don't seem that cold here, it's the ones afterwards, up to about March that seem worst. On that basis, I'm going to try not to turn on heating until sometime in December (probably the 1st!).

I've ordered from them before, and was well pleased with the service. I bought hubby a pair of moshulu slippers, they weren't cheap, but he's had them for at least 2years and they'll do a wee while yet. He used to need slippers at least 3/4 times a year.

sb44

I have just found someone (no, it's not me) selling flannellette sheet sets (fitted sheet, sheet and 2 pillow cases for £8.95) on ebay which are also thermal.

Don't know what these would be like but sound bloomin' warm.

The p+p is a bit steep at £4.95 but it does say additional items are only 50p extra delivery.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4-Piece-DOUBLE-Bed-THERMAL-FLANNELETTE-Sheet-SET-PINK_W0QQitemZ200252720444QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item200252720444&_trkparms=72%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14