Preparing for Winter

elljay

Hi, have you any pics? I'd love one of these but can't afford someone in to do the work. How did you do it?

Liz

mardatha

SammyKaye yes, I did prop a big bit woodto the windward side and a bit overhanging the top --so he's got a sort of porch thing. I think we are going to try a big plastic box thing we got at Ikea to go under the bed. Only it wouldnt go. LOL. Will put that in and a load of shredded newspaper inside . Maybe its just the enclosed feeling of a roof that's spooking him.

Charis

bertiebots wrote: »

I have turned it down though from 22.5 to 16.5 so hopefully it wont cripple us come bill time (although we pay monthly I know it isnt gong to cover it).

I've been keeping the room temperature down lately, it's a 17 or less in the mornings. It warms up later when the sun is out and when I am cooking.

However it's a risky practice to skimp on heat in the main living rooms where there are people over 65 or children with asthma or recurrent respiratory infections. They need to have the room temperature at 20 or above.

This website tells why the cold affects older people more
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5372296.stm

We'll all need to keep an eye on our elderly neighbours this year, more so than usual, because of the price hikes.

Page two of this information sheet has details of how and why the cold affects children, invalids and the elderly more than the rest of us.

http://www.cat.csip.org.uk/_library/docs/Housing/Housingandhealth/HealthandWinter_Warmth_Factsheet_100107.pdf

at the end it says:

In cold homes where only one room is heated, it is difficult for children to do homework, affecting educational and long-term work and health opportunities.

As a child of the sixties I can testify to the truth of that seemingly insignificant remark.

Barneysmom

sammy_kaye18 wrote: »

ok still no heating but am seriously considering it - have just snug proofed dogs bed - put an old pillow in an old pillowcase and put it in his old bed - he has one of those weird polyester foam thing beds that has sides but no cushioning if you know what i mean - will find a picture just incase

http://www.petplanet.co.uk/shop_dev/...noozee_bed.jpg

vey basic but better than nothing. Well he now has a cushion in an old pillowcase stuffed in the bottom of it so he has comfy padding. He was quite happy in it but think with this weather he needed somethign to snuggle into -thinking about getting him one of those large cat beds that are a bit like a hole - maybe he'll be warmer and more comfortable

My 4 year old also gave me a good idea - hes been off playign in his rooma dn has obviously been in the 'no children allowed to open this tub' as hes reappeared witha teddy dressed in some of his old clothes - brainwave!!! - now my doggy is sporting the latest fashion - a small tshirt that was my sons at about 6 months - which has the words 'teddy made me do it' written across the front - although the front is now on the dogs back - but he looks warmer and seems to be cuddling up happily with my 4 year old now so hey ho - wont need the doggy jumper after all. and the slogan seems quite fitting for a jack russell.

my sister also gave me a bit of advice that her american bulldog use to stop eating in winter too and she said take his food up and give him a small dish of water nad to feed him chicken soup. The thinking being its full of nutrients for him and if hes hungry he'll eat it, also he has a drink available and that i can slowly add some of his dry food to it so it goes soggy.

Hope you don't mind me saying, I put a t shirt on my dog last year and she got a terrible sweat rash. it was a clean cotton one, but dogs just ain't supposed to wear clothes I guess.
I just put a blanket over her when she's sleeping now, she doesn't like the cold.
She has a dog coat for the park.
I could do with making her some sort of sleeping bag to crawl into but don't know how.

anguk

cairndog wrote: »

Hi Caterina
We have a very(300 yrs)old cottage in kent + I looked into this as we've lots of outside walls + heat with LPG as no mains gas here.I found some stuff on internet called SEMPATAP and sent for all the samples + info(www.mgcltd.co.uk) My OH not able to do this sort of job now so we got a quote for decorating our bedroom,which has 3 outside walls,+ asked the chap to put this on at the same time.It goes directly onto the wall and is 10mm thick, then you can paint or paper over it.It lets the walls breathe so it won,t cause damp and it,s been ok,d by The Energy Saving Trust.
It was a bit tricky to get on but our decorator had never done it before + he made a brilliant job of it.It comes in big rolls + you have to buy the special glue as well but it,s really made a big difference to the room which was like an ice box before.
This was about 2 yrs ago + the grant people said it might come in as an alternative to cavity wall insulation for people with solid walls (who miss out on these grants!) I'd like to get some more rooms done but at the moment......

We can't have cavity wall insulation in our old house so something like this would be ideal on the outside walls, also the kitchen which is a sort of an add-on on the back of the house, that does have a cavity but it's not big enough for insulation. :rolleyes:

I notice they do a discount for certain areas of the country if you're a home-owner:
http://www.mgcltd.co.uk/Products/Thermal_and_Acoustic_Insulation/SEMPATAP_THERMAL_D.I.Y_SCHEMES/

bertiebots

Charis wrote: »

I've been keeping the room temperature down lately, it's a 17 or less in the mornings. It warms up later when the sun is out and when I am cooking.

However it's a risky practice to skimp on heat in the main living rooms where there are people over 65 or children with asthma or recurrent respiratory infections. They need to have the room temperature at 20 or above.

This website tells why the cold affects older people more
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5372296.stm

We'll all need to keep an eye on our elderly neighbours this year, more so than usual, because of the price hikes.

Page two of this information sheet has details of how and why the cold affects children, invalids and the elderly more than the rest of us.

http://www.cat.csip.org.uk/_library/docs/Housing/Housingandhealth/HealthandWinter_Warmth_Factsheet_100107.pdf

at the end it says:



As a child of the sixties I can testify to the truth of that seemingly insignificant remark.

That is slightly worrying as the house was 12 degrees during the day(inc. this morning)...and the forcast is set to be colder this week.
I cant justify putting the heating on for just me when everyone else is out at school work etc.
I must add that with the heating on today I actually got too warm, having been so used to the cold:eek: so I turned it off after tea!
I am lucky that we are all healthy (at the mo!!) but it really sickens me that over 25000 people died last year of the cold....what on earth is going to happen this year .

Beccah_3

bertiebots wrote: »

That is slightly worrying as the house was 12 degrees during the day(inc. this morning)...and the forcast is set to be colder this week.
I cant justify putting the heating on for just me when everyone else is out at school work etc.
I must add that with the heating on today I actually got too warm, having been so used to the cold:eek: so I turned it off after tea!
I am lucky that we are all healthy (at the mo!!) but it really sickens me that over 25000 people died last year of the cold....what on earth is going to happen this year .

Its terrifying that in 2008, anyone has to die from cold or worry about when to put the heating on.

border_collie

Barneysmom;
"It is very cold, I'm thinking about instead of waiting for a certain date, to go by temperature instead. Sometimes December is warmer than it is today.
So I think I might just have the ch on on days when it's below about 15 degrees."



this is the most sensible idea.

ceridwen

Charis wrote: »

This website tells why the cold affects older people more
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5372296.stm

We'll all need to keep an eye on our elderly neighbours this year, more so than usual, because of the price hikes.

Page two of this information sheet has details of how and why the cold affects children, invalids and the elderly more than the rest of us.

http://www.cat.csip.org.uk/_library/docs/Housing/Housingandhealth/HealthandWinter_Warmth_Factsheet_100107.pdf

at the end it says:

"In cold homes where only one room is heated, it is difficult for children to do homework, affecting educational and long-term work and health opportunities."




As a child of the sixties I can testify to the truth of that seemingly insignificant remark.

As another child of the sixties - I know what you mean - as I have an intelligent brain (provably) but darn all in the way of qualifications. RESULT; I've only ever had boring, poorly-paid jobs. Careers - what are they? National Average Salary - I wish!

There are other reasons for the lack of qualifications - like those who werent capable of making it themselves anyway bullying me at school - just to make sure I didnt make it either (as they could see I WAS capable). I know one can always study for further qualifications after leaving school - but life starts getting in the way one way and another for many people once the period of one's life that is allotted for focussing on education has gone.

I think that cold unheated bedroom was the main "nail in the coffin" though.

I sympathise Charis - as it is obvious from your posts and emails to me that you are intelligent and I would have expected you to have done well on the job front - had all else been equal.

mardatha

Who was it who mentioned Lakeland moisture crystals ?? I'm wondering how much you get for £4.99, would it just be enough for one windowsill?