Preparing for Winter

dND

angelkissingdevil wrote: »

Well I live in France and it's just started to get cold here, and like many others I'm holding off putting on the heating. Unfortunately the temperature tends to drop here a lot more than when I lived in the UK (close to other houses), we live out in the open now (fields everywhere), so the wind wizzes around here. Even though all French houses have shutters (insurance purposes) it's still rather cold.

things I've done for the run up to winter.....

bought a brickette machine - mulch up old papers etc for fire
/quote]

Hi angel.

Did you get your brickette machine in France? I'm on the lookout for one as I get the 'publicity' every week and despite shredding it for animal bedding I still have loads left over.

Are you north or south France - I'm south west and the nights have been cold - frosty, but the daytime temperature has been up to 25 in the shade so still swapping between summer and winter clothing depending on the time of day.

I've also found that hanging curtains on most of the doors including some of the internal ones has helped keep the place warmer. I could shut the internal doors I know, but I have cats and I don't fancy being a full time doorman to them.

toottifrootti

Hi everyone
I keep lurking and popping in and out here - trying to get organised but so far behind you all - still working on my carpetting problem.

Thinking of the possibility of frost, ice snow (I'm in Scotland too) does anyone know where you can get the rough salt for using on paths?? or any other suggestions to use? I would rather get some in than have to slither all the way out when it happens and then find the shops are empty!!
TIA

angelite_2

Hi Tootifrootti, I'm in Aberdeenshire. I just use tesco's basic salt for icy paths. It works for me. I've got 2 bags in for over the winter. I try to go out and put salt down before I go to work etc. to try and de-ice the paths, thats when I'm not running late. I'm notsure where you'd get the rougher kind,

carriebradshaw

tootifrooti you could try a garden centre or farm/garden store for the rough salt they should have some,our local one does. We've had to give in and start lighting the fire now it's been wild here the last few days and there was snow on the ground yesterday in the woods where we walk the dog. :eek:

anguk

The council installed a grit bin at the end of our street for residents to use a few years ago and I filled a bucket and used the kids sledge to fetch it home but they only ever filled it when it was first installed and it's been empty since. But we're lucky, we live about 5 mins away from the council depot and their huge salt/grit store so I bought a big bucket from poundstretcher and every year my OH drives down and asks the manager if he can get some salt. In the bad weather it's my job every morning to clear a path from the back door to the car and put some grit down as my OH is an amputee with a prosthetic leg and ice and snow are a nightmare for him.

It may be worth finding out where your council stores their grit & asking if you can have some?

Actually this has reminded me, I'm sure I broke the snow shovel last year. I need to go in the shed to check and replace it if it is broken before the snow comes because then you can't find any shovels in the shops for love nor money!

annie123

• Glazing film to living room bay windows, [strike]dd’s bedroom window, our bedroom, hallway window.[/strike]
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• Dye and line hallway window curtain
• [/strike]
• Line hall door curtain
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• Check around all window frames for drafts and caulk if needed
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• Sweep chimney ready for coal/wood fires…we got brushes from b & q last year, its easy to do and not messy if you use a sheet
• [/strike]
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• Make paper balls for fire…dries much quicker than home made logs and works well.
• [/strike]
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• foil behind 2 radiators
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• Buy 3 new fleece blankets
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• Buy ‘sad’ energy saving bulbs…might work and cheaper than 6 months in the Caribbean
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• Check emergency box….torches with batteries, candles and holders matches etc
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• primark for their fleece pj’s… Their fleece dressing gowns are really warm, worth getting one.
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• Make door snakes….ds1 pinched mine last week for his flat and has asked for help with the most of above for his place!
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• Check winter wardrobe jumpers, slippers, warm socks etc.
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• Buy single duvet for under my side of bed sheet, dh doesn't’t seem to feel the cold like me
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• [strike]car emergency box[/strike]: fleece blankets, torches/lanterns, water/juice, crisps peanuts etc, no good putting twinks hobnobs in they will get eaten long before they get to the car, jump leads, book to read whilst waiting for rac/hubby to rescue me, emergency mobile charger and an old payg phone with credit…just in case I leave home without mine. Also keep old jeans/jumper/socks to change into if get soaked trying to change tyre etc
• Loft insulation still needed in small section of loft but, that means I must sort out the 8 boxes that got put there 16 years ago when we moved in...:o no chance soon:o
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• Buy Ikea tea lights…cheap and feels warm
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• Stock up winter food cupboard
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• Get more pallet wood DH has chopped some but need lots more
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Not much left so will try to finish today as it looks like its going to be very cold next week


The following was emailed to me by my dad a while ago 'just in case you need tips' he said....I've only been driving for nearly 30 years!!
But it may be useful to others so here it is :

Winter checklist for drivers:
· Check wiper blades for cracks and defects and replace if necessary. Salt takes its toll
on wipers.
· Top up the washer level with the correct fluid for winter temperatures to ensure it
does not freeze up in a cold snap.
· Check tyre condition, tread and pressures. The wrong tyre pressures can induce
skids and sliding. Check the spare.
· Check all lights and mirrors. Replace if faulty.
· Check oil levels and anti-freeze.
· Listen and take heed of weather warnings.
· If the weather is atrocious, don't travel, and make other arrangements.
· Before every journey when the roads are salted, wipe over all the vehicle lights so
you can be seen. Wipe the windows and give yourself a clearer view.
· Pouring hot water over the windscreen risks cracking it and as it cools rapidly will
probably quickly freeze over. Use a proper de-icer or ice scraper.
· Water poured over locks causes them to freeze solid, causing further problems.
Before a cold spell spray the barrel with a light penetrating oil to prevent them
freezing for quite some time..... thought this was a good one
· Do not move off until you can see through all the windows. Allow extra time to
prepare your vehicle in a morning. Use your car heater demister blower.
· Do not leave your car unattended while thawing with the engine running, even if your
vehicle is on the drive or the road outside. Also, don't leave the keys in the ignition
while on the petrol forecourt.
· Allow more space between you and the vehicle in front.

Winter Car Kit
Keep these items in your car:
· Mobile phone
· Torch with extra batteries
· First aid kit with pocket knife
· Necessary medications
· A blanket
· A coat, hat scarf and gloves
· Small shovel
· Small toolkit (pliers, wrench, screwdriver)
· Jump Leads
· Brightly coloured cloth to use as a flag
· Chocolate bar....(I like this bit )
· Bottled water

sorry didn't notice how long this post was.....embarrased

angelkissingdevil

dND wrote: »

angelkissingdevil wrote: »

Well I live in France and it's just started to get cold here, and like many others I'm holding off putting on the heating. Unfortunately the temperature tends to drop here a lot more than when I lived in the UK (close to other houses), we live out in the open now (fields everywhere), so the wind wizzes around here. Even though all French houses have shutters (insurance purposes) it's still rather cold.

things I've done for the run up to winter.....

bought a brickette machine - mulch up old papers etc for fire
/quote]

Hi angel.

Did you get your brickette machine in France? I'm on the lookout for one as I get the 'publicity' every week and despite shredding it for animal bedding I still have loads left over.

Are you north or south France - I'm south west and the nights have been cold - frosty, but the daytime temperature has been up to 25 in the shade so still swapping between summer and winter clothing depending on the time of day.

I've also found that hanging curtains on most of the doors including some of the internal ones has helped keep the place warmer. I could shut the internal doors I know, but I have cats and I don't fancy being a full time doorman to them.

Hiya

yes I did get it in France, but they're sold on eBay if that helps or also I think bettaware or kleneze sell them.

Hope that helps.

mardatha

I also use tesco big bag of salt, just keep buying them when I go in. We get a lot of snow here, one year we were stuck in for 4 days without power. I love it.
But then, I'm mad.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

I never thought of keeping salt in for the winter,the one thing I forgot.I'll get a couple of bags in next week.

BigMummaF

I remember years ago, my brother-in-law said not to clear the path out the front especially, because if someone like the postie slipped & broke a leg, they could sue & it wouldn't be covered by your household insurance. Guess it would be summat about not putting out warning signs like you get in a shop when they've wiped the floor And if you've made situation worse by causing the residue to freeze into a 'black' ice once you've cleared snow, I assume they'd have a pretty good case.
I have no idea where to even start looking, to see if this is still correct ...any lawyers looking in?