Preparing for Winter

*moggins*

If you have any smallish windows, the cheapest option I have found is a broom handle and a couple of decent sized hooks. I have used this to hang the curtains on my small patio doors leading to the outhouse and they really do take some weight.

Freyasmum_2

Thanks moggins, ...However, the curtain is for my front door, and because its a silly old house, two hot water pipes run down the hinge- side of the door frame, and phone cables above the door frame, so "normal" curtain tracks won't fix easily and I really want to have the draft proofing when I go out, which a sliding curtain wouldn't keep me smiling. At present I have a gardener's bamboo rod with the curtain hanging on it.. but can't close it when I go out!

rosieben

I thought it might be interesting, now that so many of have had a real taste of winter, what preparations have worked, what do you want to alter for future?
I had to do yet more radical draught proofing when the wind changed direction :eek: and
I think I need to revisit my store cupboard - I was really low on cheese (use it a lot for cooking) and eggs; I need to keep a couple more tubs of spread than I have been doing.

How did your preparations work for you?

Freyasmum_2

What worked well when winter struck? Three cheers for my new wellies with good tread on the sole and thermal liners- they look a bit like Christmas stockings- fold over the top of wellies- result feet dry and warm. Also I'd invested in wicking jumpers for my dogs- that and thermal vests for me. I was able to get where I needed to by foot- so the loss of buses and ungritted roads wasn't a problem- but I'm in rural Middlesex :snow_laug(quite close to Heathrow.)

oystercatcher

I wish I'd kept a few bags of salt in to grit the front path. Used washing soda instead this morning! It did work but we have white footprints all over the lino indoors now, just as well it's lino and not carpet!

Very pleased with my thermal leggings and vests! They are addictive though and I miss them when I can't wear them.

Oystercatcher

Patchwork_Quilt

We did have salt, only because I'd been OS last year and redyed my jeans instead of putting them in the pile for decorating clothes, so it was there when we needed to clear the path.

Another thing that worked was having bags of coal instead of having the coal bin filled. The coal man actually told me off for having bags because they cost more but I can just about walk one into the porch by myself so that when it was snowy, I spent a total of two minutes outside getting three days' coal into the house instead of spending half an hour each day shovelling from the bin into the scuttle.

The last thing that worked was having a little shovel in the car in case of emergencies. I used it twice to get compacted snow from under the wheels of the car - otherwise, I wasn't going anywhere

oystercatcher

Note to self, put shovel in car ready for early morning run to work tomorrow.

2nd note to self....go to bed, ready for early morning run to work tomorrow!

Oystercatcher

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

I've found the electric mattress cover for the bed and the heated throw for the sofa has been money well spent.Also we bought a dehumidifyer and that's worked wonders in our kitchen and meant I have'nt had to worry about condensation which has been a problem since it's been so cold this year.
All in all been pretty good so far.

mrsr

Wish I could have got OH better trained like turning off lights and keeping heating down I'm sure he turns it up the minute I go to work in the evening ( work Nights)he won't use the throws i bought or put a jumper on ,he sits in a T-Shirt then wonders why it's cold:mad: .The thermals were worth every penny wish i had invested in them before.Sitting under the throw I bought for £1.50 with a hot water bottle has made a big differance

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

mrsr,I think the thermals are amazing too.
What is it with men,they just don't seem to want to compromise do they.
My OH is always complaining he's cold too,so I just tell him it's his own fault as what can he expect if he won't wrap up in winter.Mind you,mine has to use a throw as I just turn the heating off so he has no choice.