Preparing for Winter

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

Mine costs pennies to run,a little bit less than my electric mattress cover.
I thought it was a good investment.
It cost me about £59 at Argos but I'm sure you could probably get the same online cheaper if you look.

Brighterfuture

We live right by the coast and I'm hoping that with a little bit of planning we'll only need our heating on before November should we have visitors.

We already have throws on the couches. I have bought my DD13, fleecy PJ, housecoat and ugg boot style slippers and for DS I have got some jesey tracksuits with lovely fleecey inside, for when they get in from school.
OH thinks Im a little mad, what with the collection of hotwater bottles, thick socks, fleeces tops, hats, scarves and gloves that I have put in baskets, ready for when needed.
Though you'd think he wouldnt bat an eyelid at this considering that over the year we have lived together he has discovered my watering down milk, filling the flask with hot water to make my coffee is Im at home all day and retubbing butter as he says he only likes lurpak:rolleyes::rotfl:to name but a few, oldstyle tricks,:rotfl:

Reverbe

We are lucky. We never need heating on. There is a disabled lady and a lot of junkies in the flats in the floor below so the heating seems to be on all year round practically anyway. The heat rises. My flatmate has lived here 20 years and he has never once had his radiators on!!

It was cold last winter tho and I guess the fact its so dark here that we have to have lights on in the day all year round almost means we dont save as much as we could.

I have started to prepare now - bought some cheap thigh length socks, washed my throw and some jumpers, started to put a bag together with chocolate, biscuits, hot chocolate and malted drinks to hopefully spread the cost.Will have to wash the throw again tho as it is a little cold here at the mo and I spilt tea on it.:( Was hoping to get some more cheap throws from Wilkos as I got a huge fleece one for £4 the other year but now they have madeover our local Wilkos and made the home section all designerish and minimalist. They now seem to just sell decorative items and throws at a cost of £22 or so..

[Deleted User]

I like the change in seasons and am mentally ready for cosy evenings. The special portiere worked incredibly well for the last two winters together with the heavy door curtain. New door was fitted last week with no gaps or daylight. Wonderful. The door curtain together with a rolled up picnic rug was soo good at keeping out the draughts last winter

We are fortunate in that we have dg with k glass so no window draughts but we do keep the vents open all year for ventilation. I don`t need to do anything this year (I am smiling) and got to add that a bit here and a tweak there makes all the difference to comfort in the cold months. I think these windy wet days are the worst because they are so gloomy

Gigervamp

Kittie, I've been thinking about getting a portiere rod but I'm not sure if it would fit. Can you tell me if the fittings are above the door, or is the rod longer than the width of the door?

mama67

purpleivy wrote: »

Been pouring down here as well for a great deal of the morning, tho the sun is out just now...best nip to the post box quickly! It was really cold out yesterday, but I still have my extremely thin duvet and feel quite warm enough...blame the hormones. hubby always has a duvet 2 grades warmer than I do!

We do the same, think it must be my hormones as well, throughout the summer I have a really thin 4tog king size duvet, then for winter I put a single 7tog on top.
Dh on the other hand has a 15tog king size duvet all year round and will sometimes also put an extra fleece blanket on top in winter.

We no heat source in our bedroom, I have my window permanently open, I will sometimes put a tshirt on over my nightie but only because I like to sleep with my arms on top of the duvet and my shoulders get cold and then achy.

Olliebeak

Reverbe wrote: »

We are lucky. We never need heating on. There is a disabled lady and a lot of junkies in the flats in the floor below so the heating seems to be on all year round practically anyway. The heat rises. My flatmate has lived here 20 years and he has never once had his radiators on!!

In my last home (upstairs flat) we were above a community room that was heated during the day so we really benefitted from the residual heat AND I was the one in control of the central heating system for it :rotfl: !

It was cold last winter tho and I guess the fact its so dark here that we have to have lights on in the day all year round almost means we dont save as much as we could.

Have you thought about using some tea-lights/candles for 'magical lighting'? They're especially good if you place them in front of a mirror as they seem to magnify the amount of light given off.

I have started to prepare now - bought some cheap thigh length socks, washed my throw and some jumpers, started to put a bag together with chocolate, biscuits, hot chocolate and malted drinks to hopefully spread the cost.Will have to wash the throw again tho as it is a little cold here at the mo and I spilt tea on it.:( Was hoping to get some more cheap throws from Wilkos as I got a huge fleece one for £4 the other year but now they have madeover our local Wilkos and made the home section all designerish and minimalist. They now seem to just sell decorative items and throws at a cost of £22 or so..

Do you have an Ikea near to you - one in Edmonton and another in Wembley? Their fleece throws are very reasonable - just steer well clear of their woollen fabric ones though - the price of those is OUCH :eek:.
Have you checked out any charity shops as well? Ours often have bedding/travel rugs etc.

I was thinking of getting my mother one of those zippy up long fleece 'thingys' (:o) for her to sit in to keep warm this winter - but then I thought what the heck for! She lives with my sister AND they have their heating on all year round - my bedroom radiator was ON when I stayed there first week of August! I've decided to make her a 'shrug-style' wrap instead - basically start knitting at one cuff and work as for a sleeve as far as the elbow, change to a much bigger needle for the top of the arm, across the back and down the other arm, then change back to small needles to finish off the lower part of the second arm and cuff .

Ollie xxx

[Deleted User]

Gigervamp wrote: »

Kittie, I've been thinking about getting a portiere rod but I'm not sure if it would fit. Can you tell me if the fittings are above the door, or is the rod longer than the width of the door?

you need to take in the type of door and if it is a recess or not. Ours was in a recess so I googled and found a portiere that went over the recess but the rod was a bent one that screwed to the right hand side of the door itself. It worked very well and never got in the way. I also screwed a tie back hook on the left side of the door so could hitch the curtain back when the weather was mild

Gigervamp

Thanks.

Ours is in a bit of a recess and the side the hinges are on, the wall comes out at right angles to the door. I'm wondering if I can fit it above the recessed bit, but it would have to be bent to fit on the wall. It's hard to explain!

I think what I'll have to do is contact one of the places that sell them and send them a picture to see if they have any that are suitable.

Teapartymum

After being away form the site for a while I decided to come back on so here I am With the weather changing sooo fast I need to get ready for the dearest time of the year.

I need to get a door curtain for the front door,blinds for the kitchen and a blackout blind for my sons room,going to knit small blankets for the kiddies to put over their feet and maybe myself.

Ive already found the kiddies hot water bottles ( I use warm water for them as they are aged 7 and 3) Need to look out for thick pjs for me and them.

Need to ring about getting the chimmney cleaned as we got a dual fuel burner, havent had the heating on YET but im very tempted.

Will be coming back to this thread for more ideas.