Preparing for Winter

Fruball

Hi Sammy - I noticed lots of helpful posts from you, thanks
Re buying in meals, I used to do that - plus fray bentos pies keep in the cupboard for yonks - buy in plenty of soup too as you can warm that on your gas stove in case of powercut - you can keep a box full of tins of soup in the shed if you have one so that you don't get tempted to use it up

With your windows, just be careful that you can escape easily in case of a fire

Driving in Winter
I always keep a winter car kit hand inside the car (not in the boot, you might not be able to get to it ) which contains

*a hat (plus one each for regular travellers like kiddies)
*gloves and perhaps scarves
*a torch each (kids can just have little ones but good idea to have something in case you are all walking in the dark)
*snacky stuff like cereal bars which keep for ages and oats are good for warming you from within - and chocolate
*drinks - you need drinks more than you need food
*something to wee in - well you never know, and you might not want to get out of the car - i have a wide necked coffee jar but haven't needed it yet

I gave OH one when we lived in freezing east anglia and when I came to check it he had scoffed the lot during the first week of it being there - he'll regret that if he ever really needs it :rolleyes: I don't bother any more.

jcr16

i have thought i gonna stock up on medicines , incase weather so bad and we can't get out. we live on a hill and it get so icy , last year cars just slid down it sideway's.

i said to my hubby if we do loose electric i'm pleased we do have a gas cooker. but if for any reason this failed as well. then hubby can spark up the gas bbq. as it has a gas ring on the side to cook onions or bean's. so could use this to cook on.

sammy i used selotape last year to seal a gap in the window. it was the only tape i could find. it worked a treat. we have tho got the window mended now. but it has left some horrible tape marks. so i must get round to spraying with wd40 to clean it off.

kethry

sammy_kaye18 wrote: »

anyway i suddenly thought if theres a power cut how will i cook?? so im thinking of trying to find a small freezer on freecycle and filling it with purpose made homemade meals and milk etc plus i brought a small gas cooker lighter today too so at least i can get the cooker going if need be.

if the gas gets cut off as well - then you can use tea lights or candles to cook on.. see here and here for info on that, and i remember reading about where someone developed a candle stove, basically putting a candle inside a large tin can that you could balance a saucepan/kettle on, although i don't remember where - sorry!

The other thing to think about is that if there is a powercut - your freezer will slowly defrost.. they actually recommend you *don't* open the door in the event of a powercut because you let all the cold air out, so that's something to bear in mind - don't stock more than you can eat!! (*pushes her own large freezer behind her back and whistles innocently*)

keth
xx

rosieben

Well, we had our first power cut yesterday, power was off from about 5.30 pm yesterday till about 5am today. here we go folks!!

I used my trusty candles stove to make a hot drink, but luckily it was quite mild so didnt need a hwb, and as I'd eaten a cooked lunch I just had a supper of cheese crackers and pickle and of course I went to bed early!

I found out that once candles have burnt down quite a bit in the candle stove then they need to be replaced (keep the partly burnt ones to use as lights) because mine got so hot down in the tin they melted! So new ones each time I think. I'm going to stock up on more anyway, scarey how quickly they burnt away in those few hours

I'll be stocking up on lots more candles and I'm going to look out for those battery lights which someone mentioned? its difficult to read by candlelight.

The other thing is that I've saved candle stubs and think I will remake candles at some point. shame to throw the wax away! Anyone know a good source for wicks online please?

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

This thread is great,I've been so inspired.I have defrosted and restocked my freezer.Bought extra hot water bottles and fleeces and loads of candles.I had already had all of my doors and windows changed last year,and have now had my loft insulated for the winter.I'm going to stock up on medicines ect. this week.I can't add anything in the way of tips,I'm afraid you all seem to have everything covered.Thanks.

Fruball

Bought some fleece blankets from Dunelm Mills, much bigger than I thought and only £3.99. They fit a single bed so are great for a sofa blanket that goes from your shoulders to your feet !

I want to cut some up for cot underblankets to go on top of mattress... Does anyone know if fleece frays ? Or should I hem it ?

D&DD

I love this thread loads of great tips! We are quite prone to powercuts too I usually rely on the neighbours who have gas hobs to do me a flask but this summer I found a great little camping stove in a case in Robert Dyas for a tenner so splashed out on that.Quilts and fleeces have been freshened up and the winter curtains are up!

D&DD

Frugal wrote: »

Bought some fleece blankets from Dunelm Mills for £3.99 and they fit a single bed so are great for a sofa blanket

I want to cut some up for cot underblankets to go on top of mattress... Does anyone know if fleece frays ? Or should I hem it ?

Fleece doesn't fray but if you have an overlocker just whizz round the edges,gives it a nice finish

rosieben

Frugal wrote: »

Bought some fleece blankets from Dunelm Mills for £3.99 and they fit a single bed so are great for a sofa blanket

I want to cut some up for cot underblankets to go on top of mattress... Does anyone know if fleece frays ? Or should I hem it ?

fleece shouldn't fray Frugal, so no need to hem.

theres a really nice idea here for a no-sew fleece blanket with a fringe, clever stuff, would make a nice pressie for christmas for an elderly rellie (I'd love one!! )

[Deleted User]

I havent been able to read the whole thread yet but it looks mighty interesting. I bought 3 bio bulbs a while ago. They are low wattage and burn with a very clear white light so are fantastic for knitting/sewing by and they keep SAD away. They have a very white light so take a bit of getting used to but are really fab although expensive

I already have tonnes of candles in but need to get matches and my storecupboard is full to bursting anyway. I suppose it is the smaller things that I need to think about in our house like loo rolls