Preparing for Winter

lollyred1

Hi all just wanted to post as im so proud of myself for the 1st year i am almost prepared for winter thanks to this site. I have a stock cupboard(no where near as good as some of yours) with Bread flour, tinned stuff, dry stuff and baby formula. I have stocked up on nappies so if weather turns dont have to worry about walking to shop. I have bought huge lined curtains (havent put up yet as havent figured out how to do it) Sorted all partners and baby boys winter clothes out(seem to have forgotten about myself:o )Sorted out box in each room with torch, candels and matches. Made up bag for car with hat gloves and scarfs for each of us and a carton of formula and some cereal bars.
I have also done 98% of my hristmas shopping:T :T

Jolaaled

tooties wrote: »

evening all,
can any one point me in the direction for cheap hot water bottles?
thanks
tooties

Instead of buying a new hot water bottle, have you thought of making up a 'rice bag'..It's so easy and cheap (and safer too, i think).

Fill up a material bag with raw rice...leave plenty of 'air space' and then sew up the open end, to make a completely sealed sack of rice. This can then be placed in teh microwave when you want it hot.

Cos i'm not good with the sewing machine, instead, i filled up 2 long socks with rice and just tied up the ends. Works a treat and am sure it's cheaper to heat in the micro rather than filling the kettle.

jinny

Thats a great idea I use too, I use a cheap old summer quilt under my bottom sheet, its like being in a duvet sandwich so cosy

Shortie

Jolaaled wrote: »

i filled up 2 long socks with rice and just tied up the ends. Works a treat and am sure it's cheaper to heat in the micro rather than filling the kettle.

I did this last year and would recomend it.

... Actually, I cut up some light blue gingham jimjams that I was going to throw away and sewed them into 4 decent sized bags, filled them each with half a bag of Mr T value basmati and dropped some lavender oil onto them. They must have cost 50p to make? I gave them to family as extra Chrimbo pressies last year but :shhh: don't tell them they were my old jimjams :rotfl:

Fruball

I think I remember reading somewhere that a double duvet is the perfect size for a mattress topper for a King size bed.... Can anyone confirm this please before I go and buy one ?

Many thanks

jcr16

i must say putting the summer duvet on the top of the mattress on our bed and kids beds has been one of the best tips i've ever had i think.

since doing this i've such a much nicer sleep at night. i'm so much more cozier in bed. and we had had our heating off for longer times aswell.

the only one prob is i struggle even more now to get out of bed. lol.

kethry

Rice bags - i would be extremely careful with these.. there have been publicised cases (by the NZ fire service, among others) where these have been used as bedwarmers (instead of hot water bottles) and microwaved repeatedly to the point wher the rice has dried out so much it has started to smoulder.. People have then put these into their beds without realising and caused a fire.

If you wish to use rice bags or any kind of bag like this in this way, then its perfectly safe providing you stop the risk of the rice smouldering.. either spritz the cover of the bag with water, or put a cup of water in the microwave with the bag at the same time - either way, the intention is to create steam when the microwave is in action, and this will stop the rice from drying out to the point where it's at risk of starting to smoulder. It doesn't need to be a lot, just a little bit of water or doing the cup every other time you nuke it, but please do be aware of this risk, and if you give them as presents (which i did last year) then make sure you give people this warning as well.

HTH

keth
xx

tooties

hi everyone,
in trying to prepare i have this weekend bought and fitted a new letterbox draft excluder half of the old one was missing!! what a difference.
bought but not yet fitted the cling film stuff for over the windows (think i might need to clean the windows etc before fitting it so thats a job to be put off a while longer i think).
didnt get a hot water bottle but will put cheap rice on the shopping list for some rice bags thanks to op.
didnt see the pj's at primark but did manage to spend £100 on christmas pressies, (great shop will definately go back there).
regards
tooties

vastsarah_2

ive sorted out space in the loft for christmas presents
had the hedge cut and moved all the cutting to the tip.
Found all last years hat,gloves in a bag in loft need to wash ready for saturday night bonfire and firework party that we are going to.
Going to buy some candles and matches and put away safely
Going to sort out the water drum in garden incase we have excess rain water
need to empty green house and seal any loose paines
digging out the deicer from under the sink to put in the cars
thats about all at the moment'sarah

beemuzed

Jolaaled wrote: »

Fill up a material bag with raw rice...leave plenty of 'air space' and then sew up the open end, to make a completely sealed sack of rice. This can then be placed in teh microwave when you want it hot.

How long do you heat it for? had one as pressie last year and lost the instructions!