Preparing for Winter

kingshir

dreaming wrote: »

Would like to say thanks to everyone who shares their ideas etc. Have picked up a few tips and feel ready for winter now. my grandsons love my wind up torch (must get a couple more) and so do I. Last year we had quite a few power cuts and I kept picking up torches where the batteries had run out. In the power cuts felt really good about having store of tinned food but then realised I only have an electric tin-opener (I have arthritis in hands) - must think about that one this year!

How about asking for a battery operated one as a xmas present?

twiglet98

I like the idea of a wind-up torch, also a head torch - wonder if you can get wind-up head torches... Collecting burnable offcuts of wood from extensions being built at work, have lots of matches and paper, fuel for the paraffin lamp, candles (though DDs insist on lighting about 10 on a Saturday night, rather than just one or two). I've been worrying about the full freezer in the event of a power cut but my neighbours say they have a spare generator which would keep it running, bless them - we're fairly isolated and they are wonderful people, we're lucky. Heating on an hour morning and night, 17C is plenty warm enough, but it's meant to get colder next week so more blankets coming out, we haven't even needed hot water bottles for the last week or so.

BigMummaF

I found wind-up torches in R0bert Dy@s last year & am pretty certain I've seen them in Wilkins0n this season. They are great! Wouldn't be without ours as each offspring has one for their car/dog walking etc & several around the house.
The offspring gave me a wind-up radio one year too which is good enough for using as I travel around the house doing bits & pieces.

kingshir

Weather here is not particularly cold, but VERY wet. Have got the fire lit but haven't had the C/H on at all this winter. What about the rest of you?

nippyone

kingshir wrote: »

Weather here is not particularly cold, but VERY wet. Have got the fire lit but haven't had the C/H on at all this winter. What about the rest of you?

Weather in Ayrshire has been freezing, wet and windy (gales - and there's more coming tonite seemingly?!). I don't have a fire but the CH's been on, only in the living room, for about the last month!

twiglet98

The heating's on for an hour morning and night, plus an open fire if we're watching TV for the evening (burning pallet wood at the moment!). I bought lots of £2 cream 'value' fleeces from Mr T to line all the curtains, Dunelm Mill throws from a charity shop, and a lovely throw for my bed for under £4 in Primark, plus 2 new hot water bottles as DD23 and DD17 insisted the old ones leaked (they don't leak in my bed), and everyone has warm dressing gowns, pyjamas and slippers. Even DS21 has stocked up on Primark PJs rather than sleeping in boxer shorts. I got lovely 13.5 tog duvets from freecycle and the charity shop, but elder DD won't use 2nd hand bedding so until she buys herself a brand new one, she can grumble about being cold.

Our local Q8 petrol station apparently has 'slankets' for about £6, don't know colours or how big they are, will stop and look in a day or so.

auntymabel

Don't know why people don't like 2nd hand bedding if it's in good condition and washed. How many people have slept on the bedding before when saying in a hotel?

rosekitten

I was on holiday and went into a charity shop
in a bin on its own was a feather pillow that
I had seen reduced in the Summer sale
in Selfridges sale brand new £78.Same
pillow in the charity shop £2.99.It looked
almost new gave it a good wash at home
and tumble dried it.Oh its amazing to rest
your head on so soft yet plump can understand
a little why people would pay out for this.
Lucky for me I found it.

Got my neice and son Harry Potter bedsets
both over the moon with them,despite them
being secondhand,just as well really because
are almost impossible to find new.

no qualms about secondhand there are some real
bargains to be had

rosekitten

auntymabel wrote: »

Don't know why people don't like 2nd hand bedding if it's in good condition and washed. How many people have slept on the bedding before when saying in a hotel?

and dried themselves on the towels provided

twiglet98

auntymabel wrote: »

Don't know why people don't like 2nd hand bedding if it's in good condition and washed. How many people have slept on the bedding before when saying in a hotel?

I couldn't agree more - hospitals and hotels give clean covers, not new duvets and pillows for every occupant, and what can you catch from a freshly laundered duvet??! DD23 has flatly refused to wear anything 2nd hand since she was about 12, unless from her friends, and it's a sniffy attitude that drives me up the wall. She buys her own things now though so it's not my problem. I don't buy anything new except my knickers and socks, all my clothes (even bras) and linen are from freecycle or charity shops, beggars can't be choosers.