Preparing for Winter

Frugaldom

Was just discussing Fiona Houston, as I went to school with someone of that name! :rotfl:Turns out it's a different person but author is originally from this neck of the woods - Dumfries! Frugal neighbour popped round and she has a copy of the book, so I'll be reviewing it very soon. I WILL be fully prepared for next winter, even if I have to do it eighteenth century style.

downshifter

So you bought the book Mardatha? that was quick! It's a good read isn't it.

Snowy and freezing here, I've been away all day and had forgotten about the snow I'd woken up with, until I was driving home and could see the snow in the distance, as my heart sank more and more as I drew near! Roll on Spring - I'm fed up with walking round like Michelin woman, - going to the loo is a major undertaking that needs much forward planning with so many layers! And the ice on the inside of the windows, and the expensive logs that don't really throw out much heat!! And the oil!! Why on earth are we suffering like this in the western world in the 21st century? Grr, makes me mad. At least Fiona Houston had the house next door to escape to every now and then, though I would've done so far more than she did. We don't have anywhere warmer to escape to. It was such a delight to spend the day in someone else's lovely warm house today, I daren't invite anyone here until the temperature at least goes ubove 15degrees.

Hopefully next week it will get a tad warmer, I daren't look at the weather forecast........

DS

Frugaldom

downshifter wrote: »

...At least Fiona Houston had the house next door to escape to every now and then...

:rotfl:Brilliant! I could plan on doing that next winter, once the new neighbours get moved in fulltime! :T (SM, do you read this thread? :rotfl:)

westcoastscot

I read that book and really enjoyed it, then was disappointed at the end to read how many air-travel miles she had amassed over the year. Not sure why really as it was a huge achievement. She certainly worked really hard though, and I too would love to know how she managed to be so productive. I went away overnight earlier this week and a feral goat got in and ate the last of my winter veg - it's wandering around the village with it's mate as we speak.
WCS

mardatha

Was at my son's tonight and he knows her, but he was a wee bit disparaging about her. He said she lives in a huge house and the "cottage" in the book is about 6ft from it. Said they are known as eccentric rich people ! and he and my DIL had seen her often walking round the village in her period dress.
Which makes what she did all the more remarkable, really. It would have been so easy to think "oh sod this " and give up, if your own cosy warm house was right on your doorstep.
I'm quite gobsmacked at the thought of living a whole year without ever once opening a tin ! If I could eat as cheaply as she did.... or cook as successfully... LOL - if only !
Downshifter - logs dont give out much heat at all - coal is a hundred times better.

downshifter

mardatha wrote: »

Downshifter - logs dont give out much heat at all - coal is a hundred times better.

I know, but sadly I can't afford much coal.

Glad you liked the book though, I found it pretty inspiring, not so much because of what she did, but because it reminded me of the sort of life that people used to live before tins, coal, ready delivered logs and so on and how hard it must've been. Which makes me stop bemoaning my lot for just a little while. I do sometimes stand at my door and look out over the hills and wonder how many other women have done the same over the past 250 or more years that this cottage has existed. It would've been a one up one down then (now a 2 up, 2 down) and I certainly know that around 100 years ago a family with 5 children lived here. I love the feeling of history in a house and the ghosts of the people who came before. I hope they liked it as much as I do (even though it's only rented, but it would probably have been rented back then too)

DS

mardatha

Oh, I do that too. Always wonder how many women /people before me have looked over this view, climbed this hill, came to this church. I love history very much, and I love friendly ghosts. LOL -not all ghosts ! A happy house will smile and pull you in, it has a lovely atmosphere, yours sounds like that .

kingshir

I've been re-watching The Green Valley and Victorian farm (dvd set xmas present) and thoroughly enjoying it. When they cleaned the house it really made me appreciate my vacumn cleaner! And as for fasting over Lent:eek: no chance!!

Winged_one

We had to get another load of coal, logs and briquettes at the weekend, when I had thought we had enough for the whole winter. but the "big freeze" a few weeks back really ate into supplies as we were lighting the fire every day instead of just weekends and for cosy times. We are still lighting it a lot more midweek, even now that we're all back at work, as the evenings are a lot cooler than normal. But we have used a lot of wood from the willow we pulled down from the garden, cones and a few logs I picked up on the plot, and a few bundles of logs from fellings "down home" (DH's parents trimmed a lot of trees back a few weeks ago - and we'll be getting another few bags this weekend when we're down).

But at least the utility bills are not dreadful - DD has learned to love her hot water bottle, and her dressinggown and slippers. And we're all better about layering up - I have bought myself some longjohns this winter (to go with the thermal vests I've been using for years) and they are making a HUGE difference to me!

sophiesmum_2

nykmedia wrote: »

:rotfl:Brilliant! I could plan on doing that next winter, once the new neighbours get moved in fulltime! :T (SM, do you read this thread? :rotfl:)

I saw that :rotfl: