Preparing for Winter

nicki_2

Some time back someone on here suggested I used Cillet Bang to clean the sticky/dried tape residue on my UPVC window frames. Sorry I can't remember who it was now, I found it written down in a notebook Anyways, I decided to try it today and WOW I'm using one of those cheap craft knives (10 for £1) fully extended, to carefully & slowly scrape some of the residue off, and then a green scourer & the cillet neat. Its coming up a treat, which is impressive as I live on a very busy road so there's lots of traffic pollution staining it as well Now all I have to do is find someway to cover up the scratches made by my previous attempts. The landlady will not be happy if she sees them :eek::(

coldstreamalways

I bought 2 for £3 fleece blankets in AS DA yesterday (and got a mouthful of abuse from someone for wearing my uniform ) to line my hall curtains with. I did the sitting room last year (with the help of a wonderful MSE-er who sent me some "bump") and it's made such a difference!! Even with no heating on I have to sit in a T shirt as it's so warm in there!!

Princess_kate

coldstreamalways wrote: »

I bought 2 for £3 fleece blankets in AS DA yesterday (and got a mouthful of abuse from someone for wearing my uniform ) to line my hall curtains with. I did the sitting room last year (with the help of a wonderful MSE-er who sent me some "bump") and it's made such a difference!! Even with no heating on I have to sit in a T shirt as it's so warm in there!!

Dare I ask what uniform you were wearing?

coldstreamalways

Lol, yes nothing too controversial in my opinion, I'm in the army and that shop is on my way home. I try to never go out in public in it and yesterday my efforts were vindicated by that horrid woman.

babyboysmommy

I've bought loads of the fleeces from [EMAIL="A@DA"]A@DA[/EMAIL] to line the curtains, just the ones in the Den done so far. All the curtains are lined but one more layer wont hurt. My son & I also now have dressing gowns, we all have hot water bottles thanks to the B'oots sale, a wind up radio, 2 wind up lanterns & a camping stove that was again on sale in The R'ange as we are totally dependent on electricity so if we have a power cut at least we can now fill hot water bottles & have hot food/drinks I want to make a door curtain & get a box together with candles, batteries, matches etc. we can put somewhere easy to find if all goes dark. At least with the wind up lanterns I wont have to worry about running out of candles or my 4 year old knocking them over but I still think we should keep some in the house

Thank you for all the tips, I'm loving this thread

Princess_kate

coldstreamalways wrote: »

Lol, yes nothing too controversial in my opinion, I'm in the army and that shop is on my way home. I try to never go out in public in it and yesterday my efforts were vindicated by that horrid woman.

How odd! I could understand if it was a nurses uniform for example or if you were a pole dancer hehe. Thanks for answering, I was just being nosey!!

nicki_2

Duh me...I just realised we're totally dependent on electricity for cooking too. :rotfl: I think we should be okay though, my parents live up the road with a gas hob & since I seem to live in Students-ville, I'm sure that one of the takeaways around here would be able to provide some form of food as there's enough of them :rotfl::rotfl: We could have used the gas fire with pot on top at a push but since its been condemned that won't work anymore will it :rotfl::rotfl:

mama67

Annie56 wrote: »

Hi
On the recommendation of Sammy Kaye18 and Northwest Ive popped in here to have a mooch as Ive just moved into a one bed flat in an old Victorian house, I was too impressed by the lovley plaster cornices, high rooms and beautiful fireplace to think logically and the old doors and newly fitted kitchen and bathroom made me decide this was my new home.

NOW despite it bieng a lovley place I reckon it will cost a bomb to heat as it only has storage heaters and an electric towel rail in the bathroom, but its nicer than living with a moaning shouting ex husband anyday:rotfl:

So Ive jotted down some ideas to do and will read this thread from the begining but am deeply impressed with all the ideas I have read about especially the fleeces behind the curtains and even though my curtains have only just gone up there coming back down later and I will try some of the fleeces I saw in Asda yesterday plus they will make nice coloured linings for them.

Door curtains are a brill idea too, my new flats main kitchen door is the original wooden one, beautiful to look at but draughty, Im all for ventilatiom but not when my kneecaps start to shiver .

Any other ideas would be appreciated, I am all electric so when theres a power cut thats it total darkness, no phone Ive just realised when reading some of the above posts and no TV...Im nervous of using candles, do they do wind up torches? I know they do radios.

How long can a frozen food survive when the powers off?, as I am on a quite strict financial budget and will be relying heavily on my freezer to keep bargains in and batch cooking in etc but dont want to see it all go to waste due to power cuts.

This thread has been an eye opener, and Im a willing learner, many thanks to all that contribute, your ideas are excellent and make me sure I will survive my first winter of independance in my own place, though dont know why Im worrying Im sure Im made of stern stuff and will be ok
Thanks all...
Annie56

I've just bought some wind up LED camping style lanterns; got them from www.coopersofstortford.co.uk it was £20 plus p&p for the pair.
Now these will be used when we are camping , outside at bbqs and just when sitting out late at night and a small light is needed. 1 minutes winding 30 minutes light.
These are ideal as the boys often stay outside with thier friends playing cards etc and we go through loads of batteries.

mama67

sammy_kaye18 wrote: »

have been sat today prioritising my 'to do' lists that are accumulating nicely

winter preperations (house)
winter preperations (us)
winter preperations (food)

and basically this is whats included in each



winter preperations (us)

1. outdoor jacket each
2. snowsuit for holly (on its way)
3. jumpers/hoodies/fleeces for us all to wear indoors
4. slippers
5. dressing gowns
6. pyjamas each
7. sleepsuits for holly(am working on these)
8. wellies for school run and dog walking
9. hat gloves and scarf set

so should really get my backside in gear once September comes around

Sorted some for you Sammy

poorbabe

coldstreamalways wrote: »

Lol, yes nothing too controversial in my opinion, I'm in the army and that shop is on my way home. I try to never go out in public in it and yesterday my efforts were vindicated by that horrid woman.

It's a shame you couldn't have given them a mouthful in a language they couldn't understand (or anybody else, for that matter, just in case). Flaming cheek!