Preparing for Winter

Sessie

Oh my GOODNESS ChocClare, are you a MIND READER??

I have just spent the morning in town looking for material with which to make covers for cot bed duvets, but having no idea how to actually do this (have not, until recently, been much of an Earth mother when it comes to sewing etc....).

I refuse to pay the exorbitant prices the shops are charging for cot bed duvets and covers so have decided to make my own. My next step was to find out how to do it... and you've saved me the job!!

Thank you thank you thank you!!

x

kayjay1809

shaz_mum_of__2 wrote: »

We have talked about installing a wood burner in the lounge but worried about the mess both during fitting and use (cream carpets ) at the moment theres a picture frame electric fire and the old back boiler is still in the chimeny breast so not sure how complicated it would be to remove as i assume the chimeny will need a liner , what type of tradesmen do i need to consult about the possibilities of installing one

We had a wood/coal burning stove fitted a few years ago as part of our general house renovation. The chimney didn't need a liner and the whole job was about £1500 if I remember rightly, not a cheap job at all. We love our stove in winter though, I don't find it messy like an open fire can be. Look in your local press for a 'Firewright' - I'd never heard of one but the chimney sweep recommended a local Firewright and he was very good. The sweep told me last week he goes to some dreadful building jobs, where the stove just isn't installed correctly, it's worth saving and doing the job well

fat-pudding

I'm loving this thread, I've already begun some of our winter preparations!

I notice a few people talking about 4x4's in this thread but I thought it worth mentioning that a normal car with winter tyres on will be far better in ice/snow than a 4x4 with all season or summer tyres!

When I asked advice from some of our Scandinavian and Russian contractors what I could do after getting rather stuck going up a hill last year they all laughed at me when I said I was thinking of a 4x4 as they all put winter tyres on their normal 2wd cars and carry on as normal, quite often they say that they've overtaken abandoned 4x4's where the drivers hadn't quite got around to sorting their tyres out before winter came. I've since done more research, and found that winter tyres are not just for snow and ice but they are better than normal tyres whenever the temperature drops below 7C.

In some of the places that get worse conditions they get tyres with studs in but for the kind of conditions we get we'll be fine with normal winter tyres so I'm going to be ordering mine this week! Might not be the cheapest way to save money but I don't want to get stuck again and it's far cheaper than me replacing our car! Of course, if you already have a 4x4 and get some winter tyres you'd be almost unstoppable.

dreaming

One thing I have noticed is that people are talking about carrying bottles of water in their "car kit", but if we have the same weather we had last winter this is likely to freeze if kept in the car. Better to keep it by the front door and take it each day. I am also going to get some spare wiper blades as mine got shredded by the ice.

Confuzzled

dreaming wrote: »

One thing I have noticed is that people are talking about carrying bottles of water in their "car kit", but if we have the same weather we had last winter this is likely to freeze if kept in the car. Better to keep it by the front door and take it each day. I am also going to get some spare wiper blades as mine got shredded by the ice.

this gave me an image of bear grylls stuffing a thermos full of snow he crammed into his cantine inside his shirt to melt it and warm it enough not to drop his core body temp.... i think i like your idea better!

freyaluck

Thankyou everyone for this fab thread - youve all given me the kick I needed :T
I managed to pick up to wheatgerm pillows in the shapes of hot water bootles for 4.00 each - I love staff discount !!! and thats about it so far. I am off to the charity shops tomorrow looking for jumpers , blankets and the like and have put lots of tins ect on my list for shopping.
I need to buy/make blinds or curtains for kitchen, bathroom and front and back doors. this is just the begining of my list - think I am going to have to come up with a proper plan on paper so I know what I'm doing though:o
frey

ChocClare

Sessie wrote: »

Oh my GOODNESS ChocClare, are you a MIND READER??

I have just spent the morning in town looking for material with which to make covers for cot bed duvets, but having no idea how to actually do this (have not, until recently, been much of an Earth mother when it comes to sewing etc....).

I refuse to pay the exorbitant prices the shops are charging for cot bed duvets and covers so have decided to make my own. My next step was to find out how to do it... and you've saved me the job!!

Thank you thank you thank you!!

x

I live to serve - you're very welcome!

Good luck with your sewing. I always used this method for cushions (couldn't be bothered to put a zip in), but it works pretty well for duvet covers - and for little ones, it'll probably stay closed even without a button or velcro or poppers or whatever.

elfen

I think I'm pretty set for winter...already got two fleece blankets for snuggling in or putting on the bed, my duvet isn't too thick to get me too hot if I add layers. Have two hot water bottles and a ton of hoodies/fleeces/thick socks to keep me warm if it does get nippy. Luckily I live near the city centre so not too far to get to places, just need a new pair of snow boots and gloves/scarf and I'll be set!

katholicos

fat-pudding wrote: »

I'm loving this thread, I've already begun some of our winter preparations!

I notice a few people talking about 4x4's in this thread but I thought it worth mentioning that a normal car with winter tyres on will be far better in ice/snow than a 4x4 with all season or summer tyres!

I have a corsa now and before that a ford escort and before that a cinquicento and have never had winter tyres put on any of my cars because i have not been able to afford them. Generally, I try to be as prepared as i can be so that on the few days/weeks when the weather in this area is trecherous, i do not have to leave the house.

Winter tyres are a very good idea for people commuting and making unavoidable journeys in severe weather conditions. I would feel a lot safer with winter tyres on as i panic like hell when i drive over ice and pray about a thousand hail mary's LOL :rotfl:

ChocClare

katholicos wrote: »

i panic like hell when i drive over ice and pray about a thousand hail mary's LOL :rotfl:

Yes, me too! It's cheaper than winter tyres though:rotfl:

Last year, I picked up my DS who had given up trying to ride his motorbike because of the ice. I parked by the side of the road (completely empty when I stopped to pick him up) and watched in disbelief as twenty cars appeared out of nowhere to go by me. And in greater disbelief as some bloke slid straight into the back of me. His car was COMPLETELY UNDAMAGED, not even a dent in the bumper, while my poor little Matiz was so stove in at the back that it was written off He wasn't going more than 10 mph, I'd say. My replacement car is hopefully a bit less crushable (touch wood)...