Preparing for Winter

Beki

sassypie wrote: »

Hi there, newbie posting, I've come in part way thru, so if these ideas are listed later in the thread - oops!

My friend lives in a bungalow built on a slope - so most of it is over space, kind of on stilts, I guess! Its cold all year round, but winter - brrrrrrr!! I've recently moved from a flat that was built over a shared walkway, and over my landlady's storage rooms, so again, unheated.

My real sanity saver whilst there, which my friend is now using, was bubble wrap. I bought it from a garden centre (its sold to cover greenhouses, I just smile sweetly and say, yes, its a v large greenhouse!). Check prices though - I've seen a self-store place advertising it quite cheaply for packing etc., so that may be a cheaper option.

I covered my windows with it (draughty, leaky things), didn't care what it looked like. Also, which my friend loves, I placed it under my rugs (cold, vinyl tiled floors) to act as a layer of insulation. I tend to place rugs strategically - i.e. one under my feet at the pc as I type this!, one under my armchair/feet, covering the main areas I used the most in each room. I also put a large rug under the bed, in fact I layered several smaller ones on top of the larger one.

You do get used to the popping eventually! And yes, it can be addictive! It also helps stop rugs slipping on smooth floors, but pls DON'T rely on this, its not a substitute for proper rug gripper stuff.

Finally, I hung wall hangings made from spare throws/blankets - sewed on small curtain rings, hammered in nails or hooks near the top of the wall, and hooked them on these. But you do need to keep checking that damp isn't creeping in behind them - I have a dehumidifier that I ran from time to time, cold is bad enough, cold and damp is hideous.

I know how horrible a cold home can be, and I didn't have a little one to worry about. I do hope that these ideas help a little, its about physical and mental health - both equally important. God bless, sas x

Brilliant first post! Thank you

Horace

I hate this weather, I haven't switched my lights off (well I did when I nipped to the shop to stock up on bread and milk). I live in a flat on the first floor so at least get some heat from the flat below and I have put rugs on my laminate floor too which helps. My upstairs neighbours hate it because their flat is cold because I don't keep my electric heaters on all day - they are only used when there is ice on the ground, which means that they dont get any free heat from me.

When it gets really cold I have some oil filled electric radiators which are put on for a while - they have thermostats on so when the room reaches a decent temperature they switch off. I have a summer weight duvet on my bed but as its a duck down one it is very warm and and I have an old 13.5 Tog one if things get desperate. I have fleecy blankets that I snuggle under when watching TV too (thank you Primark).

It hasn't stopped raining all day and the wind is pretty dire too. I wouldn't be surprised if the ford down the road hasnt flooded - sometimes in rain it hits the 6ft mark:eek:

I have plenty of store cupboard items in so can live on soup and frozen stuff for a while. Just need to go to the bank but will do that on Monday.

I have a couple of head torches in the house, plenty of batteries and a wind up torch plus a few candles. I think I will try and make a draught excluder too (it shoudnt be too difficult although I don't see too well and don't have a sewing machine).

Am glad I am snug in my little abode because my OH (he lives in London) has gone yacht racing this afternoon - Southampton to Cowes to Poole to Cowes and the weather is much the same as it is here - wet, cold and windy.

oldMcDonald

Horace wrote: »

Am glad I am snug in my little abode because my OH (he lives in London) has gone yacht racing this afternoon - Southampton to Cowes to Poole to Cowes and the weather is much the same as it is here - wet, cold and windy.

I'm across the solent from the Island / Southampton and, although still rather windy, the rain has stopped and the sun is trying to shine, so hopefully it is good sailing weather for him at the moment!

ailz95

ShelBell wrote: »

Where from? These sound AMAZING!

www.pajamacity.com


$29.95 + $12.95 postage - and they only took 4 days to arrive

cady

bertiebots wrote: »

If you have an ikea close by their fleece blankets are very cheap and trendy...ideal for snugglin on the sofa;) less than £3:T

Thanks think im gonna check it out as i want some candles too so could kill two birds with one stone but it is a bit of a hike to get there so will see what i can get locally first then write a list and pop up!!

MRSMCAWBER

Horace....

A quick "no sew" way to make a draught excluder..
Grab an old pair of trouser... use one leg.... grab a bin liner and make your roll and stuff with old clothes etc then sticky tape to make your "sausage"... slide it into the leg and then using ribbon/cord... tie both ends like a big cracker (you can always trim some excess off)... that way if you have a door that lets wet under -you can take the cover off to wash it..and the middle will stray dry because of the bin liner..
hope that helps

Forgot to say -if its an inner door you can tie a length of elastic to both ends -then slip it under the door -so that when you open n close the doors -the draught excluder moves with the door

[Deleted User]

horace, if you have an old picnic rug with a plastic back: roll up with plastic on the outside, tie in several places with string

nickynoo08

Hi everyone,
Freeeeeezzzzing here but the heating is NOT going on. I will not give in!
I also agree about using candles. I've got loads of tealights that i've bought through out the year. I used mine last year every evening too keep us warm. Its quite suprising how much heat they give off.
MrsM - I love your idea about using an old mirror to stand them on will have to have a look about n see if i can find summat.
Aliz95- I've looked into getting a pair of those all in ones they look sooo cosy. Just a question, how much was the shipping cost? The site i went to said they calculated shipping at the time of packing n i would be charged seperatley, wasnt too sure about it so never ended up getting them. looked on ebay but they're twice the price on there.

Been to Primark today n stocked up on fleecy pjs for my little one cant go wrong for £3. Also got myself a pair for a fiver. They also had a few fleecy all in ones up to 23months too (remember someone mentioning them before) only 3 or 4 quid too.

zarazara

I LOVE those PJ's there BABYGROS for grownups!

Margaret54

Hi all, wet and very cold and windy here in N/Ireland. DH felt the cold when he got into bed last night, and so on went the winter duvet on top of the summer one.Summer?lol. I am still placing our fleecy throw over my wee knees at night while knitting, and am going to buy another one very son as well. Made stew in slow cooker the night before which was lovely with hm crusty bread, and homemade vegetable soup in same cooker yesterday. Left over soup did my lunch today with a sandwich, and was very tasty. Nothing is ever going to be wasted again in our home, if I can help it. Need to train remaining son at home and that wll be a job in itself I feel:)
Placed order with newly found(to me anyway) company www.carbolicsoap.com and received my order today . Felt sorry for the poor delivery driver as the rain was lashing down plus windy and he looked like a drowned rat, bless him. The smell was so nostalgic opening the package. I got two waterbottles carbolic soap large bar will last me ages, a strong scrubbing brush two bottles of lavender oil, a tin of pickles ointment a bath sponge, a poster for the bathroom, so cute and lastly burt's bees beeswax lip balm. The postage and packing wa only £1.99 and I am delighted with finding this website. Took me right back to staying with my wee Granny all those years ago when I smelt the soap:) Loving it:)