Anyone planning ahead?

maryb

Another one here with a bit of wood with a notch in the top.  It has lasted longer than any of the purpose made props I have had.  Only problem is making sure DH doesn’t use it when he needs to cut a bit of 1 by 2 for some project or other

Floss

When we cleared my mum's home in 2005 we skipped the clothes prop that was older than me, made by my dad when they moved into a new home in 1961. There were 2 when there were 4 kids at home but the other succumbed to a bit of DIY in the early 80s!

Gin_and_Milk

Thanks again for your replies.  I did have some thermals, but they no longer fit, so I'll be stocking up at some point.
I think fingerless gloves will definitely come in handy, as the room I sometimes work from doesn't have any insulation, and I'm like Bob Cratchit in there when it's cold.
I do have some long moccasin boot type slippers, they're nice, but as they're a bit like socks there isn't much of a sole, so don't really keep my feet that warm.  I just like them because they're a bit like boots, but I think I'm going to invest in a proper pair of boot slippers.  I just usually buy some for a fiver at the supermarket, but they never last very long.
I'm still wrapping myself up in the fleecy blanket I bought at Christmas (even though it's now June).  It's so toasty, but makes me feel really sleepy too lol!

bouicca21

My flat never gets as cold as the ice on the windows houses of my youth, but I find that wfh definitely requires good quality fleecy slippers.  

I have a fleecy blanket that I bought in Lidl many years ago that I lay over the duvet during the winter months and when it’s extra cold I go to bed with  a fleecy jacket that M&S sold as as a ‘cardigown’.  

I also have a couple of loose big cardigans for use as an extra layer during the day.  They are getting old so I’m on the lookout for another, but haven’t seen the right thing yet.

PipneyJane

Gin_and_Milk said:

ChihiroSen said:

I’ve started buying warm jumpers and blankets that are on sale. I expect the prices to go up in winter as more people than usual will be looking for ways to stay warm without heating.

I think prices will shoot up too.
I usually wear 'comfies' around the house, jogging bottoms etc, but they take ages to dry and we don't have a drier. Rather than use radiators this year I think we'll be using the local launderette as I'm pretty sure it will be cheaper, including towels, bedding and jeans.
What do people wear around the house in winter?  Am I right in think microfleece stuff is warm?  Be a question of trying to find something, but it will be comfy and easy to dry!

Err, I don't think so @Gin_and_Milk. The last time I used a laundrette - 10 years ago, when we had the kitchen done - it was prohibitively expensive.  I think I spent £10 for one wash and some dryer time and everything was still sopping wet when I ran out of change!  Their washing machines deliberately don't spin dry very well, so that you spend a fortune on the dryers.  There was no separate spin-dryer machine or cycle either.

We have something similar to this, hanging from the highest point of our kitchen ceiling.  (Not that exact model.)  Ours takes a full load of washing, which dries within 24 hours even in the middle of winter.  We don't have a dryer.  

- Pip

Mojisola

We bought a spin dryer last autumn - it's been a boon over the winter.

With stuff that doesn't matter if it's creased, it comes out almost dry; other items still get a lot of the moisture taken out of them - reduces drying time (whether in the house or on the line) and cuts down on the moisture levels in the house over the winter.

YorksLass

I have a Servis spin dryer bought many, many years ago (must be 40 years old), still in good working order and I'm so glad I had the foresight to keep it.  It still gets used for hand-wash items rather than using the spin facility on the washing machine and it's more than paid for itself.  

Gin_and_Milk

@PipneyJane - Blimey!  It's been a long time since I used a launderette, have no idea what I paid.  I was thinking of washing my stuff at home, then going there to use their dryers, it's only a few minutes in the car.
I was just thinking of using it for things like towels, bedding, jeans etc, stuff that doesn't dry easily at home.
Thanks for the link btw :-)

Gin_and_Milk

Random question, but it's money saving so it's relevant!  Do any of you buy dried pulses?  I know it can work out a lot cheaper (and there are some Asian mini markets near us, so cheaper still).  I know soaking can be a bit of a pain, but do any of you soak then freeze for later?  I'm going to stick with tinned kidney beans, was thinking more along the lines of chick peas etc.

PipneyJane

Gin_and_Milk said:

Random question, but it's money saving so it's relevant!  Do any of you buy dried pulses?  I know it can work out a lot cheaper (and there are some Asian mini markets near us, so cheaper still).  I know soaking can be a bit of a pain, but do any of you soak then freeze for later?  I'm going to stick with tinned kidney beans, was thinking more along the lines of chick peas etc.

Yes, I do both.  I rarely buy tinned beans.  I always cook a triple batch, too:  one for now, two for later.

My method is to soak overnight, then drain, dump into a re-used bread bag and freeze raw.  (This helps break down the cell walls, as the water expands.)  Anything from 8 hours to a few days later, I’ll remove the lump of frozen beans from the freezer, defrost it at least enough to wriggle it out of the bag, dump it into the pressure cooker, cover with a kettle of boiling water plus a little extra and pressure cook for 30-45 minutes depending on the pulse.

Note:  I’ve never bothered doing the above for lentils, mung beans or black-eyed beans, because they are quick cooking and it’s too much of a pfaff getting out the pressure cooker.  (20 minutes for mung beans; half an hour for black-eyed beans in a normal pot.). However, given the massive increase in energy prices, I may try pressure cooking them instead.

On the lentil front, one of the French recipes that I use recommends soaking whole lentils for about 45 minutes before cooking.  I’ve tried that and it does cut the cooking time down considerably, down to about 15 minutes.

HTH

- Pip