PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

the ice man cometh! (merged with keeping warm)

Options
18911131431

Comments

  • tootles_2
    tootles_2 Posts: 1,143 Forumite
    We live in a semi with gas central heating which means if there is a power cut the heating will not work, we do have a gas cooker which means that we can heat food and water for drinks, we also have a small portable gas ring which we use when travelling, I have bought some extra refills for this. When we stay in the caravan in cold weather we also sleep on a duvet as well as have one over us, something to think about, we have an old double duvet which I keep for the very cold weather for our bed......also wear a hat, you loose 80% of your body heat through your head, those old foggies who wore nightcaps were not as daft as they looked!!!!!

    I can see camping shops etc running out of gas heaters and rings if there is a similar panic to that for flu jabs.........I always have candles in the house and we can shut ourselves in our bedroom using the gas ring we can heat water for bottles etc, and use a pressure cooker to supply hot food,I am concerned however that there are people who will not be far sighted enough to make any provision for these conditions and is so doing will put their lives at risk.

    Forecasters tell us that the winter is not going to be 'terrible' but a lot colder than the winters we have had over the last few years....... people need to think about making provision in case, not put their heads in the sand and say no it won't happen.



    Living in the sunny? Midlands, where the pork pies come from:

    saving for a trip to Florida and NYC Spring 2008

    Total so far £14.00!!
  • calleyw
    calleyw Posts: 9,896 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper I've been Money Tipped!
    If it gets to bad I will move in with mum as they have wood burning stoves.

    As I have a combi boiler so leccy no heating. But would be able to cook as we have a gas cooker.

    Shhhhhh have not told my mum yet :rotfl:


    Yours

    Calley
    Hope for everything and expect nothing!!!

    Good enough is almost always good enough -Prof Barry Schwartz

    If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try -Seth Godin
  • DSmiffy
    DSmiffy Posts: 791 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Smiley_Mum wrote:


    It said on the local news here today that apparently the electricity companies are struggling to keep up with the demand for power so we are likely to get blackouts this Winter. Crikey, I think I've had one power cut in the whole time I've been in town.


    Just logging on after a 7 hour power cut today !! We get quite a few here. Interestingly enough OH was talking to one of the big guys at one of the power companies recently who mentioned that everyone should be ready for quite a few power cuts this winter, as they do not reckon they have the resources to fulfil demand... very worrying :eek:

    We are thinking of investing in a petrol generator at least to see us through christmas if nothing else, can you imagine, with all that food in the freezer - doesn't bear thinking about.

    Has anyone any experience of generators and where would be a good place to buy one.? :D
  • moggins wrote:
    I was a very good girl last night and sat and sewed a curtain for the front door, now I just need to make some sausage type draft excluders but I can't work out what to stuff them with which is heavy enough to keep them in place but not too heavy in case some one kicks them with bare feet :D

    try old tights,that have laddered or any old tee-shirts or towels
  • Sarahsaver
    Sarahsaver Posts: 8,390 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    laddered tights are still useful under your trousers or jeans in the winter, as extra layers are better than thick clothes. My house is freezing - high ceilings, big rooms etc so if i can i go out during the day to save on the heating, and keep kids to one room in the evenings before bed. Tea time we're warm as the oven, hob or grill will usually have been on. Try to keep the heating to 2hrs in the morning and the same in the evening, supplemented with a log/coal fire in the front rooms.
    I made a draught excluder out of an old jeans leg - nice and durable, and filled with old socks/undies which were past their best!
    Member no.1 of the 'I'm not in a clique' group :rotfl:
    I have done reading too!
    To avoid all evil, to do good,
    to purify the mind- that is the
    teaching of the Buddhas.
  • HOLsale
    HOLsale Posts: 1,231 Forumite
    dang wrote:
    ...any ideas guys,other than the old put three jumpers on ;-)

    I'll start the ball rolling with the old classic - draft excluder at the bottom of your doors.


    i made really good draft excluders one year by taking holey wooley socks and filled them full of other old socks and fabric. then i sewed two socks together by their tops (to make them long enough). i put some velcro on the door bottoms and the other bit on the excluders and voila, automatic stay in place draught excluders!
    founder of Frugal Genius UK (Yahoo Groups)
  • HOLsale
    HOLsale Posts: 1,231 Forumite
    Our house, 3 bed semi. is all electric so we dread the power cuts. We also have storage heaters which never seem to kick out much heat other than the one in the bedroom which is too hot. No heating in the kitchen or bathroom. Mind you the office at work still have the air con on. :eek:


    we've got the same kind of heating here and single glazing :eek:

    fortunately though the heat is free in these flats which means that everyone turns them up really high and the flats in general stay warm for quite awhile.

    we've got a large square hall area that has no windows so we could all sleep in there if necessary, our body heat and the heat of a few candles would probably sort us out for a bit.

    we've got loads of duvets so that's good but i think i may get some sort of camp stove we've got one but it's not the best and i'd get tired of cold tinned foods in a hurry! wish i could afford a storm kettle !
    founder of Frugal Genius UK (Yahoo Groups)
  • johanne
    johanne Posts: 1,830 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    My current attire...

    2 pair of socks (under big warm boots)
    1 long sleeved tshirt with 1 fleecy hooded top over
    1 wooly hat
    1 scarf (round neck and pulled up covering mouth + nose)
    1 pair of gloves

    Currently hugging a hot water bottle... and sipping a cup of hot ribena from my flask :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

    Can you tell im trying to save puttin my heating on cos ive gone through £30 worth gas cards this month alone and still got a week left and about £1.50 left on my meter.. so need to get gas tomorrow! :(

    (oh and the last few days i have turned all except my living room radiator off so i only heat that room when i DO put the heating on, keeping all my doors shut and have been sleeping on the settee to save heating the bedroom :o:o )

    Wish Mr Iceman would go away...
  • Chipps
    Chipps Posts: 1,550 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    Oh, storage heaters!!!!!!
    We used to have those, they were lovely in the morning - if anything a bit too warm, but by the evening they were hopeless. As we home educated out 2 youngest it was ok because the house was always warm throughout the day. But as you couldn't adjust them much once they had taken in the heat overnight, it did mean that if the day was warmer than expected you had to open windows to cool down in the daytime. Or freeze if you expected it to be warmer, and hadn't made them take in enough overnight.
    Worst of all, if there was a power cut in the night there was NO hope of heat in the house until the next day, cos they had to heat up all through the next night before being of any use whatsoever.
    Can't say I miss them much!
    ps. we had a combination of very old ones & brand new ones, & there was not a great deal to choose between them, although the new ones were a little bit better & looked nicer.
  • shammyjack
    shammyjack Posts: 2,685 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    DSmiffy wrote:
    Just logging on after a 7 hour power cut today !! We get quite a few here. Interestingly enough OH was talking to one of the big guys at one of the power companies recently who mentioned that everyone should be ready for quite a few power cuts this winter, as they do not reckon they have the resources to fulfil demand... very worrying :eek:

    We are thinking of investing in a petrol generator at least to see us through christmas if nothing else, can you imagine, with all that food in the freezer - doesn't bear thinking about.

    Has anyone any experience of generators and where would be a good place to buy one.? :D

    How many do you want ?

    Got 4 sat here doing nothing, up to 4KVA output .

    shammy ;);)
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.6K Spending & Discounts
  • 244K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.9K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.9K Life & Family
  • 257.3K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.