Winter.

How are you preparing
jansman
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Winter.

Post by jansman »

Ok ,so its hotter than Hades right now,but is anyone prepping for Winter yet?
I have been sorting our emergency lighting and cooking into a manageable format ( gear all over the shop!),and sorting heating fuel too. A few weeks back I was due a log delivery,which never turned up.It turned out that the supplier,our coalman of 25 years,had died!

The advantage of dealing with him was that he delivered to suit me.Other companies deliver,well,whenever.Anyhow,his brother,who specialises in building groundwork,still supplies pre bagged coal to retail outlets.One of those places is up the road from my house,so I pick a couple up each week( I could easily fetch them in my barrow if I did not have a car) .I almost have enough to last until March,as we burn wood too.Luckily,even though my logs never turned up,I got a wood windfall from a gardener friend,so I can fill the gaps after the coming Winter.That means I can just pick up potato sacks of logs from the farm a bit at a time now for just a couple of quid a go,( once split,it equates to a barrow - load,which is good for three evenings burning)

We have just done an online shop,and bought a stack of our favourite storecupboard tins and packets.We will do the same again next time.Sorted my rechargeable batteries and a proper ' station ' to charge and store them.Next in line is a decent sized solar panel,leisure battery and power packs,as used by Yorkshire Andy.
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xplosiv1
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Location: Scotland

Re: Winter.

Post by xplosiv1 »

wow sounds like you're on top of things, I thought I was doing well by getting half our winter logs last week lol.

were good for food, always have a 3 month supply minimum on rotation.

just realised the other day were running low on paracetamol and ibuprofen (no idea how that happened as I thought I had a shoe box full somewhere) anyway picked up some more yesterday while I look for the rest, maybe we used them.

Will have to harvest the garden and the allotment soon ..... thinking of doing some canning for the first time this year.
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pseudonym
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Re: Winter.

Post by pseudonym »

Much like you my winter furl supply is in and done.

I've checked the Lamp oil levels and spare wick situation, giving the lamps a test light.

checked my match, candle and battery supplies and replenished where necessary.
Two is one and one is none, but three is even better.
jansman
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Re: Winter.

Post by jansman »

One thing I have overlooked is,now you mention lamp oil;paraffin.I bought 20 gallons 14 years ago from a local petrol station that was closing.I have a gallon left.We use it for frost protection in our outside bog,and in the top greenhouse where there is no power.
In three words I can sum up everything I have learned about life: It goes on.

Robert Frost.

Covid 19: After that level of weirdness ,any situation is certainly possible.

Me.
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itsybitsy
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Location: East Yorkshire

Re: Winter.

Post by itsybitsy »

I recently bought more cans of gas for the camping stove. Got tea lights coming out of my ears. Both freezers are full and I did briefly consider a third but then decided that was a bit OTT for one person. However, I could probably be talked round! :lol:
jansman
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Re: Winter.

Post by jansman »

itsybitsy wrote: Sun Jul 08, 2018 5:53 pm I recently bought more cans of gas for the camping stove. Got tea lights coming out of my ears. Both freezers are full and I did briefly consider a third but then decided that was a bit OTT for one person. However, I could probably be talked round! :lol:
Sheeeit! We have three freezers for 2 to 3 of us- and I am trying to run one down! Mind you,freezers are damned useful to save time and money aren't they?
In three words I can sum up everything I have learned about life: It goes on.

Robert Frost.

Covid 19: After that level of weirdness ,any situation is certainly possible.

Me.
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itsybitsy
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Location: East Yorkshire

Re: Winter.

Post by itsybitsy »

jansman wrote: Sun Jul 08, 2018 5:59 pm
itsybitsy wrote: Sun Jul 08, 2018 5:53 pm I recently bought more cans of gas for the camping stove. Got tea lights coming out of my ears. Both freezers are full and I did briefly consider a third but then decided that was a bit OTT for one person. However, I could probably be talked round! :lol:
Sheeeit! We have three freezers for 2 to 3 of us- and I am trying to run one down! Mind you,freezers are damned useful to save time and money aren't they?
I have one 'normal' fridge freezer and a separate freezer in the garage but its just a standard size, not a chest freezer.

I just cannot resist all the meat bargains in Waitrose and it pains me when I have no room in the freezer but there is an opportunity to buy Aberdeen Angus minced beef/meatballs or chicken and fish for a pittance. There's a local shop that sells second hand goods for students, and they also deliver. I might go see If he has something suitable. :mrgreen:
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Deeps
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Re: Winter.

Post by Deeps »

We have an American style fridge/freezer in the kitchen and a smallish chest freezer in the garage. Both are usually pretty well topped up. All sorts, like others if we see a bargain we tend to bulk buy and freeze it.

I've not started any specific winter preps, while I do have a store of wood, its for BBQ's and the odd night of man/fire bonding, grrrr. We're gas heated and in quite a toasty new(ish) build which is well insulated. I've got plenty battery powered camping lamps and 'work' lights which would keep us going, plenty batteries both one use and rechargeable. I have been meaning to get a couple of these though. Been meaning to do it for a couple of years. :oops:

Image

As discussed elsewhere I'm building up European foodstocks anyway. I'll be following this thread with interest though, I like the idea of the 'charging station', I really need to get better organised.
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xplosiv1
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Re: Winter.

Post by xplosiv1 »

Deeps wrote: Sun Jul 08, 2018 6:33 pm I have been meaning to get a couple of these though. Been meaning to do it for a couple of years. :oops:

Image

I've never really considered getting a portable gas heater, I do have lots of the gas canisters to fit one I use them for my backup/ emergency cooker.

Just figured if the gas central heating and the wood burner weren't enough to heat the house I'd just put on a few more layers, I suppose I could use one in the shed while doing "stuff" in the cold months, might add one to the list.
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Deeps
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Re: Winter.

Post by Deeps »

xplosiv1 wrote: Sun Jul 08, 2018 7:07 pm
Deeps wrote: Sun Jul 08, 2018 6:33 pm I have been meaning to get a couple of these though. Been meaning to do it for a couple of years. :oops:

Image

I've never really considered getting a portable gas heater, I do have lots of the gas canisters to fit one I use them for my backup/ emergency cooker.

Just figured if the gas central heating and the wood burner weren't enough to heat the house I'd just put on a few more layers, I suppose I could use one in the shed while doing "stuff" in the cold months, might add one to the list.
I'm the same, got a good stash of the cans anyway as I have a couple of the briefcase stoves as backup so figure the heater might be useful. I'd be more about the layers myself but the the missus might appreciate it. Very portable so gives options to be used elsewhere as required too.