WINTER CHECKLIST

[diamond lil]

Can we all check that we are sorted ready for a very very cold winter with lots of snow, transport disruption and power cuts. (might not be so bad but prep for it anyway)>

can you see?
can you heat meals and make tea/coffee?
can you keep warm and reach your fuel easily?
can you stay warm outside?
can you get water if a mains burst & they were repairing it?
Do it now.

[Red Doe]

Excellent checklist.
Can see....got paraffin lamps, just need to lay in more paraffin.
Can heat meals and coffee on the camping gas stove, again, need to lay in a few extra cannisters of gas. (I'd forgotten in the way of menopausal women everywhere, good job you reminded me!)
Warmth, bit harder...no sign of oil delivery yet so til then it's just the open fire. We are currently buying the wee bags of coal and that gets stored on the floor of the pantry, so don't need to go outside for it.
No way to stay warm outside, we can wrap up and keep moving but temperatures often reach the minus twenties here so...can keep the flesh warm but breathing in air that cold can hurt.
Water isn't a problem, we have a burn running through the croft, if it freezes up we can break through easily.
Hoping there will be no burst pipes, there were none the past two winters so keeping fingers crossed though I do know how to turn the mains off.

[itsybitsy]

Got candles and torches but still need a couple of wind up lanterns AND a camping stove.

I the gas AND electricity goes off together then I'll be sitting wrapped in blankets wearing a ski jacket as I don't have a third source of heat, unfortunately...

[preppingsu]

alternative lighting - yes, torches (wind up and battery - with plenty of spare batteries), candles galore, glowsticks for the bathroom (its internal and has no window so light is needed all day!)

Camp cooker for cooking/heating water. Do need another gas bottle though.

Multi fuel stove in lounge. Fuel is in garage, easy enough to get to as long as front path is cleared of snow. (that's what I have a teenage son for )

Warm outside -well I have plenty of woolies, strong boots, winter coats, hats, gloves etc as do the rest of the family so should be OK. Don't plan to go out too much if I can help it.

Good stock of water - although you can never have enough so I'll keep adding to it.

Also have rock salt as we have a very steep driveway down to the main road. We tried clearing by hand last year . Checked the local grit bin is full too as once we leave the drive we have a very steep hill to get down (and then up again!!) Just hope the local scrots don't steal it again.

[dizzydays]

We haven't got a grit bin...I think it's deemed not necessary in Cornwall. Last year I tried to persuade my near neighbours (we share a common drive between 5 cottages and it freezes over) to invest in a bin between us but they decided against it. My question is - is the grit that the council provides anything like the gritty sand you can get on some beaches?
Would that work to stop paths icing over?

[Brambles]

We haven't got a grit bin...I think it's deemed not necessary in Cornwall. Last year I tried to persuade my near neighbours (we share a common drive between 5 cottages and it freezes over) to invest in a bin between us but they decided against it. My question is - is the grit that the council provides anything like the gritty sand you can get on some beaches?
Would that work to stop paths icing over?

I don't think it would prevent the path icing over, but would certainly help prevent person slippage on said icy path.

[diamond lil]

Remember that gas heating might go off if the elect is off. My daughter's does that. And I think sand off a beach will have enough salt in it to work.

[scoobie]

Sand does work in a pinch, not as good as salt and it does leave a mess behind!| It's more useful for gaining traction and preventing slipping, rather than the melting action of the salt (I know because I tested both methods out last year )

[diamond lil]

Anorak.

[scoobie]

I prefer the term geek