Put to the test by this cold weather

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 08 Jan 2010, 12:10

Some other small preparations include some heavy, floor-to-ceiling curtains in the room we use the most. Also, a curtain over and around the front door. Although the door is draught-proofed there are small gaps such as keyholes etc. The curtain is easily swished to one side.

These curtains have made a noticeable difference to the comfort and temperature of the room.

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 08 Jan 2010, 12:28

There's another way to keep warm in bed, well known to our ancestors

Using modern materials you could create a lovely cosy enclosed bed, with built in telly (if you're into having your mind controlled!), radio, computer, tea making facilities etc

.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 08 Jan 2010, 19:39

Not just bedrooms either: the Russian word for a study is "Kabinyet", implying a room just big enough for you, your desk and your bookshelves. The study here at Chateau Renewable is a small room and noticeably warmer after someone's been sitting at work in it for the evening.

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 08 Jan 2010, 19:48

RenewableCandy wrote:Not just bedrooms either: the Russian word for a study is "Kabinyet", implying a room just big enough for you, your desk and your bookshelves. The study here at Chateau Renewable is a small room and noticeably warmer after someone's been sitting at work in it for the evening.

I'm planning to build a temporary office in the corner of a room that's our temporary workshop. It will be the width of my desk, and the desk may well be a structural part of the wall! The depth is set by the location of a window and a convenient ceiling beam to attach the wall to. It will be about 7ft x 5ft, which is a really luxurious space for someone who's been living in 12ft x 6ft for 2.5 years

.

Mitch · Post by **Mitch** » 08 Jan 2010, 20:16

Hi ODO - welcome. Please be VERY cautious when investigating back-up power. I have 21 x 70 watt solar panels, 1 x Rutland 913 wind generator and a bank of 20 x 110 a/h batteries - total in excess of 14,000 quid. The last few weeks I have not got enough electricity to run my 60 watt circulation pump more than a few hours a day. No circulation pump, water in the stove back boiler overheats and - snap - the safety trip cut's off the diesel to the fire - no heating. I am currently spending £12.00 a day on petrol for my 1100 watt generator to keep the heating on 12 hours a day! (That's running the generator for 8 hours and charging at the same time, then running on the batt's for another 4 or 5 hours till they are flat).

Beware - it's virtually impossible to truly back up your 'leccy, unless you have a few million pocket change!

Vortex · Post by **Vortex** » 08 Jan 2010, 21:37

I understand the solar not paying off ... but are you in a wind dead spot?

jonny2mad · Post by **jonny2mad** » 09 Jan 2010, 12:33

well for some reason I have pretty much all you would need to camp out in polar regions my house isn't heated but I'm fine .
I have sorel snow boots that you can use to -40 they are lined with felt ,two arctic sleeping bags which I have one inside another which Id guess would work at minus 40 the thinner one is down to -12 .
I collect camping stoves and have fuel for them for months , I have snow shoes crampons ice axes googles packs a sled etc etc .
I have a tent I could use to camp on ice three thermarest camping mattresses and lots of arctic clothing.
I have enough food to last hmm a year .

Im very tempted to go and camp in the garden , my tip would be get a flask stanley make the best and have warm drinks dont wear too much so you sweat and then that freezes thats what can kill you wearing damp frozen clothes .

use a layer system and keep eating

hardworkinghippy · Post by **hardworkinghippy** » 09 Jan 2010, 12:52

We've never been so popular !

Our socks are selling like hot cakes and I knew all those crochet blankets I made from our goats' wool would come in handy one day.

This sort of weather reminds people that we really do need to prepare for the times when we can't get out to buy food and that having stores like paraffin lamps, candles, blankets and so on isn't so daft after all.

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 09 Jan 2010, 17:06

I slept with my vans sliding door open last night

. Unfortunately it wasn't because I'm superhuman, but because something in it froze, and it wouldn't shut

. It's ok again now, so I'll have to use the rear door tonight, just in case.

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 09 Jan 2010, 18:39

Have burned logs much faster than anticipated, and as a result we have a shortfall of fuel. I spent an hour or two earlier on sawing up every spare log and even an item of unwanted furniture (for a real furniture fire!!) to get a big pile of stuff which will burn.

Dug the car out Thursday night and went on a mission to a local garage where I bought their last 6 small bags of coal.

Am hoping all these bits and pieces will last through until Friday when our next delivery of logs comes along.

Vortex · Post by **Vortex** » 09 Jan 2010, 19:10

Yep, those logs are going fast.

I've just bought a chain saw, so at last those dead & dying trees in our plum orchard will earn their keep.

Should have done it ages ago ...

Vortex · Post by **Vortex** » 09 Jan 2010, 19:16

I'm spending too long each day taking hay, water & other food to our few sheep.

Need to do it 'tho ... they are SO hungry.

It is however quite fun trudging through the snow on our mission each day ... better than watching daytime TV!

It's also interesting seeing the tracks of deer, foxes and other creatures in the snow. It's Picadilly Circus out there when we humans are not watching!

Luckily we have 4x4s so just for once they are earning their keep.

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 09 Jan 2010, 19:51

Vortex wrote:Yep, those logs are going fast.

I've just bought a chain saw, so at last those dead & dying trees in our plum orchard will earn their keep.

Should have done it ages ago ...

I must have tons of dead trees, but cutting ice with a chainsaw probably isn't a good idea, and the frozen snow makes it too dangerous to work in my wood, as a lot of the work is on steep and uneven slopes. Plenty for next year!

Post by **mikepepler** » 09 Jan 2010, 20:51

Some of our log customers are getting through wood at a rapid rate. I've warned them I only have one more load each for them, then all the wood we cut a year ago is gone...

When we eventually get a place with a woodburning stove I doubt we'll have much spare to sell anyway!

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 09 Jan 2010, 22:02

I hope all you happy lumberjacks are planting trees somewhere as well