KEEPING WARM IN A BIG FREEZE (Jan 2025)

 KEEPING WARM

LEARN TO DRESS IN LAYERS

 

Layering - not turning up the central heating - is the key to keeping warm and comfy;  think in terms of background heating and putting on another layer!  Here's a rough guide.

Bottoms: 

• Tights/leggings/pyjama bottoms/thermals beneath trousers/skirts/jogging pants
• Thermal socks or two pairs of socks, 1 thick, 1 thin (reasonably priced thermal socks: 3 pair-packs at Mountain Warehouse & Amazon £15'ish )

Tops (as needed):

• Dig out summer vests and use as a first layer, then..
• A close-fitting thermal polo/turtle neck then...
• Shirt or blouse, then...
• Jumper, wool, if poss, then...
• Shawl/Wrap/Blanket

Note: The retired, worried about heating bills, might want to spend the entire day dressed like this

Venturing Out: 

• Head: hats prevent heat loss (baclavas are in style this winter!)
• Neck: Long scarves wrapped twice around the neck and chin make the cold more bearable
• Coats: ideally should offer plenty of room for layers of warm clothing without constricting movement (or be made with Heat technology, see below), have a hood and a collar that fastens up to the chin, protecting sides as well as back of the neck.  Windproofing and some level of waterproofing is helpful; sleeves should cover wrists generously or be elasticated or adjustable to prevent the intrusion of cold air.  Pockets should be big enough to hold gloves and angled or zip or button together to prevent theft)
• Feet. Thermal socks can be found at reasonable prices (eg £15 for 3 pairs) at outdoor shops like Mountain Warehouse. Available in various thicknesses.  Also Uniqlo. 
• Snow Boots: Mountain Warehouse (& occasionally Blacks) stock wallet-friendly wellies & similar thrifty options.  Jogging shoes with a deep ridged rubber sole may be sufficient if the snow is not too deep.  Catering shoes designed to prevent slipping have a deep ridged rubber sole and sturdy uppers. (Catering shoes £35 upwards at Denny's Hospitality, Berman Street, Fitzrovia - between Oxford Circus & Tottenham Court Road, London -  also phone orders 01372 377904).  

STOCKISTS:

• 67goingon50 recommends Uniqlo, M&S & John Lewis Heattech products for coats, turtle necks, sweatshirts; special technology traps warm air inside thin layers which keeps heat in without bulk.  
• Find thermal polo necks & Jumpers (turtle neck & other designs), leggings, long johns, gloves, hats & scarves in pretty colours/designs and in various weights
• Prices are reasonable bearing in mind they're easily hand-washed and last years 
• For Serviceable budget-friendly outer winter woolies including thermal gloves, thermal socks, scarves, hats & thick jogging trousers are found at  Mountain Warehouse (& occasionally Blacks), £7-8 upwards depending on item but certain styles are often on sale.  Kids' snow boots, too.  Join Mountain Warehouse's app for special offers.
• Supermarkets sometimes sell really cute kids' mittens and gloves.  
• Draft-blocking High-pile Ultra Warm Hooded Dressing Gowns: most department stores £40'ish.  Or try the super enveloping over-sized ponchos, hooded or not, online. 
• FASHIONABLE reasonably priced full-length and short Thermal coats: Uniqlo; also try H&M and Revolut.  For the up-market, John Lewis has a good selection of must-have brands including previous seasons' Barbour.   M&S usually offers at least one ladies' fashion winner per year.  

BEDS:

• Prevent hypothermia: if spare blankets/duvets/sleeping bags are already in use, a winter coat spread on top of covers will add another layer of warmth 
• Though 67 has not tested Emergency Foil Blankets (EFBs) - the kind given out during Marathons and in driving/hiking/mountainside emergencies - they are said to be excellent at retaining heat when placed on top of bedcovers or on windows.  EFB's are cheap (£1-4, the least expensive in tidy packets of say 6 or 12), take up little space and can be used more than once.   
• If you can afford it, brushed cotton bedding (the modern equivalent of flannel sheets) is a joy to slide into at bedtime and adds extra warmth.  Prices at John Lewis are £10-£40 for basic singles.  
• Presuming you have power, electric blankets/underblankets can be helpful to some but dangerous to others, even with an automatic cut-off switch.  
• Hot water bottles can be lovely if there's no danger of spillage while filling the bottle or warming the bed 
• The classic solution still applies: share the body heat of a loved one! Have young children share a bed; they'll love it.

HEATING

Reduce Heating Costs by using background heating only.???

• to have or not have heating on overnight?  Decision time.  If the  background heating's been on all day, overnight heating may be a luxury. But be careful, in cold damp conditions, ear and throat infections can develop
• see ideal home temperatures, including WHO recommendations, for well dressed people, including for sleeping.  (Produced by British Gas)
• 1s it worth investing/creating makeshift 4 poster beds from which curtains can be hung to enclose heat and keep out draughts?

• the kitchen is often the warmest place in the house; find a space on the floor for toddler playtime and/or use the kitchen table for homework (unless it's exam time; in which case, solitary work in the bedroom may be more suitable; add a small heater)
• watch telly huddled under a shared duvet (or emergency Foil Blanket??)
• if you have a fireplace and the cold spell is extreme, move in beds/mattresses, sleeping bags -- but not long-term due to possible air pollution
• warm the kids' clothes on radiators for half an hour to make getting dressed more comfortable 
• an elderly retired but eccentric friend recommended staying in bed all day, wearing a hat, to keep heating to a minimum  

STORAGE HEATERS :

 

If you live in a block of pre-21st century flats with storage heating, consider investing in (a) heater/s that provides background heating only.  Many storage heaters belt out so much heat in the morning, windows have to be opened, but little heat is available as it gets dark.  It's a shocking waste, especially since rooms warm up at mid-morning as outdoor temperatures rise.

Consider investing in a tube heater similar to those heating greenhouses.   A friend bought a model which didn't have a thermostat and turns on only when needed. It has an easy-to-use programmable timer that turns heat on and off at times of your choice.  The model heated up quickly and provided a gentle, cosy heat.  (Note: new models with thermostat are on sale but may need more development; read customer comments closely)  The tubes are wall mounted or protected with an optional heater guard.

All went well.  The heater was turned on at 5 am for a minimum hour, turned off as the room warmed up with outside temperatures, and then turned on again as temperatures dropped in the evening for a couple of hours. Lap blankets or duvets made work or telly more comfy.

A storage heater or a supplementary heater was used only 3-4 times in a London studio flat in the winter during extremely cold weather (which in London usually lasts only a week or two).  

The friend's annual heating bill for autumn-winter 2021/2 showed the amount of energy expended was 500 (whatever-units-are-used) less than the previous year. 

Stockist: Mylek: tube heaters, various lengths, heat guards, approx £70 for both

Remember North London's Primrose Hill in 2017?!!

CUTTING FUEL COSTS WHEN  COOKING

• whatever cooking equipment you have, investing in a cheap and reliable microwave might be an idea; they cook fastest and use up less electricity
• slow cookers use less energy than stovetop or oven AND provide background heat; double up -- in the last hour of cooking place baking potatoes wrapped in greaseproof paper on the surface of the foods in the slow cooker; when done, remove flesh & serve as mash 
• reports say some brands of air fryers reduce cooking time much more than expected 
• never use the oven for just one thing; plan ahead - make granola or bake potatoes while making a cake or cooking a roast 

Note: If you're in an area which could experience Electricity blackouts, here are a few tips:

COPING WITH A BLACKOUT

KEEPING YOUR COOL 

Note: Older family members living independently might be encouraged to move in or closer by if a blackout is likely.  

WHAT TO BUY/ RUMMAGE IN THE CUPBOARDS FOR 

• Torches with spare batteries; maybe a head torch?
• Proper candles - not just tea-lights - in sturdy candle holders which are not easily knocked over PLUS a generous box Matches
• Batteries of different sizes
• First Aid Kit
• Cash (could be very important!)
• Cool Box
• EFB's:Emergency Foil Blankets - the kind given out during Marathons and in driving/hiking/mountainside emergencies; they're £2 for 2, folded in tidy packets (taking up little space) and can be used more than once. Buy on the net.
• Power Bank - for phones & iPads but not laptops; reasonably priced but must be charged ahead of time unless battery operated. (If you're flush; a portable power station will set you back over £1,000)
• Thermoses: fill with boiling water, not coffee or tea, for a hot cuppa of choice; the thermoses come in individual or family sizes, priced accordingly.  A separate large thermos of hot chocolate, accompanied or not, with marshmallows will probably send the household into raptures
• Food jars: double insulated, they keep food warm 12-36 hours, depending on size and brand; great not just for soups, also for a layer of rice with vegetables or stew; perfect for elderly relatives 
• Battery-operated radio?
• Battery operated clip-on lamp for book lovers ? 
• Night lights for finding your way around 

GETTING READY: 

• fill up car with petrol
• write down important phone numbers and passwords
• just before blackout starts or if you wake up in one,  turn off all electric appliances, especially pcs which can be damaged by power surges.  Leave one light on so you'll know when it's all over!

TECH TIPS: if blackouts are likely, make a habit of 

• Closing down unnecessary programs & apps which drain batteries 
• Switching off location service on your phone (regular pinging of satellites sucks power), NFC (for payments) and Bluetooth, which often aren’t used
• Using the power-saving mode (on most smart phones), which stops asking apps if there are any notifications and dims your screen. 

FOOD STORAGE TIPS

Fridges:

• Just before Blackout, if you can, take what you need out of the fridge and place in a cool box; during Blackout leave fridge doors shut; UK Power Networks say if doors are not continually opened & closed, food should keep 4-5 hours
• But if Blackout goes on longer than 4 hours, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) says all fridge contents should be thrown out

Freezer

• FSA says food in a closed freezer will stay frozen for 24 hours or more...the fuller the freezer, the better
• One freezer manufacturer said a full large freezer will keep food frozen 48 hours; it recommended ice blocks to slow down defrosting 
• Blogger: remember raw meats can be frozen twice, once in their natural state, once after defrosting and cooking. If raw meat is unintentionally defrosted, cook into casseroles or roasts and re-freeze  

EATING IN BLACKOUT 

Obviously if you have a barbecue or a fireplace, you'll be fine. 67goingon50's Preparing for Winter in a Cost of Living Crisis: has plenty of tips for frugal emergency food.  Otherwise:

• if budget allows, check out the nearest area that isn't in blackdown and, if possible, plan a meal out -- that way, we help boost the economy, too!
• make a blackout meal a fun occasion - eat picnic style, on a blanket; maybe haul out the tent; dress up like North American Indians around a real/fake fire wrapped in Emergency Foil Blankets (bonus: it will also help pass the time!)
• get organised; if there's time...

1. dig out your some of your freezer stores of 67goingon50's frozen chocolate chip or other Cookie dough; bake (or have someone else bake) a platter-full, ready for a blackout treat
2. use frozen or tinned fruit to make a quick crumble 
3. re-heat a frozen stew or casserole (or quickly make), store in a slow cooker on low till the electricity goes off; the contents will stay warm for at least an hour  
4. blackout dessert: brush pre-baked pastry cases with melted chocolate; add drained chopped tinned fruit (stored in juice, not syrup) and top with clotted or whipped dairy or plant cream with a dribble of chocolate sauce.  (tinned pie filling can also be used but is usually high in sugar)

Sources:

BBC News
Sky News
How long does food last in fridge/freezer:Rebecca Miller, Daily Express
How to Prepare Your Home for Blackout: Guy Kelly, Daily Telegraph
Could I survive a Blackout?: Chris Stokel-Walker, The Times
How long does food last in fridge/freezer:Rebecca Miller, Daily Express
National Grid
Protected Sites List

67goingon50's Preparing for Winter in a Cost of Living Crisis: 

 

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