What if...

[Lightspeed]

Last winter was a mild one for us. Word is that this coming one will be the same, but its foolish to only expect the best.....we always plan for a severe one. If it doesn't happen its no big deal as the work we do and the provisions we lay up are still there for future use. Only a fool expects the best around here. Incidentally in our community we all do our best to prepare and help one another to do so when necessary. If it is seen that work was done but that a person is overwhelmed by events, help and support is offered.... if on the other hand no effort to prepare is seen, if problems occur those people are largely on their own to deal with them... this is particularly true of holiday home owners who basically want the rural idyll but not the hard graft that goes with it.

Life remains somewhat like SS' memories here.

It feels like we are permanently repairing the ravages of the last winter or preparing for the ravages of the next!

The normal stuff is:

Roofs and chimneys: Check general condition of roofs, replacing blown tile and lifted seams as necessary. Gutter cleaned. Chimneys swept, inspected and any repointing needed dealt with.

Facades and walls re-pointed and repainted as necessary.

Windows and doors: Check glazing, paint, draught excluding, locks and hinges.

All exterior padlocks get lubed.

Solid fuel stoves get cleaned and fully serviced. seals on connecting flues checked and refurbished as necessary.

Fuel. Wood, coal, and gas. Stockpiles of ready to use fuel built up. Wood collection and conversion being a semi-permanent exercise. Also the means to convert more, so axes, chainsaws and manual saws are all cleaned sharpened, oiled and serviced.

Plumbing: Insulation of vulnerable pipes, and shutting down and draining of anything likely to freeze ( outside taps and remote header tanks). Our water pipes are now upgraded all burst-proof polyprop tube, but they can still freeze and if they do, they are a bugger to thaw out. By the same logic all gate valves are now replaced with stainless steel ball valves that unlike the old gate valves they can be opened and closed even when they are frozen.

Smaller rainwater buts and troughs are emptied late autumn, and IBCs get drained down after Christmas, to be re-filled once things thaw out in March.

Drainage channels all cleared, inspected and refurbished as necessary.

Oil lamps topped up, extra lamp oil and wicks laid in store

Our wardrobes are very much different summer and winter. Summer stuff gets stored and replaced by winter stuff from storage

Rodent proofing of clothing, soft furnishings and foodstuffs stored in lofts and outbuildings, and for good measure setting of a few mouse traps to let us know if we have visitors. If we start seeing signs, the cats are encouraged to hang out up there for a few days and that tends to cure the problem.

Cars: Normal pre winter servicing and preventative maintenance, although we go one step further by fitting winter tyres as at our elevation snow and ice are certainties even in mild winters. In-car GHBs upgraded from summer to winter kits.

Food: Long storage life food stocks inspected and supplemented. This is a good reminder to me to completely clear and re-organize the main larder this weekend

There must be more, but these are the things that come to easily to mind.