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Sharing tips for keeping warm and being economical with fuel 🥶

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  • @AuntyRach and @NormandyLiz yes that's it . It's been on R4 this week but available as a podcast. One of the more interesting things was a sport physio talking about alternate hot cold bathing of injuries.  He pointed out that it doesn't need to be extreme,  the cold was only as cold as it comes out of the  cold tap, the hot no more than 38 C . That temperature is often known as hand hot
     I  remember years ago listening to a lecture from an Army surgeon talking about thawing frozen plasma out in the field. They experimented with a hundred or so army personnel,  men and women.  Got them to run a bucket of water to "hand hot", they measured the temperature and they were all within + - 2C of 38C which was accurate enough for the purpose. Interesting-well I thought so.😄
    AB Still learning

  • AuntyRachAuntyRach Posts: 5,291
    Thank you folks- I’ve just listened to the episode linked by @NormandyLiz

    Excellent to hear that women do indeed (on average) feel the cold more due to their lower muscle mass 🥶 
    My garden and I live in South Wales. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I have one of those too @JennyJ and it's in the living room. I have ours set for one automatic session, and that's for about 50 mins, to come on if someone's getting up for work - usually youngest daughter who goes out just after 5am, and a 2nd one which is just 10 mins or so. It won't get higher than 18, but rarely gets to that. Most of the time we have it no higher than 16 as we've got used to it.
    I do it manually, or re set the clock time if I want it to come on at a particular point. I often do that when I'm out for my morning walk, and to coincide with older daughter getting up for work. It rarely stays on for more than abut 20 mins though - I just put it back on manual. If no one's got to be up early, I stick it on for a little while when I get up at around 7am. It's often around 11 or 12 in the lounge at that point, but soon warms up as the house is well insulated. 
    It's rarely been on beyond 7pm, even during the  colder spell earlier in December when it was just a short 20 mins. Hasn't been on in my bedroom much either, and I have to remember to put it on frost setting when it's long periods of proper frosts. If it's a light frost [down to about minus 2 or 3] I don't bother. 
    I use one of those pads you can heat in the microwave too. It helps with my back anyway.  That and a fleece throw is fine for keeping me cosy  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    My poorly brother swears by his heated waistcoat to keep him warm. I'm not sure whether it's battery operated or mains electric. He has severe heart failure so can't keep his temperature up or exercise to keep warm.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Those heated gilets are very popular now @Lizzie27. I think they're battery operated, but I've never looked into it. Could have done with one where I worked - it was always freezing in there. 
    I'm sure it's a real bonus for your brother. It's so important to keep your body at a good temperature if you have any kind of health problem that could affect it. Even more important if he can't move about too much. 
    The girls bought me one of those heated fleece blankets a couple of years back, but I don't like it ,so it's never used. Perhaps that could be useful for him though? 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Thanks for that idea @Fairygirl, I rather think he's got one of those as well but will check with my SIL.

    I find that as long as my feet are warm, I'm okay. Usually wear two pairs of socks if I feel cold and small bedsocks to go to bed in.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • AuntyRachAuntyRach Posts: 5,291
    Keeping yourself warm with cosy layers of clothes is a good tip for feeling warm, even with no/low heating. I can now recommend teddy/fleecy pyjamas! I had some for crimbo and they are a toasty delight! My fleecy sheets and pillow case plus brushed cotton duvet cover are also marvellous. 
    My garden and I live in South Wales. 
  • I am totally sold on my new electric hot water bottle (I got it from a secret santa!). It's mains rechargeable, stays warm for hours and has a pouch for warming hands.
    That and an oodie means generally we don't need the heating on during the day.
    In the evening, we wrap ourselves in large fleecy throws from M & S and sling a couple of dogs on the sofa for good measure. They sleep downstairs at night though.
    Beautiful North Wales - hiraeth
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    Something on the radio this am about "cold"  being good for you but I only caught a bit of it ( the report rather than the cold - got enough of that already).  Anyone else heard it ?
  • BluejaywayBluejayway Posts: 392
    edited 9 January
    I think Michael Mosley said something about having your heating at no more than 15C will help you produce “brown fat” 🙃@philippasmith2
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