Keeping Warm in the Winter

[DirectorDave]

I am currently spending a couple of weeks in 1888.....no I have not borrowed the Tardis....I am currently cut-off due to the weather.

I have no central heating (even at the best of times) and the only hot water I have comes out my shower (currently broken).

I have a wee bit coal left and very nearly armful of logs that I'm saving, my only source of heat currently is coming from a couple of candles.

I can only wash by boiling a kettle at the moment so I perhaps have a little perspective into how the people attempted to keep clean.....and I am currently wearing many layers of clothing.....feel like I'm wearing every thing Chandler owns.

The cold is debilitating and was just looking for an insight into how the un-wealthy Victorians kept warm. I suspect in the middle of a city wood would be rather scarce so coal I suspect would be the fuel of the day.

Does anyone know how much coal and candles would have cost the people of Whitechapel and any other methods used to beat the cold?

Although I am cold....low on food and a bit smelly I have recently procured 2 pints of milk from my neighbour so Im happy as Larry being able to have a cup of tea.

[Rubyretro]

The cold is debilitating and was just looking for an insight into how the un-wealthy Victorians kept warm.

Gin ! -drunk in a pub full of people...

Getting into bed with the whole family...

...old newspapers in your shoes.. or straw

...burning very dry horse manure on the fire..(free when collected off the street)

..overcoats on top of the bed..

[DirectorDave]

Tried the drink thing Ruby.....trust me it does not keep you warm....just makes you bother a little less about the cold.

The most local pub (a mile or so away) ran out of ale on Friday.....and as I have not been able to get to work I have to save a few pennies.

The whole family consists of me and my Girlfriend....she is cuddly and warm but hogs the duvet far too much.

[Rubyretro]

'bed warmers !' ...hot coals in a metal pan , in the bed for an hour or so before getting into it !

Soup ! (or 'flavoured hot water')

[Rubyretro]

wearing a hat in bed...(I think lots of heat is lost through the top of your head)

[DirectorDave]

Got the bed warmers thing sorted.....a Brick placed in front of the fire for half an hour or so.....wrap it in a towel then take it to bed. (no taking a brickie to bed jokes please!)

Does not help tonight though.....as saving my coal incase I cant get any next week.

[DirectorDave]

I'm a baldy barsteward....so trust me my football beanie hat is never off my head at the moment....fire or no fire!

[Graham]

I sympathise with you, man. Is there no' a crofter's daughter or two ye can tak to your bed for the warmth that's in them?

How come ye're computer is able to function? Have ye no ability to re-direct the electricty towards a heating element of some sort?

Yon Whitechapel folk did at least have the gas - have ye no gas, mon?

Graham

[Limehouse]

My sympathies are with you Dave. It must be perishing up there.

You don't have to go right back to 1888 to experience an historical bittery cold winter though. I remember 1962/63. It started snowing on Boxing day and carried on until about March (I lived in London in those days). We had one coal fire in the downstairs back parlour. We had lino on the floor with mats on top. No wall-to-wall carpets. It was very - very cold.

Nowadays I simply refuse to be cold. I have the heating on full blast. If it breaks down (frequently - we have a blasted combi boiler) I make a hot wqater bottle and retreat to bed.

What astonishes me just now is the reaction of the weather presenters on TV. They keep calling this weather a 'cold snap' and warn it 'will continue through Christmas into the New Year'. They do this with a certain amount of indignation and surprise in their voice. Referring to our region last night - one presenter said with horror 'And you can expect some wintery conditions tomorrow'. I was compelled to yell loudly at the TV "Of course we can! it's bloody winter!!"

However - I do admit it is the first time I have seen deep snow in November.

[The Grave Maurice]

I imagine that Canadians and Brits have different definitions of "cold" so, when you guys say it's "cold" over there, just how cold is it?

[The Good Michael]

It's simple. An electric heater in a closed room that has some insulation, which must be the case in Dunfermline, will warm up in maybe 30 minutes in the worst weather you would have up there. You're going to be fine.

My current temperature: -23, and it's perfect for a brisk walk.

Mike

[DirectorDave]

I have a couple of gas heaters in the bedroom....but same problem as the coal....not got much left on the gas card.....and i don't want to be stuck in the bedroom all day and night....couple of crofters daughters might persuade me though....although the girlfriend might raise some issues about that (although she is away till Tuesday visiting her mum!)

I have a halogen lamp, but 2 of the bulbs are gone so its a bit useless. The house is about 200 years old....old and drafty!

But spare your sympathies for someone who deserves it......I've got to admit I'm in my element in the winter......would much rather be chilly than too warm.

I have filled the hot water bottle and now have 6 candles on the go so I'm warming up.....and I have procured a trailer load of logs for next week so we should be warm for Christmas.

(I'm about 5 miles north of Dunfermline in the cleish hills Mike)

* -8c here just now.....I'm guessing that is Bikini weather in Canada huh?

[Graham]

Ah heff tie tell ye, mon, that there's no so warrum as the totally naked female forrum, so mah advice to ye is tie get yersel doon tie the local hostelry an put yesel aboot a wee bit, the noo.

An afore ye ask, aye, I'm the worrust for drink.

Graham

[DirectorDave]

If I set off the now I'm sure I could make the pub for last orders, but I really have to watch the pennies being self employed and not being able to work.

And while the females at the pub can pull a decent pint I think thats about all they can pull.

[The Good Michael]

I'll tell you cold, Dave. End of November in Orkney visting SKara Brae with sleet blowing completely sideways at 35 miles an hour and outside temperature at about -10 and me without a hat. If it wasn't for my Aran Island sweater, I would have died. In the town wasn't bad, it was outside the town and off the ocean, so no windbreak.

Cheers,

Mike