Thursday 29 October 2015

Bring on winter, I'm still ready for it

Hello and Good Morning. It is exactly three years ago today when I posted this. It is top of the list for the highest page views ever at 8,553, way more than the second highest at 3505. It's a very short post, I don't know why it has had so many views. If you read the comments which I have copied and pasted you will see that some of them weren't very nice, perhaps that's the reason why people came back for updates. Saying that, not all page views are made by humans. The Bots or Spiders which crawl around the web picking up key words could be to blame, in the same way that spam is mostly generated electronically.

The message three years on is still the same, I wrap up when I get a bit cold. Lots of money saved by not putting the heating on until I absolutely have to, and I am still alive and kicking. An updated photo is below. 

Bring on winter, I'm ready for it.


I am seeing wisps of steam coming from pipes sticking out of houses, a sure sign that the central heating is ticking over nicely filling the place with comforting warm air. I am seeing and smelling smoke coming from chimney pots all around the village as fires are lit to keep the cold at bay. Whatever happened to smokeless zones by the way?  Nothing like that going on in this house, I don't think it's that cold just yet.
But when it does get cold, this is me ready for it. The toweling bath robe goes on over the top of my three teeshirts, two sweatshirts, leggins and jog bottoms. My neck warmer and wrist warmers are fab, so snug. A woolly hat keeps my head warm. And look, I have found an old pair of slippers in the wardrobe which I thought I'd thrown out. Repairs have had to be made to the soles with sticky tape to stop them falling apart, but I will get a bit more wear out of them. Doncha think I look comfy  :o)
Toodle pip

This is me now. The old slippers had to go, I have some big woolly socks, given to me by a friend. I've taken the covers off the furniture as the cats no longer go on there. I made the cushion covers to brighten it up, and I now use the decorative Christmas lights all the year round instead of the big ceiling light, makes the room look cozy.   


I have copied and pasted the comments from three years ago. Please note that you cannot reply to any of the 32 comments, the links don't work. Add your comment to the bottom as normal, if you wish. Have a butchers and see what you think. A few people have moved on, replaced by new readers, but some are still around. Thanks to those who keep coming back. 

32 comments:

  1. You look very cosy.

    We are sitting in front of our wood burner at the moment-in our defence we have never bought wood (all for free) and are trying to dry the washing too (hanging it out on the line made no difference today).

    Sft x
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  2. We had to put the central heating on for an hour to take the chill off. DB has bad blood circulation (caused by his many years of previous smoking). I could make do easily without the heating, but his lordship will not take well meant advice to keep active, moving and to wrap up. Men, stubbern as hell at times and stupid to boot, lol.
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  4. We heat just one room in our home, the lounge. If it's really cold we let DD sleep on the sofa as its the warmest room in the house. One really really cold nights we will all sleep in there together enjoying the warm and snuggling up together.
    x x x
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  5. You look very cosy, hope the cats are tucked up as well x
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  6. Ha ha, love the slippers Ilona:) They look quite slippery though:(
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  7. Hi, just joined your blog I think its great! And yes you do look so cosy, I have been enjoying reading your blog this last week. Have a great day :)
    Kim
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  8. Yeah you're right - its not that cold for us healthy folk ;). We have all been dressed up in layers, dd had her winter hat and fingerless gloves on, and duvets down to watch tv, it was lovely and cosy. We only really felt cold when we sat still. I have been on a communication training course last week which blamed modern central heating for the demise of family relationships. ie family spread out into different rooms therefore not spending time together. Not sure but it made me think.

    Have a lovely evening.
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  9. I think you should be Government. You can get us out of this mess with common ideas.
    I will vote for you.

    Dianne - Hereford
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  10. We have our wood stove on, but I think the heating will be on by the end of the week, as my dh feels the cold something rotten.

    Gill in Canada
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  11. Budge up,I'm joining you with a hot water bottle and a good book.
    Jane x
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  12. So do you wear your baby doll nightie on top of all the warm stuff? :-)
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  13. You sure thats not two cats wrapped round your feet? lol. Looking very snug there Ilona. Try and get a teddy fleece blanket if you can find one in a charity shop. They are really thick and soft and ohhh so warm.

    I was at Donna Nook today looking at the seals coming ashore to birth their pups. Missed one birth by minutes. It was absolutely bitter cold so I'm enjoying a cosy evening. Keep warm.
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  14. I usually have on that many garments. I cannot handle the shoes, though. I would trip and fall! I have no here and one window out.
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  16. Hehe, that's like looking in a mirror tonight! I am wearing thick socks and boots, a jumper with the hood up, as well as the boyfriend's dressing gown (his is longer than mine!).

    I really don't want to put the heating on for another month at least! You're further North than me though! You're all hard up there! :)
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  17. The slippers look huge--are they Garfield slippers?
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  18. Are you keeping your furniture warm too or expecting the decorators to arrive?

    In my opinion you're taking frugality to the point of being (and looking) ridiculous. Do you get many visitors - friends popping round for a cuppa? No I thought not.

    When I was a child there was a woman in our street who looked and acted like you, she was known for being odd. When she died aged 66 she had nearly a million pounds in the bank, hadn't left a will, no relatives. You can guess where her money ended up.

    There are no pockets in shrouds Ilona! Heat the room you're in and stop being so ridiculous.
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    Replies



    1. Saddo, no wonder you're anonymous, bore off!
      Delete

  19. You look as snug as the proverbial bug. Don't want to dignify anonymous with a reply - he or she is probably just a troll anyway, but you don't look ridiculous. Someone with a sense of humour, definitely. Slightly eccentric, maybe. But who wants to be ordinary, common or boring.

    Clearly anonymous hasn't read your blog much, and doesn't know your savings enables you to travel and let you stop working a daily, grinding job and pay for your own house. You are an inspiration. I would love to do some of your walks and trips around England. Rug up, I say. (Except it is more do as I say, not do as I do. Sorry, Ilona, I'm A Central Heater Lover. And living in Australis, you'd probably think I'm mad to need it. In my defence, we don't have air conditioning like most do here because I don't mind the heat but can't stand being cold.)
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  20. Two years ago we invested in a really good quality high tog rating duvet and turned the heating off in the bedroom. Not only do we seem to sleep better in an unheated room but we save money too. We also turned the heating down quite a bit throughout the rest of the house and although we don't go as far as the woolly hat, we do snuggle up in blankets with hot water bottles to watch tv in the evening. Of course if we had visitors we would turn the heating up for them but the savings we have made by just these little changes (which have not really been a hardship) has been significant. Given the choice between spending money on something I really enjoy or giving it to British Gas... well that's a no-brainer and anonymous is clearly talking out of her proverbial!
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  21. Do be careful on the stairs in those slippers - we don't want you sliding down and hitting your head do we?
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  22. Don't fall over :) You look well insulated indeed
    Twiggy x
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  23. I like much of what you write about, I have made a simple living choice myself and could afford to not work following redundancy at 53. I know the difference between wants and needs and prefer my pets to consumerism. I do draw the line at living a cheerless comfortless life. Your photo made me sad.That is your home and it looks so cheerless. I had a vision of you on a hospital trolley with a foot or worse injury, frozen to the core. There is no merit in making a virtue from using grubby ancient makeup and eating wierd weird food combinations. Everyday life counts and eating from a pan is the pits.Employ some grace in day to day life.

    Anna
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  24. Anna why do you want MQ to live a life just like you? Now that is weird.

    Grace: "A characteristic or quality pleasing for its charm or refinement". Please re-read your post and take time to consider your own advice. To insult someone's home is the height of bad manners in my book.
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  25. Your definiton supports what I'm suggesting.I didn't criticise Illonas home,just the extreme keep warm strategy. I can see Ilona has a lovely home in a gorgeous area and she is living how she wants. It just seems cheerless and I would be devastated if anyone in my family sat like that and ate from a pan. I think you would agree its small comforts that make life worthwhile.
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    1. I'd sit like that any day if it meant working less and having more to look forward to. As ilhona lives alone she can eat out of what receptacle she likes. It really is a state of mind. If she is not depressed with how she lives who are we to judge. There are millions of people in this world who would class ilhona as very rich indeed. You really should know that anyway.
      Delete

  26. I guess Ilona can do as she damn well pleases.We all live our lives as we see fit so why should we criticise other people?
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  27. Hi Ilona, I agree with some of the comments above, you can do what you blinking well like in your own home. If you want to wear layers of clothes to keep warm so as to avoid the expense of putting the heating on then carry on. I do it, I've not really put heating on much either, occasional day when it has been frosty out but so long as I've got a few layers on and my feet are warm, then I'm not bothered. I keep telling the kids that when I was a bairn, we had single glazing and inches of frost on the window, no central heating and used to get dressed in bed, as you could see your breath it was so cold. I tell them to put their dressing gown on and slippers and they'll be fine. You are doing no harm to anyone doing what you do. I bet the majority of these anonymous posters who haven't got anything nice to say are typing their reply on a computer or phone, paid for my Bank of Mam and Dad, and are sitting in a nice warm house paid for by Bank of Mam and Dad. Lets see what happens when they have to fund their own lifestyles, I bet they'll either come back to your blog for moneysaving tips or will have the bailiffs at the door due to the debt they have racked up. Will check in over weekend to see rest of your blog entries, just been busy. Cheers for now, Christy.
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  28. Now we see why our female ancestors wore six petticoats under their dresses! It was to keep warm! I can't stand the extremes of either cold or heat, so during the winter, our cottage's one wall gas furnace gets turned up to 70-72 degrees F. and turned down at night to 60 degrees. I wear felt boots to keep my feet warm and ankles warm and have spot heaters turned on when I work in our bedroom. When I watch television at night, I have a velour blanket covering me. It keeps me warmer than the crocheted afgans my grandmother made for my hope chest before I married.
    There's a saying, "Different strokes for different folks." How boring would our world be if God hadn't created all kinds of people with different gifts to share with each other! I say, "little minds suck sour grapes" and make everyone around them miserable. Thank you for sharing your life with us. I see your humor and it encourages me to keep putting one foot in front of the other! Blessing!

Are you ready for Winter? Catch you soon. Toodle pip.
Ilona xxxxxxx





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29 comments:

  1. Winkel's Crazy Ideas29 October 2015 at 10:55

    I had to smile, you do look snug and cosy. I don't think I could handle those huge slippers though (would trip ;) ). I love my wood burner and shut the doors to unheated rooms. Cosy and warm in a small part of the house, that is how I like it. In Norway we have something called super underwear. It is very thin and soft; wool tights and top, to go under regular clothes. Keep warm and enjoy winter and cold the way that suits you best. Love your craft projects by the way, you make some lovely things. Pam

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  2. Nanny Anny29 October 2015 at 13:44

    You look very cozy, Ilona .... I like those socks! I'm sure you will know when you are cold enough to turn some heat on. Wearing layers is the best way to keep warm and its easy to add more or remove some to suit the temperature. Keep on keeping on ... Cheers, Nanny Anny in Canada

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  3. Anonymous29 October 2015 at 14:48

    I remember that first post in 2012 ! Your new photo shows all you have done to make your room look nice and cosy, much cheerier all around. You look so contented and comfortable. Stay warm. JanF

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  4. phyllis weaving29 October 2015 at 15:12

    it was 21 degrees in my sitting room last night, 19 degrees this morning. this was with no heating on at all yesterday. we have had the log burner on 4 out of 7 days. we never have heating on upstairs as it makes sleeping a problem for my hubby and me. but king size duvet on the double bed keeps us cosy.

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  5. Anonymous29 October 2015 at 16:39

    I remember that post. Was it really 3 years ago?!! I remember some of the mean comments upset me a bit at the time but looking back it was actually funny. What people get their knickers in a twist about (including me)! Glad you are still alive and still keeping warm. In honesty you don't look much different to us on a late autumnal evening, wrapped up watching tv. I don't like central heating much so put it off for as long as possible. Debbie.

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  6. Bless29 October 2015 at 16:41

    Good to see that you are well prepared for the winter and so warm and cozy. :) I must admit I like to turn on the heater when it gets colder, but I happily go without air conditioning in the summer (100F+ is not uncommon here in So. Calif.). Each to her own, right?

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  7. SandyExpat29 October 2015 at 17:16

    Laughed when I read "have a butchers" although I grew up in England never heard such a phrase. Something similar I did hear "was have a gander" which means about the same.

    I love your furniture without the covers and you look nice and comfy/warm. You do not seem to age. Same lovely smile.

    I laughed at some of the comments from 3 years ago and interesting how people wanted to tell you how you should live. You are certainly a good sport.

    Hugs and stay warms.

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  8. Anonymous29 October 2015 at 17:32

    I feel sorry for you. A pension coming in, a new car...........and getting dressed up like that. Think of the people who can't afford the heating. Think of those getting food from a food bank. A

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  9. Meanqueen29 October 2015 at 17:49

    Aye up, the troll is back, ha ha.

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  10. Anonymous29 October 2015 at 17:56

    Ooolala nice cosy and warm. We do not have our heating on yet UK...nor does my 72 year old mum! Lots of good old fashioned layers....lucky us! Ginny x


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  11. Jayne29 October 2015 at 18:01

    Another thing about keeping the home cool - being cool raises the metabolism,as your body works hard to keep warm so it is much more healthy, you are less likely to catch viruses. Also, keeping the home too warm is bad for the heart, again because your body is doing the work of keeping you warm, rather than rely on heating. No wonder you are so flippin healthy!

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  12. Destemona29 October 2015 at 18:04

    Hi.Your looking alive,happy,healthy,cozy/comfy three years ago and still do today.It really is all about perception isn't it?Love the pretty colourful slipper socks,patchwork cushions and candle holder.Since the sun is shining I have the furnace off right now,and maybe have a fire later on.Like the Norwegians, most Canadians in the colder regions wear long,thermal underwear.|Very interesting reading today,thank you for being you,D.

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  13. Pam29 October 2015 at 18:25

    More power to your elbow Ilona, you do what you like. I don't give a jot what people think. I am comfortable in my skin and it looks as though you are also.

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  14. Cheryl29 October 2015 at 18:32

    Don't understand why others care what you wear, how much money you will have when you pass or if and when you turn your heat on. I set our home at 60° (live in USA) and have a space heater in the living room. Any lower and my home gets too cold, a brick home, and the furnace runs for hours. I think you are of the age you know what you want to spend your money on. Good luck with the crazies. Cheryl

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  15. momsav29 October 2015 at 20:15

    You look happy and comfortable. We should all be so lucky.
    I figure if someone is being ugly, it's because they want you to be the same; miserable. Good for you, following your own path. We're all the same, yet we're all different.

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  16. Frugal in Bucks29 October 2015 at 21:36

    ha ha, a troll. How funny but I always feel sorry for them, not being brave enough to put their name. Hey, troll, what does the A you put at the end stand for? I reckon I know!

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  17. Unknown29 October 2015 at 23:33

    You live as you choose. The government gives you £200 fuel allowance for cold months, you choose not to spend it on heat, wish it was vouchers for heat and not hard cash!.
    I have seen so many people ill and even die due to cold, and effects of , crying at yearly influx of people who suffer to buy Christmas presents with fuel allowance :(
    P

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  18. annie29 October 2015 at 23:37

    You still are smiling!
    I could not wear those big shoes, I'd trip on them for sure.
    I use layers, but the house is still cold.
    I think the 2nd. photo shows what a nice home you have and the crafts are wonderful!
    Carry on, I really enjoy your posts!

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  19. Barbara M.29 October 2015 at 23:43

    I love your colorful slipper socks.

    The one thing I wonder about when you use minimal heat is how Rocky and the cats stay warm. I'm sure that you have cozy beds for them. When I lived in the northern U.S. a friend's mother had her cat stay in the unheated garage and fed him cottage cheese to keep him warm. I think that was an old wives tale but she grew up on a farm and said that is always what they fed outdoor cats in winter. My cat is a total wimp in winter even though I live in a warm climate.

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  20. Val30 October 2015 at 00:25

    You look so snug and toasty there Ilona, the way I love to be in winter. I grew up in the N.E. of England, home looking out over the North Sea ~ wild, freezing, snowed in winters and no such thing as central heating. We all dressed as you are in your photos and I still do.
    Hate central heating, so unhealthy. Nothing beats snuggling down in warm layers, nestled in blankets surrounded by our kitties xx

    Ps......if your troll ever visits Southern Germany, she can pay good money to have her meal brought to her table in the same pan it was cooked in, nothing unusual in some parts.

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  21. Janice30 October 2015 at 00:40

    Isn't it interesting that all the nasty comments are always hiding behind 'anonymous'. I think you are perfectly happy in your own skin and in your way of life. Good for you!

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  22. Unknown30 October 2015 at 02:34

    Ha ha! Loved it! Hat in doors. Going to put on a second sweater and bathrobe as I turn down the heat!

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  23. Anonymous30 October 2015 at 02:37

    I do love your blog, the thing I love the most is its honest; Jo

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  24. Quinn30 October 2015 at 03:33

    I'm just curious about one thing: the cats no longer go on the furniture? How did that happen? Did they agree to some sort of trade? Tricky negotiations! ;)
    By the way, Ilona, I want to say thanks again for my lovely designer shopping bag, which I use every time I go for groceries. It's the only bag I use for canned food without worrying about a seam blowing out! :)

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  25. Anonymous30 October 2015 at 05:11

    All frugal living is about choosing to spend less on what doesn't matter as much to you, so that you can spend on what really matters to you. I had no problem seeing Ilona in her "getting ready for winter gear". The point here is that she chooses what is important to her, and things that she doesn't choose are not necessarily forced upon her. Here in northern Canada, the winter daytime average temperature is -10 to -20 degrees Celsius, with long stretches of -35 to -40 degrees C. not being uncommon. We have a large wood burning stove. My husband and I are in our 50's. we could have gas heat, electric heat, or even have someone deliver firewood at an expensive rate. We CHOOSE to gather the firewood ourselves over a 3 or 4 week period, and save a bundle. People tell us that at our age, we should really learn to relax and enjoy life. My brother bragged that when it was cold, he just turned up the thermostat. He also worked for several years away from home to pay for that privilege. When it gets cold here, we put another log on the fire, and watch everyone leave for work in the cold and dark, to pay for the heat in a house that no one is in all day. Everyone chooses what is best for them. Thanks for all the tips and insights, Ilona. Mary Jane in Canada.

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  26. Simplesista30 October 2015 at 06:58

    Hi,Ilona! No heating on here yet either. It's wet in Yorkshire but not especially cold. I think you are wise enough to know when you do or do not need the heating on, what's it got to do with anybody else? My mum puts the gas heating on for an hour or so in the evenings now but no central heating yet. Your furniture looks great, I love the cushions.

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  27. Meanqueen30 October 2015 at 11:02

    Test

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  28. Meanqueen30 October 2015 at 11:11

    Something strange going on here, it's not letting me answer a question below the readers comment.

    Quinn, My cats have the whole of the house to roam around. I am often looking for them in their favourite places, only to find them missing because they have found another favourite place. Mayze can currently be found in the recycled paper box in the office, or in a basket on the kitchen worktop. She shouldn't be there, but I'll leave her to it because she will find somewhere else to move on to. Heidi likes the top of the fridge or my fabric stash in the spare room. They go where they like, I have to fit in with them and move things around, ha ha.

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  29. Kath30 October 2015 at 20:10

    Blimey was that really 3 years ago? As you say, you've survived :-)
    and you're fit and healthy, so nothing wrong with your winter preparations, obviously!



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