Has anyone dared to turn their heating on yet?

No, I won’t be for a long time yet either, but the house is definitely cold in the mornings/evenings.

I feel for those with asthma and bad lungs, unheated homes are so dangerous sadly for so many.

I live in south Oxfordshire and I am chilly mortal and the weather has not got cool enough for either of us to even to begin to feel cool, still less cold at home. The CH thermostats are set at 18.5 and the heating has yet to switch on, even first thing in the morning.

I am wearing a light summer dress with a cardigan and went out shopping around 9.00am and needed no more.

Where are all the parts of the country where the weather is so much colder. Our house is very old and listed so our insulation levels are not up to modern standards.

We haven't had the central heating on yet, but I did treat us to the cosy gas fire on Monday morning while we settled down to watch the funeral with my Dad.
Turned it down and then off after a while though when the sun came round onto the lounge window.

I have been switching my heated towel rail on before my shower in the morning recently as well.
And wearing my winter pyjamas already...

I can't say I've felt cold yet and ours hasn't come on it's set at 18C. DH insists it's staying off until November. The cost of electricity bothers me more than the gas. I will try not to use the tumble drier but with it getting darker we are bound to use more electricity.

two living room top vents closed this morning and a long draught excluder taken out of the hall cupboard and laid down by the french doors. Will keep those vents closed here as the house is airy anyway but they will have to be opened when the stove is on. Still draughty around my ankles. Socks next

Got soaked going to and from my craft group and was freezing so had my heating on for 2 hours. Luckily living in a bungalow it keeps warm after heating switched on. But don't want to put it on again until mid October if I can help it. Declared it was winter this week vest ,thick tights and winter pj tops back on. Had to put my 10.5 duvet on with fleece on top. When I change the bed at the end of the month will join my all seasons duvet back together. Washing up my summer coats the weekend to put away.

After the summer we had think it's going to be a very cold winter this year.

Doesn’t anyone use hot water bottles when sitting on chilly nights such a cheap form of heat ?‍?

That potential very cold winter ahead whiff, could well be and the wise ones prepare for the worst and hope for the best

Well, it's a chilly start to the day up here in south-east Scotland. Definite nip in the air today!

It is chilly morning here in North Devon but my heating is yet to kick in and thermostat is set at 15°…

After yesterday’s cold and wet, this morning in the NW is fine, sunny and warm enough to hang washing out in my pj’s. The damp on the clothes is already evaporating in clouds of steam.

Im arthritic so the one thing I will not economise on is heating. No amount of woolly sweaters will make me feel less miserable if I am cold. Having said that I mainly heat just one room. I dont have heating on in the bedroom no matter how cold it gets.

Which way your house faces makes such a difference. Our North facing living room is so cold I sat working in my Oodie.
Sitting in the South facing dining room is warmer, even with the patio doors open so the dog can play in the garden.
We might have to change rooms this winter to save on heating.

That makes a lot of sense mollygo. I have already planned for that `what if` if I want to be cosy in one small room upstairs. I have an easy chair in there, radio and other comforts and also a spinning wheel. There is a low window and a beautiful view over old rickety red roofs and cottage gardens. Better than trying to maintain heat in a much bigger room with a draught around my ankles

I just read that we could have 10 hour power outages this winter. ok, planning for the worst: small cosy room, battery operated radio and work lights powered by makita batteries. Another battery was bought last month so I now have enough. Some heat provided in that small room by candle (s). Thermos flasks will be used for hot drinks and sandwiches packed ready to eat. Fridge and freezer will be fine, unopened

BlueBelle

Doesn’t anyone use hot water bottles when sitting on chilly nights such a cheap form of heat ?‍?

Hot barley bags for me, microwavable.

It was not that cold this morning, but damp and miserable, so got the wood burner on for a bit to lift the mood. Sun's out now.

I've just been getting the last of the Vitmin D in the garden in the sunshine

Mollygo

Which way your house faces makes such a difference. Our North facing living room is so cold I sat working in my Oodie.
Sitting in the South facing dining room is warmer, even with the patio doors open so the dog can play in the garden.
We might have to change rooms this winter to save on heating.

Indeed.

We change rooms/chairs to sit, read, computer work on many days. The best rooms face South in winter, north in summer.

It was 14, chilly, and rainy today, even the dogs preferred inside.

Kind people kept giving me lovely large candles which I very rarely light.
Perhaps they'll come in useful this winter.

The best rooms face South in winter, north in summer.

None of ours face North or South! ?

Callistemon21

^The best rooms face South in winter, north in summer^.

None of ours face North or South! ?

Which direction do your rooms face?

I guess there are other choices than N or S - SE and SW are also good in winter, to me SW is preferable, given no choice of South.

I've reversed my summer heatwave regime now.
Back then I was closing all the curtains to keep the sum out, but now I'm opening them the minute the sun is on the windows then closing the upstairs ones as they yo into the shade again.

We've been lucky so far in this part of northants, as there has been some sun almost every day, and the house temperature hasn't dropped below 20° yet.
Sadly, I think that might end this coming week, with cooler daytime temperatures forecast.

East and West, Norah

Callistemon21

East and West, Norah

In our home corner rooms technically face 2 directions. Some room is always SW to my way of thinking.

I may be wrong, of course.

I think early next week I’ll give in, it’s definitely cooler today, not too bad with the sun, but clouding over, plus the wind, a definite brrrr.
Electric blanket is going on the bed tomorrow.