Has anyone dared to turn their heating on yet?

Temp in the house was 14° this morning and there was no sunshine, so I'm afraid I gave in and switched it in for one hour. I'm cross at having to do so though. I live on top of a hill on the east coast of Scotland, though, and when the wind comes out of the north-east it can be quite cold perishing!

28 degrees in our conservatory right now. It was 18 last night and colder upstairs.

There is no chance of me putting on heating before November,I close over my lounge curtains when it gets dusky and put on my teddy dressing gown its so cosy and warm I still have my bedroom window open all winter as I can't sleep in a hot room.

I took the dog out this morning for an early walk and was glad I put my 'big coat' on. A coolness in the air down by the Lough and now the rains on. The heating will remain off though until it gets really chilly.

I'm the only one who really gets cold and my electric blanket is only 2p an hour so I use that

Don't dare not to, as DH has pneumonia!

Heating is lower than it would have been last year, but assuredly turned on in the sitting room, where he is and the bedroom heating will go on at dark this evening.

Ours hasn’t been on yet, though it’s definitely cooler. We have closed the windows and I’ve been wearing warmer clothes . This morning Mr. B has actually put his slipper boots on so now I know the weather is turning

Yesterday I received an email from EDF advising me of the October increase, and I’m relieved to see that the direct debit increase I made in July will cover it. We’re still going to be trying to cut our fuel consumption and looking for ‘greener’ ways to do things.

Blondiescot

karmalady

Blondie, how do you think people managed in the 40s and 50s? They cut the cloth accordingly and wrapped up better, made hot soups etc and were frugal in their shopping, always preparing a meal from scratch with no choices for fussy individuals. We went to bed with a coat on the top and socks on our feet and a small paraffin heater in the outside lav and one coal fire in one room in the house

JE yes I agree about the good financial help for energy, applicable to everyone

I'm perfectly well aware of that, thank you very much. I remember the paraffin heaters too and having to cope with my bedroom window being iced up on the inside and outside throughout my childhood.
But just because we suffered that like, does it mean we should want people to do the same now? Should we not have made some progress since then?
I'm sensing a general lack of empathy and compassion from some people on here. There are people who have cut back on everything they can possibly cut back on and are genuinely terrified of how they are going to cope this winter.

I have to agree Blondiescot there is no virtue in being driven back to the 40s and 50s. Sharing what we are doing is okay, but I have no wish whatsoever for it to continue and I imagine it will wear thin for many very quickly.

My biggest worry is not staying warm. I think I will be okay for that this winter (can you see my stiff upper lip borrowed from wartime? ). I am concerned about power cuts and trying to work out what I can do to prepare for that.

Yogitree
The way you are living isn’t safe. I have gone into hypothermia without knowing what was happening. The dangerous part of it, is, it’s a very pleasant feeling. You will just go to sleep
In your situation I would have my heating on and tell the energy company to do their worst.
As a pensioner they can’t turn you off from October 1st to March 31st.

Chestnut

I think much depends on how warm our body heating is, some are chilly mortals and other people seem to generate their own heat. That will make a huge difference in whether you feel you need to heat your home or not, and what temperature you set your heating thermostat. Also whether you are active or not, as exercise keeps you warm. Unfortunately most older folk spend a good deal of time sitting and getting chilly, which is why those electric heated pads are so good.

A warm man can be useful. Why do men tend to be warmer than women I wonder?

After hearing about the fleece lined vests, I will have to get some for the comfort value if not the warmth. You may like to know, although it's much more mundane, that you can get thermal socks. Those, and a hot water bottle with a fleece lined pocket you can tuck your feet into help my neuropathy affected feet.

And for anyone who doesn't think there are people out there genuinely struggling, read this and weep:
www.heraldscotland.com/politics/22162491.neil-mackays-big-read-scots-parents-starving-feed-children/

karmalady

Blondie, how do you think people managed in the 40s and 50s? They cut the cloth accordingly and wrapped up better, made hot soups etc and were frugal in their shopping, always preparing a meal from scratch with no choices for fussy individuals. We went to bed with a coat on the top and socks on our feet and a small paraffin heater in the outside lav and one coal fire in one room in the house

JE yes I agree about the good financial help for energy, applicable to everyone

I'm perfectly well aware of that, thank you very much. I remember the paraffin heaters too and having to cope with my bedroom window being iced up on the inside and outside throughout my childhood.
But just because we suffered that like, does it mean we should want people to do the same now? Should we not have made some progress since then?
I'm sensing a general lack of empathy and compassion from some people on here. There are people who have cut back on everything they can possibly cut back on and are genuinely terrified of how they are going to cope this winter.

Good idea, Chestnut to just put the heating on low, to take the worst of the chill out of the air. I must admit I cheated this morning, - the bathroom was so cold that I put a fan heater on in there for ten minutes before my shower.

That should of course say unheated rather than I heated!!!

Mine should be on both morning and evening now - the thermostat is set to trigger it on when the temperature indoors goes below 17.5. This morning at 8am the house was 16.5 degrees and I heard the heating click on (still in bed)
However, OH is home (he’s retired from working abroad) and when he’s heard it switching on he turns it off! We can both control it from our phones.
He’s quite happy wearing fleeces and woolly hats around the house.
I fear we may be having a heated (or should that be I heated?) “discussion” about it in the next few weeks! ?

On Friday I was wearing my bikini (not a good look but on our wee boat only OH sees me). Woke on Saturday to a distinctly chilly dawn. It must have been very cold during the night but neither of us had noticed. The boat has no insulation whatsoever but the water temperature was 17C causing a beautiful mist to hang over the Loch.
We’re home now and there is an autumnal feel. We always have a 4.5 duvet on but as I intend to cut down on the heating because of the price increases I have looked out the winter weight one which is 10 years old and never been on the bed.
I am going to air it in the sunshine but doubt it will go on for a month or two yet.

No.
I've been miserable for weeks its so cold in my house. I'm already wearing my winter clothes and have a blanket and hot water bottle to help when I'm watching TV.
Gloves and scarf next.

I think much depends on how warm our body heating is, some are chilly mortals and other people seem to generate their own heat. That will make a huge difference in whether you feel you need to heat your home or not, and what temperature you set your heating thermostat. Also whether you are active or not, as exercise keeps you warm. Unfortunately most older folk spend a good deal of time sitting and getting chilly, which is why those electric heated pads are so good.

It is Caleo, not too heavy but nice and warm. Thats terrible yogitree that you are having to wear your gloves. We are lucky that we live in the fens so not that cold here yet. Although if l could live anywhere it would be Scotland.
It shouldn't be this way that we should be anxious over whether we should have the heating on or not.

Just adding that I had to wear fingerless mitts to read yesterday afternoon as it was so cold!

I'm in Scotland and we could do with it on but resisting and only using it in the evenings, and only at 18 degrees. I have a cosy waffle blanket that goes round me too as does DH (and he has the dog to cuddle too). There's already been a hint of frost in the air here.

Maya, isn't wool just the very best !

I remind myself that old people don't feel the cold sometimes until too late, and so I need to prevent myself becoming cold by reasonable clothing and even space heating. It is an interesting challenge though.

No heating on here. I'm holding out for as long as possible. We are having a new boiler fitted hopefully in the next 3 to 4 weeks dependant on DH health. Our present boiler , a Valliant, was fitted in 1984.
I have purchased a heated throw, a warmer quilt and have wool throws.
I also keep telling myself the dog doesn't like it hot in the house so he will be happy.

I feel the same as Karmalady. My experiences as a child during the war, at a boarding school, early married life on a RAF caravan site, and camping in a tent all gave me a good education in frugality and coping with the cold and wet.

I am feeling anxious that one gran's husband wanted to turn the heating on instead of wearing warm clothing. That makes me realise that there are such inexperienced people , and that they have to be taught otherwise.