The weather is starting to chill now, but what we face here in the UK seems nothing compared to what I’m seeing on the TV about the United States. I have no idea what a polar vortex is, but it can’t be good when temperatures are dropping like a stone and the snow is piling up.

We have had a few bad winters here. 1947 was the worst, followed by 1963 and 2010 was heading that way but then it eased up. I can’t imagine what it must feel like to live with the fearsome conditions some of you face each winter.

Having said that, heating the cottage with just the firebox on the range and no mains back-up made you very inventive at keeping the heat in.

Here are a few suggestions:

• Hang thick curtains inside external doors to stop draughts. I have even used spare quilts in really cold weather.
• If you have pretty, decorative curtains consider hanging another pair to stop heat loss through the windows. You can put them in the window recess or outside of the current pair, it doesn’t matter a bit as long as the heat is not lost through he glass.
• Use a hot water bottle to warm up the beds before you get into them. Wrap nightwear around the bottle so you have warm clothes to put on.
• Make sure all access to the roof is blocked or the rising heat from the house will be lost.
• If it is too cold upstairs use the fact that heat rises by leaving a door slightly open to take the worst of the chill off the bedrooms.
• Make sure you are warm before you go to bed otherwise it will take an age to get to the point where you can sleep.
• Leave the oven door open after cooking so the heat comes out into the kitchen.
• Make sure to have enough warm food and drinks to help keep you snug from the inside out.
• If the bedrooms are especially cold let children sleep together for extra warmth.
• Never go to bed directly after a bath or shower if your hair is wet. Wet hair and cold air are a very bad combination and will chill you very fast.
• It sounds a little silly to say it – but wear extra clothes. A sweater makes a massive difference.

I hope this has been a little bit of use, Tess, though I’m sure that with the weather you have to encounter, you could teach me a thing or two.

Take care dear,

Regards,

Maud