Autumn....brrrr!
By MsTickle
@MsTickle (25180)
Australia
April 13, 2008 7:28pm CST
It's starting to get cooler down here in Australia. I've been turning on the heater in the bathroom when I bathe and also the one next to me when it's cool in the mornings as I type away at myLot.
I have a wood burning heater in here but it's not yet installed properly. I worry about pollution when I burn wood and I worry about taking the wood fom the bush. When I turn on the stove to cook tea it warms up that living area beautifully.
I have a heat pad in my water bed which is now switched on low and I have a radient heater for the lounge room which is the coldest room in the house...I can close the door when I have the heater on. I have an oil heater in the office and if I have it right up close it's good.
I always dress warmly with a jacket and mittens and ugg boots so I only have to turn things on low...can't afford excessive power bills.
How do you choose to heat your home and be warm in the cooler months?
15 people like this
25 responses
@WhatsHerName (2716)
• United States
14 Apr 08
Happy Autumn to you!
Spring is here for us on the other side of the world and I couldn't be happier.
Do your leaves change color there?
3 people like this
@WhatsHerName (2716)
• United States
15 Apr 08
Oh sorry, I'm staying with my son right now, he heats with gas. I would much rather heat with wood or pellets or corn or something but he won't let me put a wood stove in here.
I think the landlord who is also my boss would get pretty upset if I started cutting down trees and making a mess of his new carpet too.
But if I had my way I'd have my computer next to a wood burning stove I could cook on, all winter long...
1 person likes this
@missbdoll (1165)
• Australia
14 Apr 08
I've got gas heating, A gas heater in my lounge room.As there are no doors between my lounge, dinning and kitchen it heats half the house.I've got electric heaters I could use in other parts of the house, but I usualy donn't.So the bedroom is a bit cold.The living area of the house gets so cozy, I've often got chaned in my lounge room.
@GardenGerty (169474)
• United States
14 Apr 08
I have natural gas heat. I have disconnected it upstairs, because I cannot get the thermostat to work, and I have not had the money to do so professionally. No heat no a/c upstairs. That is okay, as I only sleep upstairs, and I have an electric bed warmer and lots of blankets if I need them. I have small electric space heaters if I need them. I like to keep the house on the cool side and wear plenty of clothing. I find that the area where my desktop is is terribly chilly. It must be in a drafty area.
2 people like this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
14 Apr 08
At least your power bills will be down and you are certainly conserving energy. Good for you. 
Maybe you can block up some holes to stop the drafts. Use a lit candle to see where the drafts are coming from.
BTW...we spell it draught down here...weird eh?
Maybe you can block up some holes to stop the drafts. Use a lit candle to see where the drafts are coming from.
BTW...we spell it draught down here...weird eh?1 person likes this
@Darkwing (21583)
•
14 Apr 08
I have storage heaters, which heat up during the "saving" hours, and expel heat all day, plus I have an open fire in the living room. When I light this fire, I put a light layer of coal on, just to hold the heat and keep it going, and from then, I stack it up with logs. I love a log fire... and sometimes I will put cones on it, as they create a nice pine smell as well.
Brightest Blessings, my dear friend. Stay warm! x
@Darkwing (21583)
•
23 Apr 08
Yes, it's lovely here at the moment. Not too warm, but just nice enough to be able to go out in a short sleeved garment. It's sunny and calm. We had a little rain this morning, but nothing to speak of... just an April shower. I've restarted my diet as I now have new scales and that, coupled with the weather has resulted in my leg feeling much, much better. So, soon, I will be walking.
I noticed on Sunday, when I went to my Son's, all the catkins dangling from the trees and the new foliage which has opened a lot in the past two weeks. We're becoming very "green" now, with lots of pretty flowers opening out. I feel the need to walk soon, and if the weather's ok next week, I shall be out either walking or lounging in my garden for a bit. 
@Jemina (5770)
•
23 Apr 08
Power bills do have to surge during the cold seasons. Her ein the UK it's Spring time and it was still snowing in the previous days. I wish to have the heater on all the time but of course it's not possible as electricity is very expensive in this country. I just put on layers of socks, pants, and jackets to keep myself warm.
1 person likes this
@Jemina (5770)
•
24 Apr 08
Ha ha..I heard what you said. 
When I go under the duvet I feel hot I want to take off all my clothes. But when I rise up from the bed to go to pee I need to put on a jacket first.
Today, April 24, there was a dark cloud above the house but over there was clear. It rained a bit and now the sun is out.
Weathers are so unpredictable.
When I go under the duvet I feel hot I want to take off all my clothes. But when I rise up from the bed to go to pee I need to put on a jacket first.
Today, April 24, there was a dark cloud above the house but over there was clear. It rained a bit and now the sun is out.
Weathers are so unpredictable.@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
24 Apr 08
Today I became cold so I put a jacket on. I went outside and it was cloudy but warm and still comfy with the jacket on. A short time later I was feeling hot and so I took the jacket off. Soon I was cold again....and so it goes on. Ridiculous really....
@penny64 (1106)
• Australia
26 Apr 08
I'm also in Australia and just started a similar discussion, which is how I found yours! There are some good ideas here, thank you and all your contributors. It has just turned cold, hasn't it? We don't have a wood burning heater - we're stuck just with the electric one, and it's hopeless. I end up just curling up with a hot water bag and a blanket and getting nothing done.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
29 Apr 08
Hi Penny *waves* My wood burning heater isn't properly installed and I don't know what it will be like...I'm not holding my breath either as my helper always has more important things to do. I hope it's not too hot and stuffy...I cant stand hot stuffy rooms in winter.
I put a jacket on, with pockets, and go out into the sun. It's lovely when it's not so windy.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
22 Apr 08
It is so weird how we are just getting over winter and moving into warmer weather and that you are just moving into cooler weather. But when we need heat we heat mainly with the kerosene heater unless we are out then it is either nothing and we just get cold or we turn the electric stove on for a few. There were many times this past winter that we didn't have heat due to the raising prices of fuels and kerosene which is over $4 a gallon right now.
1 person likes this
@Cajunhellcat (2073)
• United States
17 Apr 08
We use central air and heat here in the swamp of Louisiana ya can't like with out air here
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
17 Apr 08
I am in Canada, it it gets really cold here. I have electrical heating in every room of the house, and I rent. We have to put plastic on the windows to keep the draft out and the cellar is right underneath us, but we are told that we will the landlord will heat the cellar this winter and so the floors should be warmer that way.
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13138)
• United States
14 Apr 08
Send some of that cooler weather here ok? It's getting warm in this area although yesterday and today are very comfortable. We just left the winter months and we have a central electric heater with our a/c unit. Thankfully we don't have to use it too often so our winter bills aren't too bad. It's our summer bills that get horrific due to the a/c but it's so hot here we don't have much of a choice.
Now when I lived in Michigan we had an oil furnace and that heated the whole house. We also had a couple of fireplaces. I miss those and would love to have one again. They are great at warming an area that's for sure.
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13138)
• United States
23 Apr 08
Turning it on is costly but the lower you set the temperature the more it turns on so that increases the bills. So far we are surviving on just fans but I doubt it will last far into May for it. At least we didn't have to turn on the a/c in March this year.
@abbey19 (3106)
• Gold Coast, Australia
16 Apr 08
Up here in Queensland it's still warm during the day - it was 28 yesterday in my part of the Gold Coast, but it felt hotter. I was looking after my baby granddaughter and she was very uncomfortable with the heat, so I had to put the fan on when I put her down for a sleep.
When we get cold days in winter, I put the a/c on heat and it warms up the family room and the kitchen and dining room. Our lounge room is very cold in winter so we tend not to use it. We have a convection heater in the bedroom which we put on an hour before we go to bed, just to take the chill of the room, and also first thing in the morning.
I wear warm clothing and ugg boots when I'm on my computer in the evenings, as it's very cold in there and I don't want to go to the expense of heating it. If it's really cold, I have a hot water bottle at my feet, hehe! Yes - it does get that cold in Queensland winters!! 
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
23 Apr 08
I used to live in Qld. Moved back to NSW in 2003. It could get very chilly and also very humid. Here in the bush it's more a dry heat.
When I was living in Qld, I woukd have to have shoes on when it was cold and sit really close to a little bar heater. It was a big open plan house and no way could we heat it. We woulkd lie under blankets to watch TV.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Apr 08
That's right...you're being in Australia the weather is opposite...while you're getting colder there, we're getting warmer and I really don't look forward to the warmer weather either. Since I live in an apt building I just have to rely on the heat that is sent up throughout the building..It can be frustrating though as I have a jerk landlord that insists that heat can't be turned on until after Oct 15th..his rule..and by then it can be pretty chilly especially at night--so just pile up more blankets when I sleep
1 person likes this
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
14 Apr 08
Hi Ms Tickle! Gosh, it seems to be getting very cold in your place. I live in a very warm country and heating is no problem to us. It is the excessive heat sometimes during these summer months that really gives me headaches oftentimes. We do try to use the air conditioning once in awhile because sometimes we can't bear the heat but I can't use it often because of too much electric cost nowadays. I guess, we have the opposite kind of weather. Just my thoughts my friend. Take care always and have a nice day! :)
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
14 Apr 08
I know some places get colder but the cool weather here is as cold as I'm used to. It doesn't snow here thank goodness...I've never even seen snow.
I lived in Singapore for two years where they have a wet season and a dry season...there is no cold season. I loved the climate there...it really suited me. I'm guessing it might be similar where you live.
1 person likes this
@lingli_78 (12821)
• Australia
14 Apr 08
hi mstickle... i live in australia too and yes, the weather here is really getting cooler and cooler... it is about 12 degrees in the morning now... getting harder for me to wake up to work because it is just so comfy to sleep under the quilt... so far, i haven't switch on any heater yet... i just put on my jacket... i prefer cold weather though compare to hot... so i love winter... :-)
1 person likes this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
15 Apr 08
You are in fall? Wow does that mean it is time for Aussie Rules Football? I am sorry I had to ask.Back to the subject. I live in a apartment and we have central heating and air conditioning. That means out rental office turns on and off the heat and a/c. it is good and bad. With our weather these days , there is always a few days where you need heat but it isn't turned on yet or you need the a/c.Wow fall, I got to remember the world is round and my Aussie and Kiwi friends are going into fall as I am finally getting spring. Stay warm.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
24 Apr 08
Over here Autumn is a girl's name, not a season.Aussie Rules Football, yeah! Go Swans!
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
14 Apr 08
It is spring where I am and we are leaving the cold season for this year. I have a large apartment and we have two propane heaters and for the bedrooms we use electric space heaters. I don't use anything in my bedroom because I prefer it cool or cold. My heating bills are awful but I have a large apartment. I was lucky and put myself on a budget plan early and my price was locked in at less than $3.00 a gallon. But still the bill is large.
1 person likes this
@Marg12 (329)
• United States
14 Apr 08
As poor as I am, I do have what they call a heat pump over here in the US. It blows the heat up through the vents and the cats have figured that out and get under the house close to where the vents are located. In the summer I can turn the whole unit over to air conditioning. It is expensive cause it runs on electric, but I don't have a choice cause I live in a mobile home and certainly couldn't have a fireplace or wood stove. I would love to have the wood stove. Never been able to though. Some mobile homes do have the fireplaces but like me, my home is too old. Probably would just melt down.
@newzealtralian (3930)
• Australia
25 Apr 08
It is getting cooler here isn't it? We are in Queensland and have still had 10 over night! Our days are still rather warm, but the heaters are being prepared for their annual heating services.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
29 Apr 08
We are having the coldest April in 20 years here in NSW. I livved in Qld for 11 years and I know how cold it gets. My heater got a real workout today...very unusual for it to be so cold during the day. I'm wearing a jacket and mittens too. It's been really windy here...I'm in central NSW on the inland side of the Ranges.
@TAPARIA (313)
• India
14 Apr 08
I wish i was in Australia. I am in India and here its getting hotter and hotter. the room temprature is 40 degrees in afternoon and in may it will reach 45 to 46 degrees. It imposible to stay without air conditioner. After 11 AM the streets and roads are empty. Its sweaty and sticky here. I have to take bath twice a day even if i spend whole day in air conditioned room. But i see many small children working at shop and road side shops. some have to work in the scorching heat. Its sad that though India is developing very quickely and its GDP is also good but still there are many peoplewho have to work in the sun and many people die just due to heat.
