Sleeping bag...

[Gordon57]

Oh, I almost forgot my big story of the day (was a slow day...)

I sleep downstairs most of the time and have a few sleeping bags to keep me warm, one is just not enough. They are mainly quite thin ones that my children used to use when they came to stay over, those days are long gone, they'll not use them again. A couple of the bags have broken zips but they are OK to use under me, or to wrap over.

I normally zip myself into the main, thickest, one and wrap a couple of others round to combat the draughts in this house. I also have a couple of fleece blankets, one is usually round the back of my neck and over my shoulders and the other has been used over my feet area as the main sleeping bag was broken.

What I had done, bit by bit, was to kick the stitching away from the zide of the zip, so it still zipped, but it left a hole about 12 inches long and I was getting a cold foot (think about it...) - the picture isn't my bag, but shows what I mean.

I've spent about 2 hours sewing it up. Yes, me, sewing. I've lived here for 16 years and had to ask my wife where the sewing stuff was!

Oh boy, I had to go find my glasses. I couldn't see the packet of needles in the box, let alone thread one! We have one of those threading aids that you poke through the eye of the needle to provide a bigger target to push the thread through. I just can't see that close up, even with glasses on.

Somehow I managed it, about 9 times in all as I had to use as long a piece as I could handle, without it getting caught in the zip all the time, and do a 4-5 inch stretch at a time. The only stitch I know is blanket stitch, which is useful for gathering all the edges together.

First I had to gather the outer nylon layer, the polyester filling, the inner cotton layer and then fold the bias binding over then stitch that together. Then I had another run round, stitching the zip to the somewhat neater edging.

It was too much to try and do it all in one go, I have a touch of rheumatoid arthritis and my hand was quite painful at times, so I kept stopping to give that a rest. But, I got there. It may not be the neatest job in the world, it looks more like the seam has worms - nothing like the neat machined and mostly hidden stitches either side.

It's going to sort out the problem of my leg being exposed most of the night. I had to make sure the hole was at my left side as my right legs gets bad with Reynauds, to the point of not being able to feel anything from the calf down.

I have tried using a quilt, but they always seem to 'fall off' during the night, ending up in a heap on the floor and me trying to get the fleecy blankets to cover all of me. I have a couple of hot water bottles standing by for when it gets even colder.

Most nights I use the sofa, it's out of the draught for a start and I get to put my feet up, but it's a few inches shorter than I am and I've damaged it by kicking the end arm rest off already. I've repaired it, which just means I can't stretch out fully. Some nights I use the chair, I seem to sleep better there for some reason. Occasionally I go to bed, but if I don't settle within an hour I give up and get up again. I hate laying there awake, always makes me feel uncomfortable for some reason.

I'm just finishing off a few things on the computer then I'll go try this repaired bag out. I'm hoping it does not rip open again, at least I know where the sewing stuff is now...

I should have called this my Big Bust Bag Blog or something, at least it's here for the insomniacs, should they feel the need to be bored to sleep

[boodles4]

Oh my goodness Gordon, sounds a bit of a job and a half this sewing lark. I have used sleeping bags but never zipped myself into one, would just feel trapped and knowing me I would get up,, forget it was zipped up and fall A over T if you know what I mean.

[Gordon57 in reply to boodles4]

You don't zip it over your head or anything, it's just the bottom and one side that zips, making a 'pocket' that you sleep in. Campers all over the world use them, so they're quite safe to sleep in. I've yet to wake up and try to move without realising I'm in it.

[Hidden]

Hi Gordon

When I need to sleep downstairs, I lie on the sofa on top of half the quilt and wrap the other half around me, the opening facing outwards. And thermal socks too. Hope you keep comfy and snug this winter. x

[Hidden]

an email I got yesterday - amazing bargain for cosy

hss.uk.net/offers/snuggle/i...

[amagran in reply to Hidden]

I was just about to suggest this exact thing, they are great when sat downstairs, then you could pull the sleeping bag on over it, hope you manage to keep warm, and hope we don't have too cold a winter. xx

[Gordon57 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, one of the two fleecy things I have is like that, with 'arms' in it. My step-daughter got it for me last Christmas as she knew I was always feeling the cold. The other is a little smaller, but wraps over the shoulders and my back quite well while I have the other on top.

[anniediv]

If you have got an aldi near you, they have got heated throws at the moment-electric blankets but for over the top of you...

[Gordon57 in reply to anniediv]

We have, but I don't like the thought of sleeping with electrics plugged in. In bed, with proper ties on the mattress maybe, a loose throw could get scrunched up and cause a hot spot. Sorry, I appreciate the thought.

[TheOtherDragon]

Can you sew the fleecy blankets together for more coverage?

what about legwarmers, they sell them in the poundshop, i wouldn't be without mine, who cares what it looks like so long as you are warm?

[Gordon57 in reply to TheOtherDragon]

Last night put me off sewing for a while

The fleecy blankets are quite good as they don't slip about like the sleeping bags do. If I wrap one round my shoulders it usually stays there. I use them mainly for bits of me that are exposed (ooh-err!)

I have legwarmers, support stockings, bedsocks, thermal vests and long johns. I found that a combination of fishnet and normal tights are brilliant on really freezing nights. However, stockings are a problem when the suspender clips dig in as you turn over...

As you say, who cares, and who can see, as long as I keep warm. The tights tip came from a market trader I used to know, he had to stand out in cold weather for hours on end to make his living.

[nellie15]

okay gorden......what is a blanket stitch? L.O.L

[Gordon57 in reply to nellie15]

Strange how I knew about this really. When I was younger, my uncle used to work at the Dormy blanket mill in Dewsbury. I don't know if there were staff discounts, or seconds, but I remember having Dormy blankets on my bed and they had this edging stitch that I was curious about, so I asked. My Grandmother showed me how it was done...

youtube.com/watch?v=eXkSE2T...(Not working as expected?)

By putting the needle through the loop twice, it becomes a locking stitch that would not pull back so easily. This was used in 'repairing' the edging of the blanket where curious children (who, me ?) had pulled the original thread out...

[Hidden in reply to Gordon57]

Oh Gordon that blanket stich took me back to school, eons ago.

We got a slap on the knuckles with a ruler if it wasn't even and spaced.

I can't give you any help on the keeping warm, my problem is overheating a side affect of one of my tablets, I can just tolerate a quilt cover over me while my hubby is lost in a duvet and furry throw! I can be heat sensitive, or at times my feet will be freezing, that's when my microwave bear comes in handy, just three mins and instant heat.

Good blog you should film yourself getting covered with sleeping bags etc. ect. Put it on Utube you might make a fortune, just a thought.

I also understand your cold! We lived up that way' Dishforth' My husband was posted there for two years when he was in the RAF,comIng from down south, I had never been so cold in my life just one fireplace that took coal the 'real stuff' the married quarters were furnished, but each room had eighteen inches of the real Lino, around the edge of the rooms,, some days it was like pure ice, we had to polish this by hand or if you were lucky you could borrow a polisher it had to look like glass at all times in case your house was inspected, or on the day you moved out (it was also called marched out)

The first day I woke up in Yorkshire I had to phone my parents to let them know I was ok. The telephone box was about half a mile away, no mobiles then or in the house. I loved the look of the fresh snow fall over the hills, you rarely saw such a beautiful sight down home,,,,then I stepped out and it was up past my knees. ( i am only five foot) it was a serious culture shock.. I got about ten yards and gave up,, my fire I had lit earlier decided to go out, my trousers had turned stiff with ice, I had to reset the fire with knotted papers and bits of wood, then the coal, then the large sheet over the fireplace to draw the flames, it often caught fire, I had just about thawed out and made dinner when my husband came home..

I got to love Yorkshire,,, we still go up to visit friends.

God I do ramble on, still this might send the rest of them off to sleep

B.

[Gordon57 in reply to Hidden]

I remember the old lino, all except my grandma, who had a 'modern' bungalow, had the same edging round each room. For some reason they'd not heard of wall-to-wall carpet. Even grandma had the floorboards showing.

I'm not far from the former RAF Finningley, now Doncaster airport. I've DJ'd there in the officers mess and, when it closed, got to see some of the houses before they were refurbished for public use. They were a bit on the basic side, but then again, I live in a through terraced house and the heating isn't much better.

I drive my wife nuts with crisp packets, sweet wrappers and all sorts tied into a knot like the rolled up newspapers we used to light the fire with. Taking six inch thick slices of tree stump on to the porch step to attack with a small axe was also quite entertaining at 7 years old. I always made a mixture of 3/4 inch square (ish) sticks and some thinner ones to help the fire get started.

We used to have a 'tin' with a handle that was used to draw the fire, except it wasn't quite a wide as the fireplace, I never understood why. So, a sheet of newspaper would be used too, to cover the edges. Yes, it often caught fire, you had to be careful to watch and see if it was turning brown and take the whole thing off before any flames took hold.

Where we live does not seem to get much snow. We had it about 3 years ago for a week or so, a foot or so deep. I used to live further north, in the foot of the Pennines, and can remember going to work one day in snow that was 4-5 feet deep. The plough had been on the main roads so I was able to walk there easily enough. Then having to join a team of people digging our way in to the factory, making a wide pathway so it wasn't in danger of caving in as the first narrow 'trench' had.

Then the MD of the company arrived, and promptly parked his car in the gap we had made. By then the lads had reached the main doors so someone brought a fork-lift truck out and lifted the bosses car up and gently perched it on top of the snow drift! It tipped over and caused a lot of damage, but everyone said it was a ruddy cheek to have parked there after all the work we'd done digging - not for his benefit.

[Hidden in reply to Gordon57]

As our elders would say ',those were the good old days'

I remember the coal scuttle that was there, was stamped WD war (department) just above the G R .... I wondered who that was. Still it was newer than Victoria's. We also lived in Linton on Ouse. Thats were I learnt that buses don't come every ten minutes, if you missed one, it meant shopping the next day!,

Or worst if I missed the bus home from Ripon, it became a nightmare to get home!

I have trouble with my memory this last year and was getting quite concerned, but it still seems to be firing on a few cells.

As they say "thanks for the memory"

[nellie15 in reply to nellie15]

thanks gordon....coorie doon!!!

[Bumley]

Hi Gordon,

Might be worth considering Army Surplus to buy a better sleeping bag.. When I was in the army we had versions that would almost cook you if you stayed in them long enough.

I treated myself to a feather and down duvet and would fight to the death to keep it. Only one problem my feet fall out of the side, so now wear thermal socks. BTW I am also Diabetic and have Peripheral arterial Disease.

I also treated myself to an electric under blanket and although I know it is safe I only use it prior to sleep to warm up, its too much otherwise.

Best of luck keep the home fires burning.

regards

David

[Gordon57 in reply to Bumley]

The main sleeping bag I use is quite good, no tog rating on it like a quilt to compare. Many years ago, I was part of a moorland rescue team and we had sleeping bags we were using in the winter months that were thinner than the one I have now. We had to use the emergency 'space blankets' under and over they were that bad.

Now I've stitched mine it's been quite warm inside. The thinner one over the top just helps to stop a draught if I sleep in the chair, particularly if I put the zipped side in that direction.as that is a thin strip of coldness I can't do much about.

I've found this much better than a duvet as I can't wriggle about and leave a gap for the cold to get in.

[Hidden in reply to Gordon57]

You are activating a lot of memories for me today,,

as I said above we lived in RAF quarters up that way,, one day four of us decided to go camping to the Lakes our friend said don't worry about sleeping bags he would get some!!

Well they were very thick and tightly rolled up,, that night about ten minutes of settling down there was a loud chorus of eeeehhooooow and panic trying to unzip the bags

It seems he had (borrowed ) four bags from the store, used for servival exercises,, I don't think these had been cleaned or aired for years!!

The smell of hot sweaty sevicemens feet was unbearable i think they took there socks off to keep them dry and stuffed them down they bottom...we four slept in the car that night, we tried to air them next day but it was just as bad soon as you got warm,,it became over powering,, we went home, we did go back to the Lakes many a time over the years it is one of the most beautiful parts of the country.

Your story made me smile and I can smell those sweaty feet now!!

[Bumley in reply to Gordon57]

Hi Gordon,

Sounds as though you have it sorted. I know the mountain rescue type which were about as useful as ..... The space blankets are a saving grace.

The sleeping bags I am talking about date back to the seventies and were issued to us for Winter exercises in Norway (in the main), Perversely, an ice cave can be very warm!

I saw some recently in a Army surplus shop in Surrey

regards

David

_

[Gordon57 in reply to Bumley]

One weekend exercise we had teams from all over join us. The RAF guys had bags with the name 'Force Ten'. I've just found those on the web while looking to see what's available. They are darned expensive, the cheapest was £200 !

It's going to be a 'Dear Santa' letter I think, if I want a new one. We don't seem to have an Army Surplus store locally any more, even the big camping shop has gone. I don't like the 'mummy' type of bag, so that reduces the choice a bit.

[Bumley in reply to Gordon57]

Hi Gordon,

Unfortunately the one I was talking about was the mummy type, even the hood was goose down and they were claustrophobic.

I have noticed that in recent times Army Surplus stores were thin on the ground (funny, there were never RAF or Navy Surplus Stores). I suppose with more wars around, the scavengers can get more money these days.

regards

David

[lavender1]

Very interesting and cheering as usual Gordon. Have a peaceful and warm weekend!

[Gordon57]

I have that thick cushioned vinyl in the bottom of the wardrobes I built, the wall-to-wall ones with sliding doors that took over 2 years to make from taking the old pre-war cupboard out to finishing - but I did it !

A sleeping bag is only like a quilt, folded over and a zip down the side. It's also wrapped round you, so there's a padded layer under as well as over. Much warmer than the old blankets and no gaps opening up if you move in your sleep. My wife used to turn over and take the quilt with her when I was using the bed more.

[johnj1548]

thanks gordon you just made my day i was born in 1950 and stayed in a miners row,your post brought back memories of my grandparents ,yes cold in winter but great family memories hope you manage to solve your problem all the best john

[Gordon57 in reply to johnj1548]

My Dad's parents lived in a tiny little back-to-back terraced house, literally one up/one down and a coal cellar. Their toilet was in a little block at the end of the row, I seem to remember a row of 6 loo's, each was locked but I think the keys were all the same. Freezing in there in winter, you didn't hang around to read the newspaper, or rather the squares of it that were hung behind the door.

One good thing was the coal fire, apart from when it was your time for a bath and they got the big zinc tub up from the cellar and you usually got 2 kettles full of boiling water to a big metal bucket of cold... The water was there for washing, quickly, not to have a soak. If it wasn't for putting the bath in front of the fire you would really shiver. The one fire was all they had, the bed was warmed by a hot water bottle when needed.

That terrace is still there, but I think they've all been 'knocked through' to make them bigger, as well as putting in a bathroom and central heating.

[Hidden]

Sometimes my husband can't make it upstairs when he is having one of his bad do's so we bought 2 camp beds then we could both sleep downstairs. I bought a lovely duvet and cover set and we are as snug as bugs in a rug, the camp beds fold up and the covers go in a cupboard when they are not in use, it is only now and then but it is nice to know that he is not downstairs on his own when he has a coughing fit. We were going to get a stair lift but our physio told us they don't like them as any exercise is better than none, and you do get it walking up and downstairs.

[Gordon57 in reply to Hidden]

That's partly why I sleep downstairs, getting up the stairs can be a struggle and once I'm up there my breathing takes a while to settle down and, especially if I lay down, the coughing starts.

I agree with the physio that the exercise is good for you, unless you have a bit of memory loss like I occasionally suffer, by the time I get to the top of thee stairs, I've forgotten what I was going for...

[Hidden in reply to Gordon57]

Join the club, that's having a senior moment.