Well, I had a boiler failure over the past few months that led to a busted pipe and a flooded kitchen. It is being replaced as I write this.

In the interim I'm hanging drop lights in the below-sink cupboards where the vulnerable pipes are. I purchased an electric fire that will provide 'some' local relief.

I still have to crawl into a frigid little space to fix one last leak and determine if the heating loop has any busts in it.

Meanwhile, in a normal set of clothing one loses about 10% of heat out the hands (due to high surface area) and up to 25% out your neck and head (because the human body maintains blood to the brain until the end).

Turtlenecks, scarves, and headcoverings work great. My sis sent me a sock full of rice, you warm it in the microwave and wear it around your neck. (In extremus, boil and eat).

Alcohol may make you feel warm, but it dilates the blood vessels and your body gives up heat to the atmosphere.

Caffeine may make you feel cold, but it is constricting blood vessels and making your fingers and toes cold, but your body as a hole is not losing heat.

I drink lots of soup and I get it down hot! In the evening some green tea.

Supposedly the new boiler is over 90% efficient, much better than the old one, so hopefully I can recoup some portion of this major investment in the coming seasons not that our gas rates have gone up.


Good luck to you Partridge!