Janetti Spaghetti

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Come On Baby Light My Fire

June 20, 2022 By Janetti Spaghetti

It’s been a tad chilly the past couple of weeks – we’ve even dropped to single digit temperatures at night.

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While some might scoff that we don’t know what winter is here in Queensland, you have to remember – our homes aren’t built for the cold.

Features like central heating, underfloor heating, double glazed windows and fireplaces are very much the exception rather than the norm, so we really suffer when the temperatures plummet!

warm your hands

Actually – it always amuses me to see movies or TV shows made in the northern hemisphere – when the characters are walking around their homes in short sleeves even though it’s snowing outside. You definitely couldn’t do that here!

When the weather turns cold, my top tips are:

  • wear a cami under your shirt to keep your torso warm;
  • put on a scarf – it really is amazing the difference it makes;
  • heat up a wheatie in the microwave and take that to bed (no need for electric blanket);
  • and  keep a blankie or two – plus a fur baby! – on the couch to keep you warm when relaxing and watching a bit of telly.

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We have a reverse cycle air conditioner in our bedroom, which is brilliant for those frosty winter mornings – we set the timer so that it turns on before we wake, which makes it a lot easier to get up and get our day underway!

But what I really miss is the old kerosene heater of my childhood.

kerosene heater
This kerosene heater looks a lot more modern than the one we had in the 70’s

I know, I know. They were bad for the environment, smelly, released noxious gases, and a huge fire risk … but so comforting and warming on a cold winter’s night, even if our parents were constantly warning us not to get too close (especially when we were wearing our highly flammable nylon dressing gowns!).

There’s just something about the heat, the smell, the rattle of kerosene tank, the ritual of lighting the heater, that warmed our hearts as well as our homes.

Do kerosene heaters even exist these days?

When I first left home, I had a bar heater; by the time we got married, we’d “upgraded” to a fan heater or two … huge electricity gobblers. These days we use the heating in our air cons, which is so effective that usually after half an hour we can turn it off and still stay toasty warm.

bar heater

But the husbear and I agreed recently that great as our reverse cycle air con is, it feels very clinical compared to the ambience of a fire of some sort – whether that be a log fire, pot belly stove or kerosene heater.

fireplace at oreillys

We’ve been known to play a Youtube video of a crackling fire on our TV, to try and replicate that feeling of “hygge” … but it’s a poor imitation.

It’s no wonder so many Aussies have a firepit in their backyard, or love going camping – it’s about the only opportunity we have to enjoy the flicker of a fire.

campfire and motothome

How do you keep warm in winter?!

Filed Under: Down Memory Lane

About Janetti Spaghetti

My real name is Janet Camilleri, and I love to write. Janetti Spaghetti is my third or maybe fourth blog ... but who's counting?

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Comments

  1. Jeff says

    June 20, 2022 at 9:57 am

    That’s a very handsome cat!

  2. Elaine Wood says

    June 23, 2022 at 2:26 am

    In the UK winter, I have the central heating on a timer so that it comes on half an hour before I get home. I also wear cardigans and fleeces around the home, which can save on having to turn the heating on in the first place. I also love to take a hot water bottle to bed with me in the winter, where I can enjoy reading in bed in warmth and comfort. At the moment, we are enjoying the summer here and I wish I could send you some of our warmth. I’m glad your fur babies are helping to keep you warm xx

  3. Janetti Spaghetti says

    July 13, 2022 at 11:34 am

    Hi Elaine, I don’t really understand what central heating is or how it works except for what I see on movies and TV – I gather the heat comes from a scary boiler in the basement??!!!

Janet Camilleri Welcome to the world of Janetti Spaghetti! Perhaps we've already met - after all, I've been blogging for over ten years now. You may remember me from such blogs as Middle Aged Mama, Redland City Living or Footprints. I must be the master (mistress) of re-invention because here I am again! Here at Janetti Spaghetti, I'm blogging purely for the love of it - and I hope you enjoy reading, as much as I enjoy the writing. So grab a cuppa, get comfy, and come join me on the journey. Who knows where we will end up?!

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