Preparing for Winter

Gill, over in Frugal in Derbyshire mentioned that she had once done a post on what she does to prepare for Winter. With the weather having been as lovely as it has so far this week, I too have been thinking about getting everything ready for the colder months. Here's what I am doing in suburban Surrey ......

HOUSE:-
Cleaning all the rooms thoroughly. I know this is normally a spring job, but I also tend to do it with C$¥~%^|mas in mind.
Washing all the bedding and preparing to change over to winter bedding. I do like to be snugglily in bed :)
Washing the throws for the settee to make sure they are extra cosy.
Packing away all my summer clothes and airing my warmer ones (I don't have space for both!)
Taking any unwanted items (I often find clothes I haven't worn when I change over) to the charity shop
Tackling all those little DIY jobs that have been lurking undone for months
Trying out the heating BEFORE we need it, just in case!
Clearing the gutters
Cleaning the windows and surrounds
Cleaning off the conservatory roof

GARDEN:-
Harvesting the remaining veg and fruit from the garden and freezing it, making jam, chutneys or making alcohol.
Foraging for free food like sloes and elderberries to make interesting drinks and sauces.
Pruning and cutting back all of the bushes, climbers and trees.
Weeding and regular leave clearance of leaves in the beds.
Regularly mowing the lawn until about November.
Turning the compost heap and covering the empty veg beds with a good layer of home made compost
Checking the coop and run for weather tightness

GENERAL:-
Checking stocks of tinned/dried food, toiletries and medicines and restocking where necessary.
On the rare occasion I am in a supermarket, I may start to buy the odd special item towards the holiday season and hide it in a cupboard although you have to be careful doing that in case you end up with silly amounts of 'treat' food, which is ALWAYS regrettable!
Checking my stocks of C#%{^*mas cards, wrapping paper etc so I can start buying if I need more (I generally buy in the sales, but it doesn't always work!)
Starting to build up a good pile of home made gifts - jams, chutneys, alcohols already. Later truffles, nut brittle, cookies.
I also have lots of craft gift ideas, which I will start to make from October onwards.
I will ask Mr D to do a winter road check on all the cars to check tyre pressure, oil levels, windscreen wash and radiator fluid. Most modern cars probably have sealed units, but my dear old car is a T reg!!

No doubt you all have routines set up to prepare for winter. I imagine some of you are lucky enough to have wood burners so will be gathering wood. No such luck here, but in my next house .......:)