PANIC - Winter is coming!

The weather forecast seems to think winter is about to start with a number of nights at -3 and -4 and some snow from Saturday... but wait a minute! that is TOMORROW.
Scene with Rhoda and Doug running around waving arms shouting 'PANIC, PANIC puk puk, puk puk, pukaaaaaaak (surprised chicken noise)' and the dog starting on in surprise with thought bubble - 'What are they up to NOW, I really can't understand them'

The builder came back today to fill in the holes left by the mantelpiece coming out. As an extra bonus he cut a piece of board (chipboard? particle board? plywood? I don't know... wood anyway that he assures us is fine close to the hot stove pipe) to fit the hole in to upstairs above the stove. I think he took one look at us and decided we were incapable and that we were going to freeze to death over the winter if he didn't help. We would have managed it eventually, but he rushed in wielding a circular saw and had it done in about 3 minutes without ages spent measuring and debating and clamping wood to sawhorses for safety etc. Thanks M. Cibat!!

M. Cibat to the rescue!

Less drafts

Even more less drafts

We will put some insulation on top of the board and seal any gaps with magic foam. We will also block the hole at the bottom of the chimney stack. Not quite sure how we will do this yet. With Laine de Roche (rock wool) perhaps held in place with wood batons or something (but the wood needs to be clear of the chimney pipe).

We also need to do something about ensuring that the water pump doesn't freeze, the plan for this is a box made from polystyrene round the pump and fleece wrapped round the pipes.
There used to be some sand heaped up at the back of the house over where the pipe from the pump comes in to the house. We dug this away as we were concerned about damp, but now we are more concerned about freezing so we plan to dig the sand back for the time being until we come up with a neater solution.