The Savvy Villa Traveller

Jamaican Saying: When trouble tek yuh, pickney shut fit yuh.

Translation: When you are in trouble, a child’s shirt will fit you.

Meaning: If things get really bad, you will be surprised at the extent to which you can adjust.

Last February we came back from Jamaica and finally arrived home at 1am and, of course, I’m due at work at 8am. Yikes. As if that wasn’t bad enough, we came home to an ice-cold house with no running water. The furnace had gone out and the pipes were frozen. Between being delayed getting home, and having a normally mellow toddler have a near melt down from having diaper failure plus the prospect of waiting for the furnace repair man, I was miffed. No, I was frustrated and mad! Plus we were freezing. As we put on layers of clothes and I wrapped the baby in blankets, I gave my husband one hour before I was checking into the nearest hotel. Fortunately the furnace company came within a half hour. First tip, have a great service contract on your heating company. The real question is at what temperature should you set your thermostat if you are going away in the winter months. I’m assuming of course that you don’t live in Florida but in a cold area like New York or Ohio, you get the idea. According to most sources, you should set the thermostat no lower than 55°F (12°C).

To learn more about preventing frozen pipes, click here