Glad to hear I'm not the only one. Here's a compilation of the tips:
...Before the Punt...
Dress warm. Hopefully like
External Link/Members Only, and not like
External Link/Members Only. Thermals, Scarf, hat, finger-less gloves, smartphone gloves, or sheepskin gloves, warm shoes and socks.
Drink hot tea, and keep your hands warm on the cup.
Wait in a nearby pub, or even a nearby store, if possible.
If she gives you radio silence, leave within 10-20 minutes. (On one of my early punts I waited for an hour in the rain. Damn you BustyClara!)
...At the Punt...
Run up the stairs to get warm (but hopefully not be out of breath)
Take a hot shower, or at least run your hands under the hot tap.
Sometimes I get a deep freeze from hours walking around outside on my punting days. In an extreme case, my first AW punt ever was on Christmas day. Not only was it cold, but the tubes were closed so I ended up cycling 3+ miles to get there (6+ miles round trip). For cases like this, I've looked for places in London with a hot tube/jacuzzi. I know some hotels have them, but I didn't find any that I could just pop into for 20 minutes to thaw the freeze. Maybe a sauna would work, or maybe a hot foot bath at a nail salon.
I've warmed myself under the hot air blowers in restrooms, aiming the hot air down my shirt and even down my trousers. It was a bit embarrassing, but I was freezing my bullocks off.
I’d have thought that you’d have had room in your big PDC bag for some hand warmers, a hot water bottle and maybe even a flask with some lovely hot soup in!
I actually tried those hot packs, but they didn't seem to work very well. Maybe I could rig up that oil radiator, or this...
External Link/Members OnlyJust forewarn as you step in the door, if they're smart they'll offer you a shower to warm up. And have the heat cranked up so you won't be cold when you get out to join them under the covers.
+1 for the having the heat cranked up. I wish all WGs would do this during winter.