Winter as I remember it

[twinkleberry]

pretty snowy piccies

(CLICK TO ENLARGE)







...how do their feet not get stuck to the ice...??

[~threadbear~]

I wrestled my car door open this morning and ended up with snow on the seat.

There was an accident at the corner where I take the boys up to college (I told you about last time). I knew it had to happen, too many people just whizzing over it.
Apparently lots of cars have been spinning and sliding there as well.
I just crawled cautiously along it again!

[Wot No Stitch]

Hubby just had message to say all schools in Cardiff closed tomorrow regardless of which way weather goes the rest of today and overnight. I guess the council find it easier to make a blanket decision and get the info out there early.

[Wandatoo]

...how do their feet not get stuck to the ice...??

There's a short story by a famous Canadian author and humourist, Stephen Leacock, about a small pond that used to be near a small Ontario town. One winter day it was just gone!

The flock of ducks that slept there overnight all woke up to find their feet frozen in the ice. So they just flew away . . and took the pond with them. Hmmm . . .

[Mabel Figworthy]

Back in Holland we did occasionally get ducks stuck in the ice, and if they were too far from the edge and the ice wasn't strong enough, there was unfortunately little you could do for them except toss them some food, but if they were near the edge the trick was to pour lukewarm (NOT hot!) water around their feet, which would melt the ice without being too much of a shock to the system.

Not sure whether this shows that Dutch ducks are thick, or UK ones really clever

[Serinde]

We have had snow since mid December, and there is about 6 inches lying even now, on top of ice. All the main roads are clear, and all the schools are open. They have really had snow in Aberdeenshire and the Borders, and it is really, really cold. But it's a proper winter, at least it seems that way to me.

Pity the poor lady who went to Durness (up in Sutherland, at the very northern part of Scotland) on 23 Dec to get a few bits and pieces and her turkey, but who hasn't been home to the lighthouse at Cape Wrath since!!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jan/0 ... y-stranded" target="_blank

[burgundyice]

That news story is terrible!! Can't really understand why she's refused the offer of a flight home even if she is nervous about flying!
Had to smile though where it said the husband has "only 6 spaniels and two unannounced walkers for company"

Louise

[Lizzieh]

Even though Cornwall has has a bad dose of snow today, where we live we have had none I would just like a little bit to have a play in. My sons have even had it in Bournemouth where it NEVER snows. Oliver asked me if I had enough to make a snow man so told him that if i went out in the fields and collected all I could find I might just manage a snow snail!!

Liz

[grub72]

All this snow is making me jeolous as the only snow i get is up in the mountains and that is only in winter, Last yr i went up into the mountains and had fun with oh and kids and friend and kids as well but the snow was not that deep, So in a way i would love to be in england or somewhere where they have lots of snow.

[agi]

We had a bit of snow this morning, nothing much, about 8-10 cms, only problem was I almost got late because had to clean the car before leaving... The roads were snowy in the morning but all clean now. Pavements... that's a different matter. Interestingly, there wasn't a traffic jam today as it is usualy when it snows.

[french cat]

Just checked the new fangled weather machine we have and it's saying the temperature is -5 at the moment. The snow is 7 inches deep so will freeze hard probably, just perfect for an igloo wouldn't you say. I'm hating this weather now we've had it since early December. I blame these space rockets going up all the time and messing with those ozone layers, and not us mere mortals leaving lights on or driving an extra 5 miles a week. Global warming my eye. There....thats me off my soap box, I feel much better now.

[Angel]

Well things are getting pretty bad aren't they? I was listening to Jeremy Vine show the other day about how people were stuck in their homes. It was really frightening, that's where I heard about the man with only six spaniels for company, although at the time he hadn't had any walkers. But I also heard a heartwarming story!

This family with 3 or 4 small children live out in the countryside with only 1 neighbour. Neither could get out for anything and were running low on supplies, but the family had run out of oil for their heating and were freezing. Jeremy took their address on air and asked anyone who could help to help. By the end of the show, he announced that oil was on it's way via one of the listeners. It was so sweet!

I took my dogs out in it yesterday...bad idea! A thirty minute walk in 2feet of snow is actually 5 hours. Drifts were higher than my dogs head! I had to carry him over a few, plus both have arthritis and we forgot their metacam! It was so pretty and fun until we were about half way to the shops. And the new petshop people are mean. How can pet haters own a pet shop?

[Busy_B]

We're up to about 5" today on top of what's been on the ground for a few weeks. Our temps haven't been above 25F for a couple of weeks, and the low in a couple of days is going to be below 0F. Now off to the busy stop to get DS.

[MaggieM1750]

If all we had was snow, I would love it. I can take the snow, its the ice I don't like. I am a winter girl. It's one of the reasons I love living where I do. But, we are still currently dealing with the rain/ snow mixture that fell on Christmas Eve. Its been too cold for salt to work effectively. And wet snow when it freezes is impossible to shovel properly. And then last night we got a little more snow- just a few inches.
And no sun to speak of to heat things during the day either. Its been grey and overcast for a week. I miss seeing the sun.
Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun
Please shine down on me

[Wot No Stitch]

I know that by North American standards we don't actually have that much snow in the UK but we are just not geared up for it here.
Just a small amount casuses absolute chaos in the UK as the councils and individuals simply don't have the equipment to deal with it.
My friend in CO uses a snow blower like we would use our lawnmower!! LOL
I feel so sorry for all those people in rural areas who are struggling with power cuts and the poor farmers and their animals too.

[Angel]

Farmers are fine! I was out in Stocksbridge the other day and we're all abandoning our cars, the farmers have come to the shops in their tractors! They're better off than me and my mum who had to put off our food shop until we were totally out and then had a very scary ride out.

[Serinde]

I know that by North American standards we don't actually have that much snow in the UK but we are just not geared up for it here.
Just a small amount casuses absolute chaos in the UK as the councils and individuals simply don't have the equipment to deal with it.
My friend in CO uses a snow blower like we would use our lawnmower!! LOL
I feel so sorry for all those people in rural areas who are struggling with power cuts and the poor farmers and their animals too.

Oh, I wouldn't say that: 4ft of snow (like there is in the Central Highlands) is a lot no matter where you are! My beef (as it were) is that none of my neighbours shovel their walks (spot the North American!). Would have made a huge difference several weeks ago, but now it's not too bad because the dry snow on top of the ice makes it quite easy to walk on if you have reasonable footwear. *schrunch, schrunch schrunch*

[Angel]

What irritates me is when people shovel their walks onto the bloody pavement. You've got a three car drive and a garden, but nooo you're gonne make a three foot wall of snow on the pavement!

[Midge]

We are in the middle of a proper blizzard. I can't see the bottom of our drive - about 60 metres - and the wind seems to be picking up too.

[agi]

Two days ago we had snow and minus 3-5, today it was raining all day, and 12 degrees above zero! By Monday we will have the cold back. Everyone is starting to go nuts really.