Omletina Kyckling Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Have you seen the long term forecasts? Most weather predictions are for another winter similar to last winter http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1317484/Forecasters-predict-white-winters.html I'd better start stocking up my cellar with food....those who've seen where I've moved to will know why!! Most of my neighbours didn't move their cars for 6 weeks last winter, and many have 4x4s!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Oh, deep joy I live on a hill, the road was finally gritted (for the first time in living memory) just as the ice started to melt. Unfortunately, I only work 5 mins walk from home so had no excuse for not pitching up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Baby Landy will finally be earning his keep then Omletina! Our cul de sac is on a slope and it's up hill to get out. They sometimes grit the road that runs past the end of it, but never our road. When the weather is at it's worst, we can be within 10 yards of a clear road but not be able to reach it with our cars! Think we should stock up on sand/grit/salt now then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 We are in a fairly remote village ,at the bottom of a hill & 5 miles from the nearest town. I too shall be stocking up the freezer! I remeber picking the eldest up from work at 7pm on a Tuesday night last year & my car skidding all over the place in the fresh snow - the next morning we woke to almost a foot & a half of the stuff My greatest fear this year is getting marooned at work,as I work evenings (Hubby has several sets of ice tyre grippy things on watch on eBay I note!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Oh great! We are getting rid of our 4x4 in a month Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Two of our directors have daft rear wheel drive sports cars - useless in the snow; twice last winter, I had to go down and show them how to drive properly to get them out of the car park/drive. Low profile tyres don't help either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Isn't it odd that the newspapers don't fuss about the weather unless the South gets it. Up North we just get on with it................. Oh and a 4x4 won't get you out of the snow .........you need a tractor and as Cinnamon says lots of provisions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhapsody Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Are these the same experts who predicted last years 'Barbeque Summer' ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 The weather will do what it will do, i have given up worrying about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 I have noticed that the trees and bushes seem very heavily laden with berries this year............according to the old wives tale that means a bad winter. I live on a modern housing estate with a small supermarket 5 minutes away but I shall make sure I have a few extra supplies in ..........I have no desire to risk my creaky back on the ice.The supermarket had problems getting supplies of fresh food ( bread, milk etc) last year so it seems sensible to make sure I have a supply of basics in. The side roads weren't gritted last year ( the bins weren't emptied either during the bad weather) and the bit of road outside my house was under 'perma frost' for a month! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Last winter lots of remote houses were cut off and OH spent much time with his mountain rescue hat on helping out. The council ran out of grit and Kendal streets were un-walkable. Neighbours got together and looked after the old folk, the sick and the needy. There was great community spirit. Pity we can't be like that all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 The council ran out of grit and Kendal streets were un-walkable. Banbury town centre was the same; they ran out of grit and the newly brick-paved market place was like a skid pan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 I ordered masses of grit last year. It came in very handy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 I shovelled to the front door, and out in the back garden, but wasn't going to do the pavement along the street - the whole road iced up after children were skiing and sledging down the hill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 I ordered masses of grit last year. It came in very handy. Same here - The Husband always keeps a sack of the red coloured slat & grit mix handy. In fact when we used it earlier this year,I think it was from the same sack we have had since we got married....22 years ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Now, usually I wouldn't mind the threat of a bad winter. But as Bogwoppit number two is due in mid-January and it can take anywhere between 45 mins and an hour and 15 mins to get to the hospital in normal circumstances, never mind in snow and ice.... I had to call an ambulance last time, was kinda hoping to avoid drama this time!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Think I will order a pair of Yaktraks just in case. I spent weeks last winter walking to and from work which took me over an hour in the snow and then on the icy roads, normally the journey takes me less than 10 minutes in my car. Starting work at 7am is no fun and quite scary when you have to walk along pitch black lanes We live in a rural location and getting to the shops for basics like milk was quite and adventure. Must remind OH that we talked about buying our own grit box so at least we could grit the lane and get the car onto the road. Wonder if the Council would sell us one at a discount price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Rural here too. Have ordered logs and they should be arriving today *must get grit to keep in the outbuilding*. Our bushes are heavy with berries too, same as last autumn. Think it will be cold again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 We live in a little hamlet up a hill but then down a dip (try getting out of that in the snow........ahem, but I digress) and we are allowed to help ourselves to grit from the nearby council layby as the council lorries don't always get down to our little lanes. Sooooooooo we always have loads Last winter one of our local farmers took it upon himself to grit our lanes PS I love the sheer silence that snow brings. Anybody else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 PS I love the sheer silence that snow brings. Anybody else? I love that too and lie in bed revelling in the anticipation before I get up to look. I noticed at lunchtime that the road along the bottom of ours (alongside the park) is sporting a smart new yellow grit bin... does this mean that they intend to grit our road/hill in future? If not, then I shall take the wheelbarrow down there and do the road myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Yay... more skiing , We had a few snow days last year so a group of us went skiing on the hillside, Our pub put some mulled cider on for when we had finished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Ooh, it would be fabby to be able to ski again at home like last year Yak Traks and Snow Chains are the order of the day, plus lots of layers and a thermos of soup when working outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Despite the fact that we have had snow the last two winters I bet people will still be totally unprepared for more of the same this year In places like Finland and Canada where they get feet of the stuff people just get on with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyhoundgirl Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Do snow chains actually work on roads? I need to get myself and my children to school 10 miles away and they never grit the road even though it's the one the secondary school bus uses. Last year I was terrified driving, having trashed my last car (and nearly myself) on black ice the previous year. Any ideas to make the winter driving more tolerable very ,very welcome please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Snow chains are good for this country where we don't always get snow, so you can take them off the wheels depending on how much snow is around. Remember that you need to buy the right size for your car wheels, not drive above 40mph, and take them off as soon as you are on a clear road. In countries where snow is a constant issue in the winter months, lots of drivers change to studded tyres, which are more effective in deep snow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
