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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2010 13:32:38 GMT 1
You're not kidding!! Kids are enjoying it though, I've seen some magnificent snowmen
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Post by susanb on Jan 7, 2010 15:56:24 GMT 1
It sounds like the weather pattern is just relentless...as I type this, I'm watching CNN where they're reporting from Gatwick....and saying that it's unlikely to turn around much over the next couple of weeks. :-(
Hang in there everyone....
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Post by exmoorfan on Jan 7, 2010 18:31:37 GMT 1
We have no post or bin collections/. It is hard to get out of my road.. I did manage to do it today as I wanted Dog food. but it was well scary.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2010 19:14:20 GMT 1
Fair play to our posties, they actually did deliver stuff today which surprised me.
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Post by sarah on Jan 8, 2010 22:52:18 GMT 1
Just been another scattering here today - but luckily seemed to make things less slippery - but let's see what happens when it freezes over night. Our school hasn't been open to kids yet - it's been crazy. First of all the boiler was broken (Monday/Tuesday) and the rooms were around 6 celcius. Then the electricity went so we were closed Wednesday anyway (although there was loads of snow then). Then we were closed Thursday/Friday because none of us live near the school and the roads around the school are terrible. Feel bad for parents who need to work but we should be back Monday. Head has suggested we all stay locally to school with the Teaching Assistants (not sure how they feel about that) and that her husband will get us all there in his 4wheel drive. Could be interesting. Although better than her other suggestion that was she was happy to leave the heating on at night and we could all camp out at the school - ha ha ha. Bet she would go home in her 4wheeler though!
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Post by snowfilly on Jan 8, 2010 23:37:46 GMT 1
We're down to sheet ice here; not sure if that's good or not. My BF is currently marooned because a bus skidded across his road and got stuck (no-one hurt). They sent a crane out to rescue the coach, and you can just see where this is heading, can't you Two farmers are going out to rescue the crane tomorrow, then the bus. I think every school in the county has closed today - shame we never had this much snow when I was in school!
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Post by garej on Jan 9, 2010 20:38:21 GMT 1
Well this week, the last time (apart from today) the postman came was Tuesday. The snow has not been too bad, however due to the fact our village is made out of sheer gradients, the buses have not been running until today. Ice has been bad, and the only people to go on the village main roads have been 4x4s.
On Wednesday I had to take one of my cats to the vets, my dad came, but he had to go a different route, making sure he tackled the least steep hills. Even then we had to walk half a mile with the cat in the carrier. Have not heard/seen any gritters all week.
I have not left the house since Wednesday: the last time I went to the supermarket was on Tuesday. The snow has not been too bad Thursday and Friday, it was the sheer ice. Walking anywhere is awful due to the sheer lethal gradients, as nowhere is flat in my village (even my flat is not level).
There is no schools in the village (there used to be one near my flat but they knocked it down 2 years ago) but the ones in the next one have been closed all week. They did open yesterday but judging from the amount of kiddies around my flat, I am guessing that most didnt go to it because of the sheer lethalness of the walk.
The bin men were supposed to come Thursday but they suspended collections due to the awful weather, but were supposed to collect today. However my recycle box was not emptied (our ordinary waste bin was not due to be) today. The ice also froze my wheelie bin lid solid, it took me until yesterday (and pouring hot water on it) to open the darn thing!
I walked today to the bank (I needed some cash and to top up my mobile) in the next village, but the snow has not melted much, and it was freezing. It was -4ΒΊC! It has been barely above freezing all week, but my dad recorded -10ΒΊC!
As the snow is supposed to be coming back with a vengence, I dont see myself leaving the flat all next week either, but fortunately apart from yoghurt I have plenty of rations to last me the week.
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Post by kunuma on Jan 9, 2010 21:52:16 GMT 1
It's actually scary now - and I am so sad for the wildlife - or what's left of it . There is no way to get out of here now except for walking unless you have a 4 wheel drive, and I have four weeks' worth of rubbish in the car!! Since I haven't been able to get the car out since the 19th Dec - i have a feeling it probably is now an EX-car, old bangers do not appreciate being frozen solid! It is sheltering an entire family of mice under the bonnet though (they are living in the duvet I optimistically covered the engine with) - they have managed to get inside the car too, and started eating the seats bless them, so in self defence I now put food in for them, as there isn't any in the rubbish!
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Post by garej on Jan 9, 2010 22:43:53 GMT 1
Yes it was not until today that I dared ventured alone in the snow. Usually I am up and about doing the Cats Protection work and my art group work, but I have been unable to get to both. Apart from me and one other member, all the people live in the middle or the outskirts of the town in the art group, so it is alright for them, plus usually it is getting dark when I get back. Unfortunately I dont see it as being worth it, considering the fact that it has been snowing lately. If it was earlier in the day then I would consider it.
I have a patch of grass outside my flat and I have been looking at it every single day since Monday, and the snow has not melted at all. Usually the car park of the people's sheltered accommodation block is quite busy with council vans, pharmacy drop off/collection, district nurses plus visitors, and it is has been deathly quiet. In fact there has only been 3 cars all week, and only 1 has moved.
The washing machine man is supposed to be coming next week to fix the machine (it needs a new board) but I doubt that he will come next week so that is another week (it broke down just before Christmas) without a washing machine. Unfortunately it is a case of doing the washing once a week at my parents due to the fact that there is no launderettes either in this village or the next one.
So yes, I have been a little bored stuck in the flat this week. The first few days I managed to occupy myself with putting Christmas decorations away and Christmas presents, but of course, that is not an option now. Fortunately, unlike this time last year, I am not on pre-pay meters so I dont have to worry about credit.
I dont have to worry about my cats and the snow: however the cat that lives in my parents is not going out unless it wants the toilet (it does not have a litter tray), as she does not like the snow. I just hope that the snow does not last too long because then the litter will run out: apparently a lot of people are using cat litter instead of grit, so it will cause problems if I do run out (both in terms of getting hold of it and hoping I can get to Pets at Home).
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Post by kunuma on Jan 9, 2010 23:10:29 GMT 1
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Post by garej on Jan 9, 2010 23:25:27 GMT 1
Well a lot of people are buying it [cat litter] instead of rock salt, as sales of rock salt have run out. Unless your council is filling up bins by the side of the road that is.
Even the BBC are recommending it if you dont have any sand, which is causing tons of problems. Both in terms of the stores are in many places cannot recieve deliveries so they can't restock, and it is also depriving animal owners (some people use cat litter for bunnies, ferrets and rats as well as cats) whose animals genuinely need it. For a lot of people it is not practical (or safe) to send their animals out to do their business.
I should be alright in the next 3 weeks, but after that it is going to be chaotic. I dont know what to do if they dont have the one I usually use either, as I am particular about the type I have (one of my cats is fussy about the litter he has).
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Post by Claire on Jan 10, 2010 0:14:02 GMT 1
Hi garej yep it is true about the cat litter and it annoys me too. I went to get some and they only had huge ones left which I cannot carry. All the medium and small bags were gone. Lucky my dad brought some when he came to visit today.
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Post by garej on Jan 10, 2010 1:30:42 GMT 1
I was reading on the Ceefax letter page (only available if you still can get an analogue signal, p 145) earlier this week that someone suggested that to purchase an cat litter bag that you should provide proof that you have a cat (such as an vaccination certificate). She said that all week she tried to get cat litter and because of people using it for the snow rather than cat owners buying it she was unable to purchase any, and even then she got the last two bags.
I think that is not a bad idea in times like this, that means that people who are genuinely needing it should be able to purchase it. I dont know how practical it is, especially (not that it is a problem in my case since no supermarket stock the one I use) when you have self service checkouts these days. However if you do purchase an age restricted item such as alcohol or glue, then it says "approval needed" and you need an assistant, so I guess it is a case of reprogramming the software to include cat litter.
I have noticed that on ebay they sell it cheaper than Pets at Home (even including postage) which is a good thing for future reference (and it saves my dad lugging it) but with the delivery service being a bit chaotic at the moment I daren't risk it.
The only fortunate thing in my favour is that most of the time I have only one litter tray out (they never have any problems with sharing) so I am not using a lot at once. My female is pretty good at using the tray: she has been known to use the tray with no litter in it! My male is the problematic one (though saying that I have known worse). The stuff I am using now is the more expensive ones on the market, so I am hoping that the price will put people off! Otherwise if there is none then I will have to use one of the two types that I have used in the past. That is provided Pets at Home have any in the first place!
For me, I have not got the option of sending them outside (due to various factors mostly not snow related). So the only thing I can think of is (and I only want to use as a last resort) is to use newspaper if I am desperate.
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Post by Claire on Jan 11, 2010 14:05:40 GMT 1
Ooh its melted here a bit, mainly from the roofs but fingers crossed more soon. Its up to the boiling hot temperature of 1 now and is supposed to get up to 3 later on in the week! We may get rid of it soon unless it turns colder again.
btw garej what sort of cat litter do you use? I had a look on ebay and for the wood based stuff I use its still slightly cheaper along the local hardware/sell everything shop. I wouldn't mind paying the slight extra to get it delivered but with the posties coming different times every day I'd probably miss it and then have to pick it up from the post depot which would defeat the purpose!
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Post by kunuma on Jan 13, 2010 14:42:26 GMT 1
I can see grass!! What's more next door just managed to retrieve their car which they left in 10 days ago!! The thaw is here!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2010 15:09:24 GMT 1
You must be relieved Kunuma. Unfortunately, after it starting thawing here yesterday we had loads of the white stuff again last night and the roads were lethal this morning lorries jackknifing, cars in ditches people slipping over.....
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Post by zoe on Jan 13, 2010 15:39:52 GMT 1
We hd another 4 inches last night and it's snowing again.
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Post by sarah on Jan 13, 2010 16:02:54 GMT 1
We had loads last night as well. Roads were very, very scary. My 15/20min journey took 1hr 20mins and I think I was lucky not to have an accident. My journey took me down a couple of very scary hills (no-one was getting up them). Got sent home a bit early as I had planning time and things were much better, although not round our school - had to be dug out of car park!
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Post by exmoorfan on Jan 13, 2010 16:38:52 GMT 1
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Post by Claire on Jan 13, 2010 21:44:01 GMT 1
Yes its sadly stopped melting here, tho not snowing either. But the snow and slush on the paths has frozen and its treacherous to walk anywhere. I think we must have a very organised road gritting/clearing team as most of our roads are really good and clear. The junior school had to close cos someone nicked their supply of grit (the cat lit must have run out!)
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Post by kunuma on Jan 14, 2010 18:28:08 GMT 1
Same here - my jumping for joy was somewhat premature , as it half thawed and then froze solid, and stayed frozen all day in freezing fog - I'm going to get out tomorrow somehow though - I can't stand another day of black coffee with icing sugar in it and frozen veg - it's all I have got left!!!
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Post by exmoorfan on Jan 15, 2010 10:40:59 GMT 1
Been thawing slowly but now raining..
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2010 21:21:15 GMT 1
It's melting here too thank god!
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Post by garej on Jan 15, 2010 21:35:26 GMT 1
I had an bad spell on Tuesday - snowed really terrible. Anything that cleared had now been snowed upon.
The buses stopped running until today. In fact it was so bad that they were saying on the local radio that the bus company had suspended every single service throughout the county due to the fact that there was next to no grit left (2 days worth!) - though fortunately the postman still came. I had terrible trouble with opening the bin lids again - at the moment it is clear but that is due to the fact that they got emptied today. The snow has not melted and walking is terrible because you cant tell where the pavement ends. I have not left the flat, but fortunately I have had not to go anywhere (I have to next week as I only have salmon and bacon left in the house). I tried going to the art group but I could not manage very far due to the snow.
It rained here today, but we had fog so that has not done anything.
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Post by Claire on Jan 15, 2010 22:34:02 GMT 1
Poor you garej hope it gets better soon. It is still quite grotty here. Snow still lying around and on the streets has got that yukky dirty look from all the grime and mud. And there is still ice on the paths. And we've had the fog too. Hopefully it will melt properly next week when temps are due to rise a lot here. Hope its the same thoughout the rest of the country.
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Post by garej on Jan 15, 2010 23:02:46 GMT 1
Well where I am, the weather is supposed to be better Sun-Tues, but tomorrow it is forecasting heavy rain. But on Wednesday it is forecasting heavy snow to be back again. Bah.
I plan (subject to weather) to measure how many inches of snow it is on the patch of grass (or rather where the grass should be, I haven't seen the grass this year!) because it looks quite deep. There was forecast earlier on this week for deep drifts but we have not had any this week.
But yes, I hope that it gets better soon because I am running out of food for main meals, as if I have to rely on the salmon (which is in the freezer, and apart from bread and bacon that is all I have left in it) then it should be very boring food wise next week!
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Post by Claire on Jan 28, 2010 15:47:41 GMT 1
Hi all, just wondering if everyone has got rid of the white stuff and who has it forecast for the next couple of days? I was further up the valley on the weekend and we still have it there in some of the fields and hills, altho its gone from the town. But it is forecast for the north east for Fri and Sat, tho it looks like Yorkshire will miss it.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2010 17:17:54 GMT 1
The snow down here has been gone a while now, but I've heard rumours it's on it's way back again Hopefully it will miss us.
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Post by kunuma on Jan 28, 2010 20:57:55 GMT 1
The snow down here has been gone a while now, but I've heard rumours it's on it's way back again Hopefully it will miss us. AAARGH Rosie I am putting my fingers in my ears and humming I am not going to listen to anyone using the S word!! The pond here only defrosted a couple of days ago
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2010 8:23:33 GMT 1
Pouring with rain here so no S stuff so far thank god. Not that I like getting soaking wet and having to deal with grumpy wet ponies and soggy rugs Roll on Summer!
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