What has this bad weather taught you?

marmiterulesok

Menolly-what funny antics from your cats.I don't have a garden but have a balcony.Depending on how cold it was,the wee cat would either refuse to go out (giving me the 'are you mad?' look) or go out,sniffing the air for about 2 minutes.Then,obviously the cold would have penetrated through her fur and she would give a start and race to get inside!

I haven't had quite the levels of snow/freezing conditions that you've had in the UK (yet!),but have been following this thread with interest.I have found very useful:

Wearing layers/thermal underwear and knee-length wooly socks.

Having curtains up at all the windows,including the kitchen.

Having a well-stocked store cupboard,especially cumbersome items:cat litter,UHT milk,loo roll.Especially if you don't have a car and rely on public transport.

Has there been more snow overnight?

Stay warm x

suki1964

I have learned that I can actually shovel snow, Might not be the best but at least I got out there and cleared enough the cars could get off the drive :T

No matter how much salt you had delivered, you are going to run out

That day time temps of minus 7 arent really that cold

That although using water to clear the windscreen wont actually break the screen, it will freeze your locks :eek:

That no matter what stocks of food you have in the house - you still want a Chinese from the next village where none of the roads are gritted

The cleaning, laying and lighting the stoves, the shovelling of coal and bringing in the logs to last a day - allows you to eat as much hot buttered toast as you like

That I actually hate walking on snow more then I hate walking on sand - and I have to walk the dog daily

That walking through foot high snow is a great work out ( more buttered toast anyone?)

That no matter how hard Im finding it, there are others who are having it a lot worse and if I hear my step dad whinge on just hes not getting a paper before lunchtime and he couldnt be taken for his doctors appointment one more time - I might just be up on a murder charge

redlady_1

Mrs Stressed - £75 is not bad. I pay the same for my wood but I can agree. I filled my wood shed but next year will fill any available space!!!

mardatha

That however bad/cold it is......it will get worse ! :rotfl:

MicheH

I have learned to save a winter fuel fund through the summer to allievate that feeling of guilt/dread when you need to have theheating on longer.

To have a bigger store of toilet rolls than you think you might need.

Stock cupboards over filling.. I'd planned but not well enough

An abundance of short grain pudding rice and UHT/dried milk. We craved sweet stuff and this make in the slow cooker did the trick.

Thermals for all of us

Welly liners are a must

Buy a snow shovel.. I know! lol

Buy more candles and tea lights.

Overall we've managed fine but there's a lot to learn still

custardy

arran_m wrote: »

not to rely on a tesco delivery
to rely on my dads 4x4 to get me to the shop !

i guess its taught me how poorly equiped our services such as public transport and the royal mail are

given we have only had bad snow for the last two winters really, for many years
why do you think companies would have had equipment in place?
how many people have a 4x4 on standby so they can get to the shops in winter?
how many folks even bother to fit winter tyres?

Curiously, in 1959, an electric heating element, consisting of 47 miles (76 km) of cable, was embedded in the road surface of the Mound to prevent ice forming and ease the passage of cars and buses climbing the steep slope in the winter. This heating element is no longer used.

this is the mound normally



two days ago

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/getEdFrontImage.aspx?ImageID=472018

so the heating hasnt been needed in years.
if this continues then im sure they will probably have to look at bringing it in.

however until its a fairly certain requirement then the budget wont be made to cover that.
same for most companies

Rummer

I have learned to keep a supply of bottled water as all the water is off in my street and the local shop has none :eek:

My DD was very curios as to why mummy was bringing in the snow and putting it into the bath, she thought we were going to have ice baths :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

I now am stumped as to what to do for dinner as almost all my food needs water to cook and I can't get any dried pasta anyone????

suki1964

Rummer wrote: »

I have learned to keep a supply of bottled water as all the water is off in my street and the local shop has none :eek:

My DD was very curios as to why mummy was bringing in the snow and putting it into the bath, she thought we were going to have ice baths :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

I now am stumped as to what to do for dinner as almost all my food needs water to cook and I can't get any dried pasta anyone????

If the snow is clean - boil it - will be fine

pinkmami

Haven't really been affected by the snow (yet!) but I have 4 x 500ml catrons of UHT milk & plenty of Glade candles (Morrisons & Co-op offers) so as well as light incase of power cuts I'll have a nice smelling house too!! Kids are kitted out on gloves etc anyhow.....3 sledges in the garage & 2 small bags of rock salt too, 3 loaves in the freezer thanks to the Coop (again!) for the 2 for £2 offer on Hovis!

aplaceinthesun

Great thread, have really enjoyed reading it. Am sorry to hear how tough a lot of you are having it with the bad weather, down on the south coast we have been very lucky ..... Have learnt a few things though ... :

Leaving the heating on about 17 degrees all the time keeps the house just nice and warm, was surprised that I didnt need to have it any higher than that.

I was surprised that I felt so fed up when it was so very icy outside, am a self employed DHL courier and although they delivered my parcels for me to deliver (albeit at nearly 4pm each day...) they told me not to deliver until the saturday , boy did I feel guilty for not being brave enough to go but EVERYONE seemed very understanding.

Have learnt that it is better to have a manual car than an automatic in the ice..........

Lettuces can survive quite well in the snow ! The leaves look as though they wouldnt stand up to it but they all seem fine ! (Yes I know maybe I should have moved the pots into the greenhouse...!)

Take care everyone, keep safe. x