What has this bad weather taught you?

greenbee

That the sheepskin-lined walking boots that I invested in last year when my feet got cold walking to the shop are worth the luggage allowance ... it wasn't me who got cold feet on a work trip to Edinburgh last week, but OH who likes to travel light

That the woodstove I had installed last year is also a good investment... the central chimney helps keep the core of the house warm.

That I need to make the most of the break in the weather (and work travel) to bring logs from the store into the shed to dry (if anyone else keeps logs outside, they can get damp in snow, so bagging them up in potato sacks somewhere dry before bringing them into the house helps)

That 2 months of work travel with very few opportunities to shop mean my stocks are limited so I need to restock tomorrow and start making soup (I do have lots of stuff in the freezers, but need rice milk/UHT milk and stuff for making porridge mixes/muesli, as well as as much loo paper as I can stuff into the car!).

That every time I'm away the water appears to have been off (coughing and spluttering from the pipes) but I can STILL hear running water at night (and no, I'm not going to call the water company as they are SO rude and difficult about being told about the problem).

That I'm very lucky that I mostly work from home :cool:

bubbs

I have learnt NEVER take running water for granted, i have finally got hot and cold running water :j:j:j:j:j:jafter almost 2 weeks with out either!

bluebag

bubbs wrote: »

I have learnt NEVER take running water for granted, i have finally got hot and cold running water :j:j:j:j:j:jafter almost 2 weeks with out either!

Thank goodness. It's horrific being without water.

I had a water supply interruption for a week a few years ago, I missed the washing machine the most

I was pathetically grateful when clean water eventually came out of the tap.

parsonswife8

I have learnt that I had to stock up on everything, have had my flu jab,and so has DH, keep warm with layers of clothing and that DH and I need to stay in our "nest" until spring.:D


But we still check on our neighbours either side.:)

Kimitatsu

lil_me wrote: »

1. The country is insane, instead of thinking how will I get to work in bad weather if i change my job or where they live they think snow day
2. That some of my neighbours are ignorant so and so's
3. That if the council had sense they would grit/clear side roads so people don't park on the main road meaning they can't clear them and no buses
4. My bubba keg is fab
5. That even if this house is open plan we can close some rooms to keep heat in
6. That I love my fleece blankets
7. That people resent me' for paying the cost of running a 4x4 all year when the winter comes, if one more person says it's ok for some I will flatten them
8. To make sure I advise friends to take the towing eye cover off incase they need dragging out as doing it wrh cold hands in a blizzard hurts
9. That everything makes me' more careful - going elsewhere so we're not using up local supplies as we could? Social responsibility maybe
10. To save up more next year as my partners had no work on with the snow, was prepared for to happen a bit in January, but not December

Glad I am not the only one then lil me! My neighbours who I kept supplied with bread and milk when the snow came (none of it came back) or whose post I collected as the postie couldnt have got up the hill in his van (bless him he was so chuffed that I went to the sorting office) and who we checked on as they have almost run out of oil......

I was most unimpressed when I was told it was alright for some people......nope matey, just lived in the country all of my life and this is what being prepared means!

Hey ho, maybe next year they will be better! Mind you made me laugh when he was extolling the virtues of his electricity provider and that I should move to them, until I explained we have a capped rate and are paying 5% less than anyone else currently, and are immune from price rises, that was a mastercard moment!

rachbc

Not to keep your wellies in the car - I'v been wearing my snow boots for 2 weeks but due to the thaw it was muddy yesterday and when I put my wellies on they were FREEZING - at least I was prepared with extra thermal socks in my box in the boot!

[Deleted User]

To order any online items for Christmas EARLY - The deliveries have been a NIGHTMARE and items which usually take around 3-5 days to arrive are taking 10-14!

Plus the supermarket deliveries have been struggling ... But then if it doesn't arrive do we have to go out in the snow and struggle home with the shopping bags on the slippery roads?

I feel we should all look after each other as a community in times like these!!

But I live in London and no-one knows or helps anyone ... SAD ... Every man & woman for themselves round here - So who's looking after the old people who have no family around??

They can't be expected to struggle out in the cold and do their shopping

I feel for those who's heating and hot water has broken down in this weather ... Not that I can AFFORD my heating costs!!!!

Britain is not prepared for this weather ... But nor is my PURSE ( like everyone I suspect its costing an arm and a leg to keep warm - And fuel price hikes by the greedy top dogs isn't helping! )

mardatha

M&S and Boots have stopped taking orders for some parts of Scotland and deliveries are running so late that its a waste of time. I had to cancel. So yes, I'll order a lot earlier next year too

mrs-stressed

I have learned loads of stuff - especially off this thread. We Brits are so stoic arent we?? Went to bed feeling rather self righteous that I didnt put heating on yesterday until evening and even then it was warmer than of late. Woke up this morning to a massive hoar frost so everything is white again!! At least I have the essentials in. On a wish list I would love a) a breadmaker, b) a slow cooker (gave mine to my student son) c) a cupbaord FULL of provisions, d) a freezer FULL of food e) an all day and night garage at the top of my road f) newspaper deliveries, g) milk deliveries h) a postman who is not afraid and most of all kind neighbours. I have one (therefore I am rich) and she has been a godsend but the others are all heads down and dont make eye contact people.......Mind you on the flip side all their water and heating has been off and they have had frozen pipes....so maybe there is a god after all!!!!

cheers mrs s

bubbs

bluebag wrote: »

Thank goodness. It's horrific being without water.

I had a water supply interruption for a week a few years ago, I missed the washing machine the most

I was pathetically grateful when clean water eventually came out of the tap.

Yes and finally got the washing machine working :j:j it was giving an E90 error but with help from MSE we are sorted it with a hairdryer! so no more laundrette and paying £20 to get a weeks washing done and dry , this was NOT a service wash this was me doing it!!