Thursday 17 December

[Kath Mulligan]

Am looking out of the window as I type this to see little fluffy white bits floating down outside! Yes, the snow has arrived, only a light smattering at the moment, but am off to the shops in a few minutes to get what I need, then get back home just in case it decides to do some more later. I think we may escape quite lightly as we are protected by the Pennines. Suspect Gary and Gilly might have a different tale to tell since I think Norfolk and Suffolk are due to catch the worst of it today and tomorrow.

Kath

[jane jackson]

Glorious sunshine here Kath so I don't think John is going to get his white Christmas. I would like one as long as it doesn't go on into New Year when we want to be out and about!

Hope you get enough snow to make it Christmassy without curtailing your activities.

[Barbara]

No snow here either, Jane....we have lovely sunshine too at the moment. It's been in the mid 20s all this week, so really enjoyable. I think, however, it's going to hot up toward Christmas Day.
I hope you enjoy your smattering of snow, Kath. It sounds delightful.
:smow:

[Kath Mulligan]

The snow flurries we had this morning soon disappeared when the sun came out but it is now snowing again and beginning to look as though it means it this time! The wind is bitingly cold too today, needed my asthma inhaler when I was out this morning cos I was wheezing like an old stream train as I was walking back up our hill!!

Kath

[adesmith]

Brrrr!!! Its very cold in Wales all of a sudden. They said there may be a few snow showers but nothing much. Keep safe and warm Kath.

http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/weihnachten/xmas-smiley-035.gif

[gloria townsin]

The smiley snowflake has to be one of my favourites....so sweet. Chilly isn't it??

[gloria townsin]

It continued snowing overnight so the footprints of Thursday night were obliterated. The wind howled round the bungalow and I thought of Minack in the gales. Today, bright sunshine, cars in driveways, children on sledges being pulled by Dad's who have stayed at home. Not sure if the schools here had finished for the holidays but there's certainly no sign of children in them. I hope they did finish or it will mean they missed the last fun day. The Minack web-cam shows a lovely sunny scene, doubt it's as warm as it looks though.

[adesmith]

Well we had a very stormy night! It was so windy that it lifted our loft hatch off, took tiles off a neighbours roof and ripped our new greenhouse to shreds! I asked at school whether anyone else had experienced it and they were all surprised! It must have been just local to us. In the summer we have noticed that at times you get a nice breeze off the river so maybe this was the more extreme version! Its very cold as well.

[jane jackson]

Have just come home after an evening with friends who live off Alexandra Road. As we opened their front door to leave ~ there was SNOW on the garden and pavements ~ wonderful! It was really great walking home, such a lovely clear starry night with just enough snow to be seasonal but not enough to cause us a problem. Mind you tomorrow morning might be another matter if it freezes overnight. At least it's the weekend so not so many folk going to work. It's still 2c at the moment. Lots of Christmas trees lit up in peoples living rooms, so pretty.

Hope everyone can out and about tomorrow to do what they want to do.

[gloria townsin]

Got an e-mail from my friend in Spain, her brother and sister in law returned to England last night, they were travelling to their daughters home in Essex. They left Spain at 8.30pm and were finally picked up by their daughter at 6.30am!! The plane wasn't allowed to land at Stansted and was diverted to Bristol, the crew weren't allowed to give the passengers any refreshments, as they had thought they would be picked up straight away they only wore light jackets, so they bought newspapers and stuffed them inside their clothes to keep out the bitter wind. I should think they were never so glad to be back inside. One of those things that make you feel as though you are in a nightmare.
Still deep snow here and the Garria that is outside the back door has a big branch that is so bent over with the weight of snow you walk right into it as you go out. Usually it's nowhere near the door.
Another greenhouse tale of woe Adrian....are you competing with our one at Bryher?? :fencing:

[adesmith]

Still no snow for us but it is a very crisp and wintery morning. Its nice to have a bit of cold and seasonal weather in the run up to Christmas. Rachel bought me a Cornish Christmas card when we were in Penzance in the autumn. It is a photograph of the cliffs and engine houses at Botallack covered in snow. They probably look like that at the moment Jane.

I did think about your greenhouse at Bryher Gloria and Johns as we were surveying the damage. It really was torn and Rachel spent ages taping it up whilst I was at work. You can buy replacement covers but I am reluctant to put one on in case the same thing happens again. Not sure what I can do to prevent it. Still at least we didnt lose tiles like the lady next door but one!

http://planetsmilies.net/xmas-smiley-4617.gif

[Kath Mulligan]

I usually take off the cover to my mini greenhouse for the winter since the last time I left it on, it got completely shredded by the winds. It is only used for bringing on bedding plants in the spring so is empty in winter anyway.

Another light sprinkling of snow here overnight and a very hard frost so we have a nice winter wonderland out there this morning, with bright sunshine and blue skies. Lovely to look at but breathtakingly cold.

Kath

[jane jackson]

You sound as though you have a lovely seasonal scene Kath. Our tiny bit of snow has gone now after some sleet this morning. It did go down to minus 4 last night so some of our plants aren't looking very good but hopefully they will pick up. The fuschias have had it and they were flowering so nicely too. Our mini greenhouse cover shredded quite badly a few weeks ago. We can't remove the cover as we've attached the greenhouse to the fence behind.

That sounded an awful journey for your friends Gloria. Those poor folk caught up on Eurostar too, especially the children.

[adesmith]

I think that might have to be the case Kath. I have got some plants overwintering in there but to be honest I loaded up the old smaller one with most of the plants. Just didnt occur to me that it could be such a problem with it being down the side of the house and up against a tall fence. I wondered if securing it more at the bottom might help, stopping the wind from getting under it. Oh well, I am not going to do anything with it now until after Christmas.

Nice to have seen a bit of snow Jane even if it didnt last long. We saw a few flakes when we were driving back from Cardiff. They did say on the radio that there is still a chance of a white Christmas but I dont mind, the view across the river this morning with frosty fields and a bit of mist was beautiful and wintry.

That was awful about the plane and the Eurostar. When I heard the people talking about the Eurostar it made me feel quite claustophobic! It seems ridiculous that in a situation like that there is no contact possible and even that in that time someone could not have got in to help or reassure them. It sounded like the staff were a bit hopeless because they wouldnt give them food or drink and they refused to open the windows in the heat (maybe incase there was a fire?). You would have thought that they would have been trained for such eventualities. At least you dont have such troubles travelling to Cornwall!

http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/weihnachten/xmas-smiley-005.gif

[Kath Mulligan]

Have to say all these travel problems, airlines going bust etc, make me very glad that I am staying either at, or very close to home over Christmas. For any FOMS friends who are planning to travel, hope you have a safe and uneventful journey with no unforseen hazards.

I have been busy cheering myself up by booking another holiday for next year. A friend (who lives in Sidcup) and I were planning to head for Cornwall next May/June, but the logistics and the expense have defeated us since we were both reluctant to drive that distance on our own, so were going by train, then hiring a car whilst there. When we totted up the cost of the train fares, hire of cottage and hire of car, it just became way too expensive, so we have scrapped that idea and have booked a cottage at Wells-next-the-Sea in Norfolk for a week next September instead. Dorota has never been to Norfolk before, and is quite happy to drive there from Kent, and I shall get the train to Norwich, where she will pick me up. We changed dates from June to September as her second grandchild is due at the end of June, so obviously she wants to be at home for that.

And how about this for forward planning!! - Elizabeth has booked tickets this morning for the three of us to see Peter Kay in Manchester on ..... wait for it ........ 5 October 2011!!! How mad is that?! Hope I still find him as funny in two years time!

Kath

[jane jackson]

Wow that is forward planning Kath! I thought I was in advance booking up for Jane McDonald for June 2010.

You're also well froward with your September holiday plans with your friend but it's lovely to have these things to look forward to.

Just finished watching Strictly ~ so pleased Chris has won!

[Kath Mulligan]

Yes, I am so happy that Team Cola won. Thought both couples put on a superb show but Chris and Ola entertained me more - had a smile on my face all through their Charleston, Lindy Hop and Showdance.

It's been snowing very hard here tonight and I can hear two cars really struggling to get up our hill - hope nothing slides sideways into my little motor!

Kath

[gloria townsin]

I did watch Strictly in the end......I was kind of glad to be sitting on the fence and didn't vote. The nearest I can get to enthusiasm (really because I supported Ali and Brian all the way through) is that I'm glad Ricky didn't win, which isn't really nice, is it? Yes they were good and the better of the two dancers is Ricky but I just couldn't warm to him however good ...... have no idea why, he seems a nice chap. Ola has so much personality and she brought it into her dances, their show dance was way better than Ricky and Natalie's, I'm no fan of acrobatics and thought last week's professional show dance was spectacularly awful!! So didn't appreciate all the Ricky and Natalie lifts, however well executed. When I think about it I am glad Chris and Ola won, they were more entertaining and I think the judges pretty much knew they would win which is why Len said Ricky could go away knowing he was the better dancer. The forums have all predicted a win for Chris and Ola so I think, other than something going dreadfully wrong, they weren't going to fail. So what now to watch on Sat. evenings? I have a feeling we were a bit bereft last year at this time. Cranford tomorrow will help, when will we see another series of Lark Rise.....I wonder.

[gloria townsin]

Oh, by the way, it's snowing here and my car is already covered, Eddie having scraped it all off earlier.

Well done on getting tickets for Jane and Peter Kay, did you see him being his usual self on TV last night?

Watched 'Love Actually' - Again!! I really like the way they link in all the stories.....some good acting from Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, et al.......always feel so sad for the chap who loves Juliet (Kiera Knightley) and the American girl who puts her brother first. Ahh!!!

[Barbara]

I hope you're all keeping warm.
It's interesting to read of the varied snowfall in different parts of the country.
The Eurostar problem does make the mind boggle. Isn't it amazing that human endeavour was ingenius enough to tunnel under the English Channel, yet no-one had the foresight to assume that there may be a condensation issue with these trains in such cold weather.
And then to leave those people in the tunnel without adequate provision...well, what can you say about that?
Funny old world, isn't it.
:confused:

[Kath Mulligan]

I hope you're all keeping warm.
It's interesting to read of the varied snowfall in different parts of the country.
The Eurostar problem does make the mind boggle. Isn't it amazing that human endeavour was ingenius enough to tunnel under the English Channel, yet no-one had the foresight to assume that there may be a condensation issue with these trains in such cold weather.
And then to leave those people in the tunnel without adequate provision...well, what can you say about that?
Funny old world, isn't it.
:confused:

What we can say about that Barbara, is that it is just about typical of the way this country is run nowadays!!:frown::fie: Being somewhat claustrophobic I have always said I would never travel through the Channel Tunnel and what happened the other day has served to strengthen that resolve.

Typical also of this country is the way it grinds to a complete halt when a few centimetres of snow falls - flights cancelled, trains and buses cancelled, schools closed etc - other countries must laugh their sides sore at the way we are so unprepared for a bit of winter weather. I read the other day that many councils have only 6 days stockpile of rock salt in hand which is just plain ridiculous! It's December for goodness sake, we should be expecting some ice and snow and be prepared for it! Sorry, rant over! :redface::D

Gloria, I agree with you about Ricky and Natalie's showdance. Yes the lifts were very good but that, to me at least, was more of a gymnastics display rather than dancing (as was that dreadful professional showdance last week) and it bored me. I was expecting something like it as soon as I saw Natalie's leotard outfit. Chris might not be anything like as good a dancer as Ricky, but their showdance had me grinning like an idiot all through it and Elizabeth and I cheered when he leapt onto the judges table at the end! Great fun. What was very nice to see though was the obvious close friendship between all four of the finalists - a very pleasant change from some of the nastiness which has been going on on some of the forums between each couple's supporters. I never watch Breakfast TV but might make an exception tomorrow morning to see Bill and Sian making a huge fuss of Chris.

Kath

[jane jackson]

I loved the way Chris jumped on the Judges' table too! I was totally amazed at his athletic ability as I'd only just marvelled at the way he was on his knees and just easily sprang up into a standing position. These days with my hip problem I struggle to get up at all from a kneeling position!!! I also loved their outfits especially the Charleston one.

As Gloria says at least we have Cranford this evening although we have a friend coming round for supper so will record it in case she doesn't watch it. AND THIS AFTERNOON Gloria we have Show Jumping from Olympia so I shall be curled up on the sofa for 2 hours. The sun is shining too so hope any of you who have lots of snow are still able to get out and about.

[Kath Mulligan]

We have had lots of snow here today and the girls and I have been out walking in it this afternoon, taking photos. Claire is now attempting to get home - I wanted her to stay here but she is going to give it a try and come back if necessary. Don't know why we pay our council taxes because there has been no sign of gritters or snow ploughs all day, even on the main road so only 4x4s are able to move with any ease. We watched an ordinary saloon car abandon the idea of getting up our hill, they turned round and promptly slid crabwise all the way back down again. Fortunately for the driver nothing was coming on the main road, otherwise he would have slid right into its path. My car is staying put right outside the house until this lot has gone!!

I too shall be watching Cranford tonight. Love Judi Dench in anything, and love a good period drama too.

Kath

[Linda]

we have finally had snow!!! and a decent amount too!

Now I kow tomorrow I shall be wishing it wasnt here when we try to go to work...but our gritters are normally very good...guess thats one thing about up here it doesnt all grind to a halt as they are prepared for it.

I am suffering though with a sore throat/painful neck and aching joints with the beginnings of a cough. Just in time for Xmas....

We shall start working on the new forum and website over the hols......so any thoughts please let us know.

:):)

[gloria townsin]

Linda haven't you finished for Christmas yet?

This is definitely where 4x4's come into their own. We live in a side road and that is still snowy, but fortunately it's only a small crescent then you are onto useable roads then onto the main roads which are clear. Wonder what Luton will be like tomorrow for my friend's Mother to fly to Spain and for Jeff and Nina on Wed. All those poor people stranded, apparently the snow causing the problems is in Northern France.......the trains don't usually have this to cope with and they've 'injested' snow.....all the money they invest in research before they get to build such things you would have thought they would have covered that possiblity.
Watched some of the show jumping, more Olympia tomorrow, but not certain I'll be able to watch.
Jeff's made some chocolate truffles today - not sure what he's put in them but boy are they rich and boozy!!

[Kath Mulligan]

Jeff's made some chocolate truffles today - not sure what he's put in them but boy are they rich and boozy!!

:D:alcoholic::girl_wink::party:

The sort you don't want to eat and then be breathalysed?!!

Kath

[gloria townsin]

:D:alcoholic::girl_wink::party:

The sort you don't want to eat and then be breathalysed?!!

Kath

Them's the ones......hic!!!:dance3:

[adesmith]

They sound nice delicious! Rupert and I are going to make some Peppermint Creams for Christmas Day but Chocolate Truffles do sound rather nice.

We finally got a bit of snow so it was a very Christmassy scene when we opened the curtains this morning. It is only light but it is very icy and Rachel had a job de-icing the car when she took Rupert to the doctors earlier. The snow was heavier in the valleys and there were some nasty accidents. The mountains over Cwmbran are snow covered and the forest at Wentwood and the hills out towards Usk look very pretty. Were we not out this afternoon we may have taken a drive out there.

We are off for afternoon tea at The Celtic Manor this afternoon. You may have heard about Celtic Manor because it will be the venue for the Ryder Cup in 2010. It is very posh and they do a special afternoon tea for Christmas (we have been before). Some friends said they wanted to go and when we agreed they said it was their treat! They have a huge buffet of sandwiches, cakes and Christmas goodies and you eat as much as you want. The hotel is quite spectacular and you are treated like a VIP.

Unfortunately Rachel is then at work Tuesday and Wednesday. On Wednesday I am going to do as much of the cooking as I can (with Ruperts help !!!) but I thought tomorrow we would go for a little trip out and walk at Raglan Castle. we have decided to have some white cyclamen for our Christmas table so we will probably call in at the garden centre as well.

[Kath Mulligan]

Hope you've enjoyed your day out at the Celtic Manor today Adrian, sounds just the thing to get you into the Christmas spirit. We always used to make peppermint creams for Christmas too - my grandad loved them so my brother and I used to make him a box of those, plus a box of Russian toffee (a cross between fudge and butter tablet). One year my brother didn't realise I had already added some peppermint essence, so he added more ..... the result was eye-wateringly strong sweets!

The gritting lorry didn't make it up our road until about 9.45am today so most folk up here, Elizabeth included, have taken the day off work. When even 4x4s were going crabwise down the hill, it just wasn't worth the risk. It has been sunny all day so some of the snow has melted a bit to slush, but that is now freezing hard, with temperatures due to go down to about -7 tonight so tomorrow's rush hour will be equally hazardous I suspect. The main roads are now clear, getting to them is the problem. We have been out and about taking more photos again - and watching stranded vehicles slithering about all over the place!

Kath

[Janet Swan]

... we have decided to have some white cyclamen for our Christmas table so we will probably call in at the garden centre as well.

Small white cyclamen are really lovely on the table. I was given some in a beautiful pot a couple of weeks ago, and they are lasting well. They seem to need a bit more water than I expected, so I check the pot every other day, and top up with tepid water when needed.

Janet

[Janet Swan]

I have been busy cheering myself up by booking another holiday for next year.

Kath

So have I! Last year, while staying in Alnmouth, Northumbria, I got talking to another customer in the tea shop. She was staying with friends from Cumbria at the beautiful Franciscan retreat house in Alnmouth, and I was quite interested in this. She emailed me a week ago to say that the party from Cumbria have one spare place for next June, and would I like to join them? How nice is that? So I said yes by return, and feel quite excited about it.

Janet

[Linda]

Kath I love the sound of the Russian toffee can you give us the recipe?? The Scots have tablet which is sickly sweet but I love it...yet I miss the softness of fudge which is smoother.

No Gloria dont finish until Tuesday! Cant believe how late we are this year! However, I didnt go in today and spent the morning in bed as I really felt quite unwell. Apparently though the school was closed! Am hoping it might be tomorrow..with some luck!

[Kath Mulligan]

Mum's got the recipe still I think for Russian toffee so will ask her for it and post it here. Years since I have made it so can't remember it off the top of my head, but I do know it uses a full tin of Nestles Milk.

Kath

[gloria townsin]

Hey Kath - that sounds like a recipe I'd like to have a bash at........a full tin of condensed milk eh? did you eat it out of the tin if you got the chance, and on bread and butter? Yummy, gloopy stuff...have a feeling my Nan's memorable war time sweets were made with it.

Poor you Linda. Hope you are feeling better today.Only tomorrow to go now anyway.

Your Christmas table will look beautiful with white cyclamen Adrian and how lovely to have a Christmas Tea outing. When I was young my Mum and Dad took us to the West End every year to do Christmas shopping. We used to go to a well known (but at this moment forgotten the name) department store for a Christmas Tea treat. Nowadays it wouldn't be anything out of the ordinary but to us it was like dining at the Ritz. We pretended we were used to eating that way all the time.

Holidays being booked right left and centre.......good on you both!!

Had a horrendous time getting into Watford Tesco, the roads were chokka......having got to the car park I left Eddie to park the car and thought 'here I go, into mayhem in the store' but not a bit of it, easily walked round the aisles and straight to the check out. True they are open 24 hours but what the hold up going in was I haven't a clue. Came out to more road mayhem and by now it was slushy snowing, turning into the real mc-coy.......jams everywhere, took some side roads but they were getting decidedly icy. Driving in second gear on a main road, doing about 25-28 mph and suddenly there I was going sideways down the road. Fortunately managed to keep cool and gently straightened the car up, fortunately no-one close up behind or in front ........ phew......was extremely glad to be home after that I can tell you. Keep safe on the roads folks.

Wonder what Wednesday will hold for Nina and Jeff's evening flight.....we will have to take them to Stansted and I have horrible memories of another snowy journey we made to take Jeff then pick him up again a couple of hours and more heavy snowfall later, because his flight couldn't take off, then back the next day when it could. Horrors!!

[Kath Mulligan]

Hope you manage to get Jeff and Nina to the airport ok on Wednesday, Gloria, and that the flights are back to normal by then. Looked pretty chaotic at airports around the country on the news tonight. Very little is managing to get up our road again tonight with today's melting slush having turned to solid ice. Was supposed to be taking Mum for a hearing test early tomorrow morning, but have cancelled that. She flatly refuses to go out in the snow, and I am reluctant to trust my car to stop at the bottom of our hill!!

Re the condensed milk, yes, I plead guilty to eating it out of the tin as a child - remember making myself sick by eating far too much of it one day when Mum had gone out shopping and I was in the house on my own!

Linda, hope you are feeling much better in time for Christmas - if I were you, I should plead illness again tomorrow if it is the last day, even if you are feeling better!

Kath

PS Just been watching a programme about Victoria Wood on TV - what a tonic, have laughed my sides sore. Can't wait for her Christmas programme.

[gloria townsin]

Victoria Wood is genius...she writes so well and Julie Walters is hysterically good in roles she writes for her. Used to love 'Acorn Antiques'. Celia Imrie is another great character actress.

[adesmith]

We had a lovely time at Celtic Manor and because it is slightly higher up than we are it was quite a bit more snowy up there. There was a big warm fire and lots of goodies. They look after you well (mind you they should for the price at £20 each!). One of the big windows overlooks the Usk valley and the forest of Wentwood. There was low cloud over the trees and it was all snowy - it was like a Christmas card! The other window overlooks the M4 so that wasnt quite as festive!

Well Rachel is at work today so I have a little boy to entertain. I promised that I would take him for a walk at Raglan Castle but I am a bit worried about the roads. Dense freezing fog has just descended as well. I think we will just wrap up warm and see how far we get. If it is too icy or dangerous we will just come home. Not even sure if the castle will be open, you know what they are like for health and safety!

http://www.karlsforums.com/forums/images/smilies/knight.gif

[jane jackson]

Good morning folks! Although we have no snow here it is very icy this morning so much so that Bryan couldn't walk up our path to go and get the paper. We were going to take the dogs to Sennen but with that hill I think we'll stick to Long Rock even with going later when the ice should have melted ~ tide in too far at the moment anyway.

My friend in Amersham sent me photos of her garden Gloria so I know what you have to contend with. Reminds me of days of commuting from Berkhamsted to Watford. We lived on the A41 but were higher up with a small service road between the 2 front lawns. Once I'd made it home from work in the snow and ice (and been down the lane to feed the horses and break the ice on the water trough) it was fascinating watching the queues crawling slowly along into town ~ such a feeling of relief that I was now safe at home. If we woke up to a heavy snowfall it was wonderful standing in the middle of the A41 with not a car in sight ~ I was crossing it to do the horses not just doing it for fun!
Christmas Day used to be like that too ~ a completely empty road.

Your tea at Celtic Manor Adrian sounded a wonderful start to Christmas in a great setting. Hope you make it for your castle walk today.

Sorry to hear you're not feeling too good Linda, hope you improve very soon.

The Russian Fudge sound lovely Kath. I make a chocolate fudge from my Mum's recipe which is soft but doesn't use condenced milk. It's all in the beating at the end which doesn't always go right ~ my arm gets tired!

I watched a little of Victoria Wood last night as I'd recorded the programme so will continue today. I agree she's brilliant especially with Julie Walters ~ didn't they look young? I cetainly remember Victoria Wood from "That's Life" alon with Jake Thackeray ~ he was good too ~ think I've remembered the name right.

All this talk of holidays! I might go to The Scillies in April as a friend wants to see what it's like over there. I nearly had a fit when I looked at the price of the Scillonian at £95 return as we're used to only going for a day trip nowadays which is £35 and we usually manage to find a voucher in the paper for half price. We were only going to stay one night but it makes sense to stay for two if we're paying that much for the journey. Bryan says he'll stay at home with the dogs as putting them in kennels would add even more to the cost ~ think he doesn't really fancy going around with the 2 of us chatting!

Do hope Jeff and Nina get their flight ok Gloria and you have a safe journey to and from Stanstead and everybody else who is travelling.

[Kath Mulligan]

I was just about to venture out to try to dig my car out so that I could attempt to do the final Christmas food shop, but when I opened the door, it's starting to snow again, so don't know what to do now. Do I wait and risk it getting worse, or go now and risk not being able to get back up the hill - jury's out on that one, think I'll have a hot chocolate while I decide!

Don't envy you your dense freezing fog, Adrian. I honestly think that is the weather form I hate most. Vin and I once stayed overnight at a motorway service station on the M6 when we ran into freezing fog. I have never been so scared in my life as I was for the four or five miles we had to drive along the motorway to get there. We were going very slowly, but worrying all the time that someone may come along and slam into the back of us - and we, of course, had no idea of what was ahead of us either. Nightmare journey!

Kath

[Linda]

I once thought living on Scillies would be cheaper than here...till I too found out that they get charged more than we do for the ferry and for deliveries...

our ferry costs are £7.90 per person return and £121 for a six journey ticket for the car....so a round trip is £56, we got a cheap deal last Sat for £50 all in but we only get that at Xmas time....seven years ago it used to cost us £32 all in...

Scotland is looking at something called Road Equivalent Tariff which is being trialled on one of the far northern islands and we hope it works and we get it a lot cheaper. They use this system in the Northern European countries

No there are no discounts for anything on the ferry so it costs this even when you go over to the hospital...etc... having said that I should get free passenger transport when I am 60...so that will be something....

I adore the Scillies though and think it would be quite lovely to live there...

[jane jackson]

Gloria, I've just spoken with my friend in Amersham and yesterday they went to Tesco in Amersham and tried to leave in their car at 4.15pm and eventually got home at 7.45pm ~ their home is only one mile away but up a hill and the traffic was completely stuck in the car park because of the problems people were having in trying to drive up the hills out of the valley.

Kath, do hope you manage to get out safely to finish your shopping.

Blue skies and sunshine here but perhaps you don't want to know that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kath Mulligan]

Have abandoned the shopping trip for now, Jane. After spending about 25 minutes clearing all the snow and ice off my car, we then had a whiteout blizzard that has completely covered it again! Still snowing very hard now. Claire is stuck at work in Romiley, says cars and lorries are abandoned everywhere, Elizabeth is on her way home from her job in Macclesfield. She is bringing work home so if needs be she doesn't need to go in again until after Christmas.

It is looking very pretty and Christmassy out there but a bit of a pest when I still have things I need to do!!

Kath

[gloria townsin]

I guess you might have seen the reports on TV last night although it might only have been reported in our area news. My friend in Spain now has a house full of food and only her and her husband to eat it.......her Mother and step Father boarded their flight yesterday, couldn't be cleared for take off, waited were cleared then a passenger was taken ill so they had to wait for the ambulance to take him/her off the aircraft by which time it had all iced up again and they couldn't take off. So home they went to make tea with condensed milk and do some food shopping for Christmas. There were no seats available until New Year and then only two which were quickly taken, so that's the end of their hopes of Christmas in Spain. I feel so sorry for them and my friend.
I can but hope Nina and Jeff will be o.k. they have an evening flight so not a nice time to be travelling anyway. The only good thing for them is should they not be able to travel there is plenty here for them to eat so their Christmas won't be a complete disaster. We'll see.
Took my hairdresser four hours to get from Watford to Croxley, a journey that takes 15 minutes tops!! She was stuck further back in the same jam as us. She also skidded where I did, so well done the Gritters!!! grrhhh!! what do we pay the council for?

[adesmith]

Kath you are better off at home! Gloria I do hope that Nina and Jeff have a good flight, without any difficulties.

What a day! It started to go wrong when Rupert filled his nappy and me in my wisdom (because it was a bit messy) decided to just pop him in the bath so I could hose him down. Well as I went to put him in the bath he slipped and shall we just say it was everywhere! He was covered, the shower curtain is now bleaching etc etc. The trouble is that you get out of practice of having him for a whole day! Arrived at a very foggy and snowy Raglan Castle to find it was closed so we made our way back to the garden centre on the mission for the White Cyclamen. All the Cyclamen and everything else was wilted because of the frost (they had fleece over everything). After a bowl of chips and a can of coke each Rupert decided that he wanted to go to the forest instead and I knew that if we cut over the top we could get to Chepstow where there is another Garden Centre. I decided that we would give it a go and just turn back if the country roads were too icy. They were all clear though (we havent had much snow) and it was fine until half way up a very steep, windy, narrow road in Wentwood Forest , just where the fog re-appeared when the car started sliding and then just wouldnt go any further! Although cars had obviously been up the road it was just too icy and we were stuck in the middle of nowhere! I was really worried and decided the only thing to do was reverse as best as I could, knowing that I would be sliding, until I could turn around. This we did but I was shaking like a leaf and I had little control! I did learn a lesson though and that is just because the road looks safe ... At the bottom we parked and had half an hour playing in the snow which was fun. We then plodded on to Chepstow on a safe road but then got stuck in the biggest traffic jam ever because the Severn Bridge and the Second Severn Crossing had been closed again because of falling ice. Unfortunately when this happens everywhere around here gets blocked with traffic. When we eventually got to Chepstow they didnt have what we wanted! Luckily heading back to Newport the other way there was no traffic. I was ready for a cup of tea when I got in!

[gloria townsin]

You tend to forget at this distance from having young children the less lovely moments - pooey nappies for instance. But a small price to pay. Glad you didn't skate too far in the car. It's a weird and rather unpleasant feeling when the car is moving and you haven't done anything to make it, worse still you can't stop it either. Hope you track down the white cyclamen - I noticed the cyclamen they had outside M&S today were really keeled over, have no idea why someone didn't think to keep them indoors. Don't remember any white ones.

[Kath Mulligan]

I've got some white ones, along with deep pink and paler pink ones in a planter outside - at least I did have before they got buried under all the snow! No doubt they will emerge in a day or two looking very bedraggled.

I ordered some narcissi from the Scilly Isles for Christmas and they tried to deliver them this afternoon whilst Elizabeth and I were venturing out to Morrisons, so shall have to slither and slide to the Post Office early tomorrow morning to collect them. Something tells me that I shall be going on foot rather than in the car though although the gritter has just gone past while I was typing this - that's the third time tonight so it must be very bad out there.

Kath

[adesmith]

They will be a taste of spring for you Kath! We never got around to ordering any in the end, maybe we will treat ourselves in the new year.

I have instructions for the Cyclamen shopping in the morning. We will try Blooms/Wyevale and see what they have to offer. They did have some big ones at Chepstow but they were too big for the pots that we bought and they didnt look in the best of shape. I also have to look out for some misletoe. Failing all else I could give M&S a try but we dont have one near we live, so its a bit of a drive or a visit to Newport city centre.

[jane jackson]

Oh dear Adrian, you have had a trying day after your lovely Celtic Manor outing. At least you didn't damage the car or yourselves. It is scary when a car starts to slide. My Mini Estate used to be wonderful in the snow but the Metro was dreadful.

Kath, what a nuisance your flowers arrived when you were out ~ isn't that just typical. Another journey for you tomorrow, hope it's not too icy.

[adesmith]

How terrible about the coach crash in Cornwall! Those poor people, it must have been terrifying. A trip to the Christmas lights in Mousehole ending in such tragedy! Makes you realise just how treacherous the icy roads are. Rupert and I are going to get out and about early (he says with fingers crossed) on the mission for the Cyclamen but we are going to take it very easy on the roads. It is so white with frost that it looks as if it has snowed again! Keep safe everyone, if you are venturing out.

PS Jane, I only have to get through today on my own and then Rachel is off work - less potential for domestic disasters then!

[jane jackson]

It was dreadful news to hear of the coach crash with all those poor people having enjoyed a wonderful evening. Nothing worse than black ice is there. It certainly was cold yesterday evening. Now it's raining and only tiny areas of ice on the paving slabs so hopefully the roads will be ok. Just the worst time of year for people wanting to travel.
I spoke to a friend on Exmoor and although the snow is mostly just on the fields and the roads aren't too bad, she can't risk getting her horse from the stable to the field because of the icy conditions in the yard.

[Kath Mulligan]

What a dreadful thing to happen, why does there always seem to be a tragedy just before Christmas? Elizabeth has just sent me a message to say she got to work safely, ironically our side roads, although still slushy were better than the main A6 which was covered in black ice.

Hope all FOMS people stay safe and well in these awful conditions. Just read a report in this morning's paper by an American meteorologist who says that we could be in for much more of this for the next three months! Oh please, let him be wrong!

On the brighter side, I have just been counting up on my calendar and 12 weeks tomorrow I shall be on my way to Memorial Weekend - what a lovely thought to keep me going as I go to dig out my car - again!!

Kath

[Janet Swan]

Something tells me that I shall be going on foot rather than in the car though although the gritter has just gone past while I was typing this - that's the third time tonight so it must be very bad out there.

Kath

Oh, do tell me what a gritter looks like 'cause I've not seen one yet!!! Since last Thursday, my car has been in its garage with snow well up the door. The side roads on my estate are like ice rinks and I'm too scared to drive in this, so have been out and about on foot (my walking boots have never looked so pristine!) and the local bus service. The state of frozen footpaths and pavements is absolutely dreadful. Today I made my way down a footpath from my parents home while clinging to every branch and twig I could get my hands on - the path was truly treacherous. I must have looked quite a ridiculous but actually I was very scared indeed, until I reached the comparative safety of the next level part of the footpath. Needless to say, I am well and truly fed up with these Siberian conditions now, although I do admit that the trees look so beautiful covered in snow and frost.

I guess I shouldn't really make a fuss - my 94 year old father had been out clearing a path to their home!!!

Janet

[jane jackson]

Well done your Dad, Janet! Bit of a worry for you though. My friend in Amersham is fed up with all the snow and ice too.

[Kath Mulligan]

I did venture out in my car today and managed to get the last bits of shopping done, which is just as well as it is now snowing hard once again and the garden path which I had so carefully cleared is now white over again!

Lots of the side roads around here haven't been gritted either, Janet. I suspect ours gets done because it leads to the local golf club where several councillors are members - cynical, moi?!!:tongue: Mum's road is a nightmare mix of slush in the middle with deep snow at either side, so she is having doubts about joining us here for a meal tomorrow evening. We'll see what tomorrow brings, if it doesn't snow too much more I'll go and dig her out then all three of us will go to collect her - she can have Elizabeth and I either side of her and Claire waiting with the car. One way or another, I'm sure we will get her here.

Kath

I have been making good use of my hiking boots and pole, so have felt fairly safe even on the icy pavements.

[gloria townsin]

Knew I should have bought my walking pole back from Bryher.....
Janet don't worry about how you look, the main thing is you don't fall. Don't blame you at all for being fearful, this weather is no mild fun thing it's got to a pretty serious state now.

[Barbara]

Kath, I think you may be right about your road being gritted because it's the one that leads to the golf club - how perceptive of you.
Had to laugh at your casual remark of going around to your mum's to "dig her out". It conjured up quite a comical image in my mind. :laugh:
Sincerely though, I presume this cold snap you are all experiencing at the moment is worse than the average. I really had no idea of the inconvenience and danger that arose in such conditions, especially the ice on the roads.

[Kath Mulligan]

I fear the black ice most of all because until you suddenly feel your steering going very light you think you are just driving on a normal wet surface. At least with visible snow and slush, whilst it is a nightmare to deal with, you do know what you are facing.

Kath

[adesmith]

Talk about In The Bleak Midwinter! Its frosty, snowy and very thick fog here! Festive weather for Christmas Eve but I am glad that we are not out at all today. Lots of preparation and then at 3pm we will listen to Carols from Kings, make some spicy Lambswool cider, light some candles and bring in the holly, mistletoe and the ivy. That is when Christmas really starts for us. When the little boy sings 'One in Royal ....'

[Liz]

Well at last Shropshire has joined in with the snowy weather.

We left here early yesterday afternoon to visit John's parents in cold but clear weather and stopped off at Sainsbury's on the way back home. In the time it took to shop the snow came down even though there had been nothing about it in the forecasts.

We had a very slippery, dangerous journey home through the lanes (which hadn't been gritted) and slipped into a hedgerow at one point. Luckily there was no ditch or we really would have been in trouble.

This morning it all looks totally beautiful. The snow on the trees is quite magical and there's a mist hanging over the valleys with the tops of the hills peeping through - wonderful.

Even though the snow is such a problem for everyone I can't help my very childlike reaction to it all. It will be the first white Christmas we've had here for years - must find the sledge!

[jane jackson]

We had ice and frozen windscreens this morning but nothing really compared to the rest of the country and the sun came out by lunchtime when we took the dogs to Sennen beach which was quite busy with dogs and young children and a couple of teenagers paddling barefoot!!!!

My friend in Austria with her son and his family now has no snow and the temperature has gone up to +10 degrees so they haven't had a white Christmas. They celebrate today with their Christmas meal this evening and then they open their presents. Penny is finding it quite strange!

[Linda]

..we spent part of this afternoon finding out how Brenda lives....our sun room roof beams were bending under the weight of snow that was laying on it...Jeff got the scaffolding out and used a Cornish shovel to reach as much as possible of the snow which in fact was now solid ice....Gosh it was huge chunks that he pulled off the roof and they fair crashed to the ground...watch out cats!
Meanwhile I was busy trying to clear out the gutters of solid ice that was not only filling the gutter but brimming over the edge...and as I clear it the roof snow slides down...ooh! errr!....
Jeff has put wedges underneath the beams and now wait ...Jeff also put a heater in the sun room to try and heat the roof so that the ice would met and slide down....
...I can now empathise with Brenda even though ours is by no means anything like what she and Peter must go through each year.

:)

[jane jackson]

Oh dear Linda, do hope all your and Jeff's work soves your problems. Have a wonderful day tomorrow. Love to all the pussy cats.

[Kath Mulligan]

Hallelujah, it is raining hard and most of the snow has gone! I know we have more forecast for Tuesday onwards, but at least we have a brief respite.

Hope everyone is now recovering well from the excesses of Christmas, we are having a quiet relaxing day today eating up leftovers. Even though I cut down on the buffet food I usually do for our Boxing Day party we still seem to have a mountain of it left, so Mum and Claire are coming to help us eat some of it.

Has your snow turned to rain yet Linda, or are you still struggling to keep your sun roof clear?

Kath

[jane jackson]

Glorious sunny day here in PZ and 7c overnight so very pleasant. Have been on Sennen beach ~ really good waves. Only a few folk about at 9am. Unfortunately the forecast isn't looking too good for New Year which is a pain as far as we're concerned as we want to visit friends who live on high moorland so it might well be fine at home but not so good just that bit further away. Never mind we'll just have to wait and see. My friend in Bucks is booked to fly to Portugal on Wednesdayso she's hoping they don't get more heavy snow like they've had so far. Gloria, did Jeff and Nina get their flight ok? I seem to have missed any update on that or perhaps you've just been too involved with catering for your family and friends.

Glad your snow is going Kath, at least you had a white christmas!

[Barbara]

We're forecast to get to 35 today so have let the chickens out to gallivant in the shade of the trees.
Had an unusual Christmas as my mum had a stomach upset so couldn't make it for Christmas lunch - first time ever. My daughter and her partner came in and we had a quiet meal and exchanged presents, but we were all mindful that mum was on her own watching old movies. Still, we phoned her a few times as did my brother and his wife so she had plenty of contact.
The train went down very well. It's runs beautifully. We all had fun with it on the day including the kitten, who got up to hilarious antics and had us in stitches.
So all in all it was okay, but I did miss having mum there (as well as her plum pudding).

[Kath Mulligan]

Sorry to hear that your Mum was unable to join you for Christmas lunch, Barbara, hope she is now feeling much better. What a lousy time to get a stomach upset. Glad to hear too that Lachlan (and kitten) enjoyed his train set.

Kath

[jane jackson]

What a pity about your Mum feeling unwell Barbara, do hope she's fully recovered now. You sound as though you all (including kitten) had fun with the train set! Your 35 degrees sounds a bit hot to me but could do with the sunshine and would like to miss the snow that's being forecast. Not too cold in West Cornwall today though just overcast.

[gloria townsin]

So sorry to hear your Mum was unwell at Christmas. Our Christmases have changed mightily over the last few years and I find it harder to deal with change at this time of the year more than any other, so I know how you felt. I hope she is feeling better now and so pleased the train went down well. Would love a 'bit' of your warm weather.

[Liz]

Sorry to hear that your mother missed her family Christmas Barbara, how unlucky to be ill at this time of year, I'm sure she appreciated all your phone calls though.

35 sounds amazingly hot - I'd just flop as I'm hopeless with temperatures when they reach anything above 25!

Very cold again here today, I'm surprised that the chickens don't seem to mind - Buffy is laying an egg every day, I expected nothing in the cold weather, but the others haven't started yet.

When walking in the lanes yesterday I found a daisy and a lesser celandine in flower - a hint of things to come but rare around these parts at this time of year. I guess you lucky folk in Cornwall have wild flowers right through the winter in the more sheltered places?

The forecast for the next few days is looking ominous - I think we'll be battening down the hatches in the next few hours - someone mentioned 20cm of snow - surely not! :blink:

[Kath Mulligan]

It does sound as though Wales is going to bear the brunt of the latest snowfall, Liz, so you could get a fair bit being on the borders. Hope it doesn't turn out as bad as threatened.

Not seen any wild flowers out around here recently, then again, until yesterday they would have been well and truly buried under the snow anyway! I do have, however, one single pink rosebud that has flowered valiantly all through this cold spell, even when hanging its head under the weight of 4 inches of snow. My cyclamen and polyanthus on the other hand are looking very bedraggled and sorry for themselves!

Kath

[adesmith]

Yes it looks like it could be a bit snowy here but I think because we are lower down and on the coast that Newport will just have a lot of sleet and rain. Rachel is worried that we will miss Les Mis on Wednesday evening but I think even if it snows heavily the motorway and main roads will be open.

How lovely to find some wild flowers Liz and a taste of spring. I was inspired by Kath talking about her daffodils from the Isles of Scilly and when I went on the White Cyclamen chase (which wasnt entirely successful but we did have a good alternative) I saw a bunch of daffodils for sale and brought them home.

[gloria townsin]

I'm determined to post even though I'm logging in umpteen times............

We bought three bunches of narcissi back with us from Cornwall a couple of weeks ago. There is one bravely blooming in the garden at Bryher, it is by the ugly back wall of the garden so it fairly sheltered. I didn't get round to cutting back the hydrangea Kath so will have to do it in Spring when the builders have finished. It's always the way if I leave a job 'till next time' I can be sure it won't be done for ages. The snow seems to have done it's worst with some of the ornamental cabbage, the purple ones seem to have got through better than the white. The cyclamen are also looking somewhat sad, hope they will pick up again or that bit of garden will be a sorry sight.

[Kath Mulligan]

If this winter is going to be a severe one, Gloria, it's probably best that you didn't get round to chopping back your hydrangea, the extra top growth will help to protect the new buds from frost and cold winds.

Sorry to hear that you are still experiencing so many log-in problems - makes me feel quite guilty because I can just log in as normal, and post as normal.

My miniature narcissi from Scilly have been flowering beautifully all over Christmas and are still looking really fresh and perky now. Have had to put them in the front room rather than the living room since both the girls hate the smell of them! Must admit it is a bit overpowering in a warm room!

Kath

[gloria townsin]

Don't feel guilty Kath.......please.......it's just a glich but it's annoying.

I will stop worrying I didn't get round to that job then.....actually the way the builders are constantly brushing past it's probably better off with a bit more growth to take the strain.

I noticed how strongly scented our narcissi were.....as you say a bit overpowering. Ours lasted about a week and a bit but they were kept in a warm room.

[Barbara]

The temperature today is much more civilized - mid 20s which to my mind is ideal. We've had some hot stuff lately, though, and have a number of bushfires raging to the north of Perth. I think about twenty houses have been lost in one small town. We have fared reasonably well in the bushfire department in WA over the last decade or so but it is a very real danger in Australia every summer. Parts of New South Wales are in flood at the moment and they have had bushfires as well in other parts of the state.

[Kath Mulligan]

The temperature today is much more civilized - mid 20s which to my mind is ideal. We've had some hot stuff lately, though, and have a number of bushfires raging to the north of Perth. I think about twenty houses have been lost in one small town. We have fared reasonably well in the bushfire department in WA over the last decade or so but it is a very real danger in Australia every summer. Parts of New South Wales are in flood at the moment and they have had bushfires as well in other parts of the state.

Whereabouts are the bush fires north of Perth, Barbara? I ask because I have got friends who live in Kelmscott, and others who live in Meadow Springs, Mandurah, so am hoping neither of them is in one of the danger areas.

We seem to have managed to escape the latest dump of snow thank goodness. By the time it reached us it fell as heavy rain which should have helped to get rid of the last of the lying snow from last week.

Kath

[Barbara]

Kath, the fires have affected a small town called Toodyay which is about 85 kilometres north east of Perth. Poor people - they have lost 37 houses at last count, but thankfully no lives have been lost and only a handful of injuries.
Your friends should be pretty safe. Kelmscott is a suburb of Perth - an outer one I think, and Meadow Springs is south of Perth. Both of these areas are quite built up as opposed to smaller hamlets with bush or grasslands surrounding them.
The temperatures around this state vary quite a bit. Yesterday I think we got to about 30, but someone on the news said that it got to about 46 in the affected area yesterday.

[jane jackson]

Whew Barbara, temperatures around 30 would be far too much for me but 46 ~ doesn't bear thinking about. Bush fires must be a terrible worry if you live in an area where they might happen. Thank goodness no lives were lost but to lose your home must be dreadful.

We had 9c overnight so quite warm today for this time of year and it's dry!

[gloria townsin]

As we set off for - where else but - B&Q late yesterday afternoon, the freezing rain dropping all around, I thought oh for a bit of the heat Barbara is experiencing. But, I have to say, the fires resulting from such high temperatures must be terrifying and not at all what anyone would want to have to cope with. Don't know where the snow band stops today, but Manchester looked awful today and Birmingham wasn't looking too chipper on the news yesterday either.

[Barbara]

I agree, Jane. 46 degrees is way over my toleration. Perth quite often gets to the low 40s. Bunbury being a little further south has its tops usually in the mid to high 30's. On any given day we are usually between 3 to 5 degrees cooler than Perth. I like it to be in the mid 20's but can tolerate it into the low 30's.
My brother and his wife are at present down on the south coast in Albany - which nearly always has comfortable temperate weather in summer - although the winters are biting and windy. Warwick and Pat are looking to buy a house down there as they can't handle the heat in Perth anymore. They spend so much time in air-conditioned space that they can't handle it outside if it gets hot. They work in air-conditioning, they drive in it and their apartment has it - they didn't come on Christmas day because it was forecast as hot and as we don't have air-conditioning they didn't think they could handle it.
9c overnight does seem quite balmy for this time of the year for Cornwall - we quite often get down to 1c overnight during winter.

[Kath Mulligan]

Thanks for setting my mind at rest, Barbara. Good to know my friends are not in danger, although I do feel for those poor people who have lost their homes. Various regions of Australia seem to be having real extremes of weather at present, don't they, with severe flooding in NSW and bush fires elsewhere. I agree with Jane, 30 degrees is too hot for me, I simply cannot imagine what 46 degrees feels like. Temperatures like that could be quite dangerous for elderly folk and babies or anyone with heart conditions I would have thought.

No snow here Gloria, heavy sleety rain, but snowing hard Buxton way. Vicious wind though that cuts right through you.

Kath

[Janet Swan]

I just cannot imagine living in such heat and with the threat of bushfires too. We've got it easy here, haven't we?

Of no real consequence, but aren't our gardens looking sad now after the snow, frost and heavy rains? I've never seen mine look such a mess! Everything drooping and waterlogged. It is just a case now of waiting until Spring to see what has survived and what hasn't. A few bulbs are pushing through the soil though - not long now!

Janet

[adesmith]

I was just thinking the same Janet. The garden does look miserable! We have some bulbs starting to poke through as well. I wonder if we will see much more snow and cold. I have a feeling that we will see more before spring arrives properly.

I am not sure that I would be able to cope with the more extreme temperatures (from a British point of view) but I think I would rather it colder than hotter. I always feel sad for the people on the news that lose their homes in the bush fires. So much lost so quickly and so much of it irreplacable like photographs etc.