Tuesday 5 January 2010

[Kath Mulligan]

Greetings from Outer Siberia!! We seem to have acquired another five inches of snow overnight and it is still pelting down now. Nothing is moving vehicle-wise on our road, apparently the trains are not running either, so our town is officially at a standstill! What fun - not!

Claire has just walked to work (about 4 miles) and seen three car accidents, one car fire on her way and has fallen twice! She is hoping the trains might have started running again when she is coming home. Elizabeth would have a round trip of over 30 miles, so needless to say she is staying home today. Anticipating this, she brought some work home with her last night, so she doesn't feel too guilty.

To anyone else out there who is similarly afflicted, my sympathies. To anyone who has not yet got the snow, stock up your shelves now. I am so glad my freezer was well stocked before Christmas, still got plenty of bread, butter, meat etc in there so we shan't starve - but according to today's paper we might freeze to death before long if we run out of gas and end up with power cuts! Since I have gas central heating and cook by gas I shall be a bit snookered. At least Mum has a coal fire, so we can decamp to there to get warm.


One cheerful weather forecaster in the paper says that there is a possibility that we may be stuck in this airstream of weather until March, making it one of the coldest winters for over 100 years - all I can say is, please let him be wrong!!

Kath:fie:

[gloria townsin]

Kath I thought of you last evening when the weather forecast came on and said to Eddie how bad it is with you........now of course we are facing the same here towards the middle/end of the week. Bryher will be at a standstill if the snow forecast for the west happens as the roads will be difficult to negotiate for a start remembering what happened just before Christmas.....I know this is selfish but I so hope that the building doesn't have to come to a standstill, I need to be able to stay there for most of March!! That is selfish now though reading it back as there are and will be those to whom building work would be the least of their worries.
I hope there aren't any power cuts, it's such a long while since we've had them it will be like going back to the dark ages.......I can remember my Dad heating a kettle over an ordinary coal fire, how he didn't burn his hands I don't know. But my Dad was one who would joke along and make light of it so that we didn't get worried, I remember him saying he knew his Scout training would come in useful.
Anyway Kath keep as warm as poss. and good job Elizabeth has stayed home and hope Claire gets back safely. Eddie and Jeff are looking at the new flat, but if the weather closes in I can't see they will get a lot done......hey ho.....where's this warmer weather we keep hearing about?

[Liz]

One cheerful weather forecaster in the paper says that there is a possibility that we may be stuck in this airstream of weather until March, making it one of the coldest winters for over 100 years - all I can say is, please let him be wrong!!

Kath:fie:

This weather is beginning to remind me of the year I had my first baby - 1962/63. She was born in December, it started to snow on Boxing day and the freeze continued until the end of Feb.

We had very little money and were living in part of a house with no central heating and only a small stove in the kitchen which we weren't allowed to use as it was considered unsafe and a small coal fire in the living room . We had one paraffin stove to keep us warm, no washing machine or dryer and hot water once a week when the lady of the house put an immersion heater on. How on earth did we manage I ask myself now! But manage we did. I didn't get to take my pram out until Feb because of the layer of ice over pavements and roads.

Lets hope that the weather at moment will not continue for too long. As you say Kath its when the electricity and gas cuts start that the real problems come, I feel very lucky that we have a wood burner in our main room which will keep us warm - we tend to only have the central heating on first thing in the morning to take the chill off the house and make showering more tempting!.

[Linda]

I am so sorry Kath and anyone else who may be facing impending cuts to supplies...i find it staggering that this country has got into such a state....I onyl hope it doesnt come to cuts....with this weather...keep warm Kath.

[Kath Mulligan]

Linda, it will be the whole country facing the threat of power cuts not just our area, if what I read this morning is correct because, as usual this incompetent Government has not seen fit to anticipate what would happen in the event of "shock, horror", some normal winter weather happening so our gas supplies are running low and we are likely to be held to ransom by Russia or whoever to buy more stocks at inflated rates.

Who remembers the winter of 1973 when we had the structured power cuts during the miners strike? It was our first winter in our new home together and I remember it being quite romantic lighting lots of candles and snuggling up together under a duvet on the settee until the lights came back on again. We still had a coal fire at that time so managed to stay reasonably warm.

From what I can recall we had low, medium and high risk days. On low risk days we might only get one 3 hour power cut, on medium risk days, there were two, and on high risk days it was 3 hours on, 3 hours off all day. Think we also had cuts in the winter of 1972 as well because I remember one such cut occurring during my friend's wedding reception, so we dined by candlelight.

Elizabeth has just informed me that we now have more heavy snow forecast for this area tomorrow, oh joy!!

Kath

[Linda]

Oh Kath, I recall the cuts of 73, Edward Heath was in power, funny it was that lot ie Tories with Mrs T that got rid of the so called union problem by stopping our coal production thats leading us partially to this problem now...although this Govt is just as incompetent both have led us on a spiralling path of destruction with selling off the utilities...the very thing we can be held ransome to...water, power, transport, fuel...
I remember we were on a three day week at work and i used to live in Eastbourne at the time and commuted to Croydon each day

[adesmith]

The Welsh Weatherman said that the snow that we are going to get in Newport and Monmouthshire tonight will be enough to disrupt power supply. I cant see it as we only have a cm or so and even that is very patchy. My fear is that it snows really heavily here in Newport but not much in Cardiff. I would still have to go to school!!!! You wouldnt believe how different the weather conditions often are between the two. Oh well I doubt it will come to that anyway. I have checked with Rachel and we have plenty of candles. It does seem extraordinary that provision isnt made for weather events like this because they are possible and they do happen. Imagine running out of gas in the winter! It could only happen here!

[jane jackson]

Having just replied on the 1st Jan thread I've now found this one and it all seems to be getting much worse. Do hope Claire got home safely Kath ~ 4 miles in the snow is a long way to walk. You do seem to be having it bery bad up there. Don't even want to think about Gas cuts or we'll be using the halogen fire for heating! Mind you then we'll probably have Electricity cuts ~ oh joy!

Hope your building work can continue Gloria, you don't need any more hold ups. Keep smiling everyone!!!!!!!!!!! ( I seem to have lost the smilies or am I being dense? Are they hiding somewhere?)

[Kath Mulligan]

Having just replied on the 1st Jan thread I've now found this one and it all seems to be getting much worse. Do hope Claire got home safely Kath ~ 4 miles in the snow is a long way to walk. You do seem to be having it bery bad up there. Don't even want to think about Gas cuts or we'll be using the halogen fire for heating! Mind you then we'll probably have Electricity cuts ~ oh joy!

Hope your building work can continue Gloria, you don't need any more hold ups. Keep smiling everyone!!!!!!!!!!! ( I seem to have lost the smilies or am I being dense? Are they hiding somewhere?)

Claire did eventually get home safely thanks Jane. The trains had started running again in the afternoon so she "only" faced a 2 mile walk instead of the 5 and a half miles (she wore her pedometer) trudge that she had in the morning. She was planning to stay home today because she hurt her legs when she fell (several pulled muscles and ligaments by the sound of it) but not yet spoken to her. Elizabeth has made it to work in Macclesfield today although our road is still a bit of a nightmare. Enough traffic has gone up and down to clear at least a patch of clear road in the centre, which is just as well since apparently Derbyshire County Council are now running out of grit and sand, so only the very main roads are being gritted now!

I have been having a few problems with the smilies too, Jane. If I click on Reply To Thread, they appear at the side of the posting, but now, after clicking on Reply with Quote, they are not there. Like Gloria, I was also finding that if I selected one, it seemed determined to stay right at the end of the post, not where I wanted to put it, and I couldn't click after it to carry on typing. What are we doing wrong, Linda and Jeff, or is it a cunning plan by Jeff to make us stop using them so much?!!

Kath

[jane jackson]

I can't see them at all Kath! Only once did some appear but I'm not sure what I pressed to make them do so....................... I just felt they weren't a priority while others were having problems logging in all the time so I'll wait until they come back again.

I should have gone to the Hygienist this morning but the receptionist rang to say she wasn't coming in ~ she sounded really fed up and said she didn't understand why as she didn't live far away! I expect it was because she'd got in and had all these extra calls to make. I was quite glad though not to have to venture out on slippery pavements with it all turning to slush. I'd been to Tesco yesterday so that was ok and Bryan walked into town today to get a few bits for us and a neighbour just in case it turns icy tomorrow.

[gloria townsin]

I have a funny (not!) feeling that nothing will be going on at Bryher.........do you think someone's trying to tell me something? Ah...yes it must be Patience and Perseverance.......so Pat. and Percy. make sure my tremulous faith in you isn't tarnished further.........:girl_wacko:

[Linda]

If you click on 'Go advanced' in bottom right hand corner of the box in which you are replying then another reply box comes up and all the smilies are on the right hand side......you know he's trying to hide them ..... :dirol:


its next to the little box that says 'post quick reply'

[adesmith]

just in case it turns icy tomorrow.

I am really not looking forward to driving to school tomorrow morning because it sounds as though the roads are going to be terrible. Rachel will be going to work as well and I worry about her and Rupert. They have closed all of the schools in Cardiff to pupils but we have been told to go in unless they let us know otherwise in the morning. Should be alright on the M4 but the more minor roads may be a bit tricky. A gritter did go down our road earlier but it was strange grit, more like sand and it didnt seem to do much. Ten more days of this cold weather at least and a forecast of more snow on Sunday!

[jane jackson]

:hail::hug::rapture::clap2:Thank you Linda ! I did wonder what that link meant but hadn't dared try it.
Sorry Jeff, we'll be using lots of smilies now we've found them.

:high5:

[jane jackson]

Drive carefully Adrian and Rachel. It's the other road users you have to worry about as well in case they're not so careful. Perhaps you'll get a phone call tomorrow telling you to stay at home again.

[Liz]

My 4 year old niece should have started school this week but like so many others her school is closed.

She has waited so long for this week to come and is just not impressed with the explanations given about deep snow and icy roads. The small school she will be attending (43 pupils) is perched on the side of a hill, quite high up, the views from the playground are wonderful but the downside is always the weather. If the forecasts are to be believed its going to be some time before the school is open.

Lets hope the heating is working ok for you tomorrow Adrian and that school is open. Its so difficult to decide whether to set out or not - awful to go all that way and then find it isn't. I remember having to listen in to our local radio station to find out if school was open - the music was a punishment in itself (sorry my age is showing - I prefer something a little more relaxing first thing in the morning!) :violin:

I heard this morning that some areas are low on grit and were using sand from the nearby beaches - maybe that's what they used on yours Adrian?

[Kath Mulligan]

It would seem that schools around here have given up on this week completely since the vast majority are still shut. Whilst the main roads have now been cleared, side roads are a nightmare of deep slush, or hardpacked snow. The pavements are actually easier to walk on since there is still so much deepish snow on them, as opposed to the sheer sheet ice on the main shopping streets on Monday. The main streets have now been gritted, probably since our local County Councillor was there on Monday morning being bombarded with complaints from angry tax payers about the dangerous conditions.

No more snow for us today but our temperature went down to -15C overnight and was still -7 when I went out at 10.00am. Minus 3 now in the early afternoon sunshine but after clear skies all day I shudder to think what it will drop to tonight.

If your school was open Adrian, hope you managed safe journeys. Liz, what a shame your niece has had her first school day delayed. Such a disappointment when everyone has been gearing themselves up for that special day, isn't it? The kids round here think school closure is wonderful - must have been around 50 of them sledging in the park below us when I was coming back home a little while ago.

Kath

[jane jackson]

My friend in Chard has just said her kids school is shut and they only live 5 mins walk from it but at least her 13 yrs old son has cleared their front path. Linda has had a major operation late November and is still not supposed to do things like that. We really were so lucky with our Minehead trip weather wise as she said the buses into Taunton haven't been running either as the roads are so bad.

Another friend in Suffolk has had enough of the snow by now as she's really stranded up her drive in a small village but said it's been so beautiful on the trees as we saw from Kath's photos.

Ours is just a pain now as no longer pretty and the side roads are still slippery. We haven't got your low temperatures though Kath.

Just think how wonderful it'll be when the spring bulbs start flowering.....................:jester::clap2:

[gloria townsin]

Eddie cleared our front path but came in shaking, not sure if from exertion or cold....I told him to sit down and not to go out again. Jeff finished off the bit he had left. Nina at home again today after an e-mail from her boss but don't know what tomorrow will bring as with most people our side roads are untouched and will be treacherous.

[adesmith]

We made it to work and back safely. The roads were actually not too bad (the minor roads were icy) and the snow in Cardiff wasnt as bad as Newport. The temperature was -7.5 when I cleared the car of snow this morning. School was closed to pupils, as it is tomorrow, but staff had to go in. The Cardiff City Council closed all schools to pupils which is quite unusual by all accounts. The funny thing is that I did less work today with all the people to chat to than I did when I stayed at home with Rachel and Rupert yesterday!!! We have to wait for a website update or an email to tell us whether to go in or not Liz. It is on the radio but I dont really like listening to it (BBC Wales is okay). They dont tell us until 7.30am which is a bit tricky when you leave at 7.10am on a normal day. There is talk of more snow on Sunday and apparently the winds and temperatures at the weekend are going to be 'dangerously' cold!

Hope that Eddie is okay Gloria? It is surprisingly hard work clearing the snow as I found out yesterday.

Jane, I am looking forward to those spring bulbs. Because of the cold weather last year none of the bulbs had come out in Trengwainton when we visited in February. I wonder if it will be the same this year!

[Kath Mulligan]

The way things are going up here, I shall be lucky to see my spring bulbs before mid-summer!!! Because of the cold snap last February the daffodils were later flowering in Cornwall so we were lucky and saw them flowering beautifully in Oliver Land in March. Wonder if we shall get lucky again this year?

Our local forecast has "promised" us still more snow Saturday and Sunday, but the worst thing looks to be the winds which are going to be getting stronger. Although the temp. was below zero while I was out today it didn't actually feel too bad in the sun because it was very still, but with the stronger winds it will be really evil. Think I really will be confined to the house then as cold winds are a major asthma trigger for me. Am hoping to make it to Tesco on Saturday morning before the bad stuff sets in, but who knows. We have more or less given up all hope of getting to Buxton for the Show on Saturday night so am now selfishly hoping that the show will be cancelled then I won't lose my money! I shall phone the theatre tomorrow for the latest update. If the show goes ahead and they won't refund the money, then I shall just have to grin and bear it - rather lose some money than risk losing our lives!

I too hope Eddie is ok, Gloria.

Kath

[Janet Swan]

Oh, Kath, every time I watch the weather forecast I see it is far worse for you in Derbyshire. I do feel such sympathy for your poor girls (and everyone else) who have to try to get to work, and feel so lucky that those of us who are retired don't have that struggle. Must confess I did feel guilty not going into Church House for my volunteering yesterday, but Rev. Michael said things were pretty quiet there and not to bother, as I just couldn't face battling out for the 9 a.m. bus (if it was running). But to see so many things crossed out in my nice new 2010 diary is upsetting! So, trying to be positive - I do like being at home, can feed and water the birds 2-3 times a day, sweep the paths inbetween snow showers, etc. This afternoon, I will bake scones and invite a neighbour or two over to share them, as I was given a rather nice pot of blackcurrant jam with port for Christmas!

About your asthma, Kath. Have you got a brown preventer spray? If you use that morning and night, it should stop your asthma getting too bad. Do hope Eddie is OK, Gloria - can you let us all know, please? Also have heard on the radio about the really extreme cold in Scotland, so do hope Linda and Jeff are coping OK?

Stay safe and warm everyone.

Janet

[gloria townsin]

Eddie recovered after a sweet drink of orange but I'm not happy he felt so shaky, however I'm not allowed to say too much or he gets, as my Grandmother would say, all airiated........now I know that's not a word but that's what she used to say if someone got irritated and I've just realised I haven't heard it used or said it myself for years, but it fits the bill perfectly.
He's gone off with Jeff today to get some decorating materials, from our home from home store!!, then on to Basingstoke to put them to use......I can but hope the roads are better than they have been in that direction.
Re cancellation of events, Boston are holding their championship show at Peterborough over the next few days, my sister is entered for Sundays classes and thus far they are going ahead with it. Obviously there will be lots of people who can't get there so they will forfeit their entry fees. Personally I think the show should cancel and refund but probably their insurance doesn't cover whether people can actually get there, it might well be that as long as the venue is clear and safe for use and the immediate roads around it that's it, no claim can be made. What happens if people struggle and get there but can't get back home I don't know, that will be individual decisions I guess. Some years ago show people got stuck in the NEC overnight when it snowed during the day. A friend who lived in Birmingham was also caught up in it and a pretty miserable and cold night was spent there. I wouldn't be taking the chance myself - I'd be too worried about what the roads would be like going and coming back.
I hope they cancel the show Kath - that way you have your money back and you can book again assuming they will try to re schedule. I hate the thought we are in for more of the same but with colder winds........and just glancing out of the window it's snowing quite heavily here and the sky looks full of it. Hope Jeff and Eddie are looking out of the window......

[gloria townsin]

Meant to ask, are you getting post through the door? It might be that we have non to be delivered but nothing has arrived since Saturday, which is unusual.

[Janet Swan]

Meant to ask, are you getting post through the door? It might be that we have non to be delivered but nothing has arrived since Saturday, which is unusual.

Yes, I've been getting post each day here, from a heroic young postman.

Janet

[Kath Mulligan]

Glad Eddie is ok again now, Gloria, let's hope he heeds the warning to take things a bit easier whilst it is so cold - although if he and Jeff have gone off to Basingstoke to decorate the flat, it doesn't sound as though he will! "Airiated" is a lovely word, isn't it and often used up here too.

Yes Janet, I do have and use a brown inhaler every day during the winter, but a sharp, cold wind almost always triggers off a big coughing and wheezing fit in me, whatever I take, so in these conditions I always have a scarf over my mouth when I am out, or try not to go out at all if the wind is very bad.

Not phoned the theatre yet, will wait and see how things are looking tomorrow before we finally decide to call it off. Half of me still really wants to go because it sounds like it will be a really good show, the other half just wants to stay safe and warm at home.

Just had the pest control man here to try to see off the rats/mice that are still plaguing us. He's put down a bait box and will come back again in a week. Now waiting for the plumber to ring me back cos the outlook pipe from my kitchen sink is either blocked or frozen solid! I tried with drain unblocker yesterday and a plunger, plus kettles full of boiling water, but nothing seems to be shifting whatever it is, so I am hoping Ronnie will come to my rescue! He's one of my brother's mates and a really nice man, so I am sure he will get to me as soon as he can. I don't know, between one thing and another, I am starting to really dislike 2010 already and we are only a week into it!!

Hope you don't get too much more snow, Gloria and that the menfolk get back home safely.

Stay safe and warm everyone.

Kath

[Kath Mulligan]

Meant to ask, are you getting post through the door? It might be that we have non to be delivered but nothing has arrived since Saturday, which is unusual.

Have only had one delivery this week so far. And my Cornwall Life and Cornwall Today magazines for January have not turned up yet either. Usually get them towards the end of the previous month but thought they were perhaps caught up in the Christmas mail, but still no sign of either of them. Might send a quick email to both to ask what is happening.

Kath

[jane jackson]

I too am glad Eddie is ok and we also used to use the word airiated but hadn't thought of it for years. That's one of the pleasures of this Forum in that we all trigger memories with different stories and recollections.

We have bright blue skies with fluffy white clouds and the sun shining but 10 minutes ago it was sleeting dreadfully ~ not like Cornwall at all. We'd managed to keep the path around the house clear and salted yesterday until it snowed again early evening which then froze ( minus 6 ) making our paths very icy this morning. We even had to use water from the kettle to thaw out the gate catch. Bryan went to his Watch at the NCI Tower but left home at 9am instead of 7am just in case he couldn't see the ice in the dark.

Do hope they cancel Brendon for you Kath ~ such a pity when we all look forward to something and the weather mucks it up. As you say much better to be safe than sorry.

Just heard Bryan come through the front door so will resume looking at the posts later!

[jane jackson]

We haven't had any post either all week and Bryan was told by someone that the post isn't getting through down here ~ newspapers are though.

[gloria townsin]

Sounds like we need a bit of 'Wells Fargo' to the rescue.....whip crack away and all that. Although Janet seems to be o.k.

You will be interested to know that Berkhampstead has been well under a blanket of snow and a workmate of Nina's had to abandon his car. It's just that bit further out than Croxley as Jane will know.

Tomorrow morning should hopefully give you more of an idea what to do about the show Kath. I do feel sorry as you could have regaled us with what went on. But then it might still happen - can but hope.

Hope the pesky mice get the heave - ho.......they will all be finding their way indoors out of the cold, goodness knows what the situ re mice at Bryher is, all the outside vents were secured but with most of the back of the house off, they don't have to worry about blocked vents!!

[adesmith]

We havent had any post for a few days. It might be that there is nothing for us but that would be unusual because there is normally some junk mail or something for the previous two owners! We havent had any rubbish collected which isnt good because the collection which we should have had on Wednesday was the first since Christmas. Some of the neighbours had already taken some for us because they are older and tend to have more room in their bins.

I didnt like driving to school this morning. Our road hadnt been gritted so it was worse than yesterday. I was slipping around and thinking I was going to have an accident and yet all of the work that I was going to do was in the car with me! School was open to staff but closed to pupils again. When I drove out of the top of the road and onto the main road I noticed that there were lots more cars parked and they were parked in bus stops and on double yellow lines. I realised that perhaps they had been abandoned because of ice last night although the hill is only small at there (a neighbour told us that since the snow the buses from Newport have been going no further than that point).

More snow forecast over the weekend but for me the novelty has worn off!

[Kath Mulligan]

Our beasties appear to be coming in via a gap around the gas and water pipes into the kitchen so shall have to see if I can find someone to come and fill it in a bit for me.

Our post finally arrived with a big thump onto the doormat at 4.30pm this afternoon! I know deliveries have been getting later, but that was a first.

We currently have another heavy snowfall going on outside so think our chances of getting to Buxton are pretty well snookered now. Let's hope we are able to get to Manchester next weekend for the SCD Live Tour - might be more chance of that because we can get the train to there. Trains to Buxton often get turned back if the snow gets too deep.

Kath

[Linda]

Sorry about Buxton Kath I know you were so looking forward to that.

Make sure whatever they use to fill teh gap is solid enough rats can chew just about anything! and now they know of a way in will attack it again. We used metal at the bottom of doors etc....and they have not quite learnt how to gnaw through that yet.

[Kath Mulligan]

Sorry about Buxton Kath I know you were so looking forward to that.

Make sure whatever they use to fill teh gap is solid enough rats can chew just about anything! and now they know of a way in will attack it again. We used metal at the bottom of doors etc....and they have not quite learnt how to gnaw through that yet.

Don't I know it?! They have gnawed a hole at the bottom of a wooden door, chunks of plaster and wallpaper off the walls, a sizeable piece off an old curtain that was hanging over a doorway to keep out the draughts, and part of a plastic garden table top that we had been using as an attempt to barricade them out of the kitchen! I'm thinking of mounting a machine gun to fire automatically at the blighters in future!!

Kath

[jane jackson]

Get a cat!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kath Mulligan]

That's all well and good Jane, but doesn't Baloo have a habit of bringing rats into your house as presents, rather than keeping them out!!!

Kath

[jane jackson]

They have always been dead though! Minus a head maybe but definitely dead..................

Years ago in Berkhamsted we had a mouse in the larder and I went in on my hands and knees (Mum shut the door on me) and caught it but then tried to show her in the kitchen and it jumped out of my hands so in the end we had to put a trap down so it got killed ~ such a shame ~ they're so sweet...............

[Kath Mulligan]

Sweet is not the word that is springing to my mind at the moment!! Don't know if they have been feasting on their poisoned goodies overnight but there are no signs of bodies so far.

Off out into the Arctic now to do a Tesco shop and replenish my rapidly dwindling shelves. We are still hoping to make Buxton later especially since two of Claire's friends went last night and said how brilliant the show is. Undecided about train or driving as yet. Claire is tending towards driving as the train back doesn't leave Buxton until 22.56 and if that is cancelled, we are stuck.

Kath

[gloria townsin]

Take care if you venture to Buxton Kath and girls.

Re the little four footers, if they take the poison I think they go back to their nests and pass into mouse heaven there. Sounds as if you are truly under seige from them and I wouldn't like it one bit I can tell you.

[jane jackson]

I do sympathise really Kath as I too wouldn't want to have them full time with the mess they leave behind, it's just I don't like killing them.

Hope you're ok this evening. I know what Claire means as if you drive you're more in control and at least she has a 4X4.

[Kath Mulligan]

We've abandoned the idea completely. Snowing again now and the wind beginning to pick up so we would spend all evening worrying about whether we would be able to get home again, so just not worth the risk. I am at bit cross with the Opera House though. I phoned and explained that because of the conditions we would not be able to make it and the abrupt reply was, more or less "tough, the show is on, so no, you can't have a refund or a credit to rebook for another show at a later date". I shall think twice before booking any winter shows there again.

Kath

[Janet Swan]

We currently have another heavy snowfall going on outside so think our chances of getting to Buxton are pretty well snookered now. Let's hope we are able to get to Manchester next weekend for the SCD Live Tour - might be more chance of that because we can get the train to there. Trains to Buxton often get turned back if the snow gets too deep.

Kath

Do you know who is in the SCD tour? Just interested. I did read that Ricky Whittle hadn't been invited - but as he needs a hernia op. probably for the best!

Janet

[Liz]

Re the little four footers, if they take the poison I think they go back to their nests and pass into mouse heaven there. Sounds as if you are truly under seige from them and I wouldn't like it one bit I can tell you.

We've given up with poison for our mice now (the ones the girls bring inside to play and then lose) and only use live traps. Following a poisoning session last winter one (or maybe more) mice decided to die behind the skirting board - we only found out several days later when the smell became absolutely unbearable!:wacko:

[jane jackson]

We've abandoned the idea completely. Snowing again now and the wind beginning to pick up so we would spend all evening worrying about whether we would be able to get home again, so just not worth the risk. I am at bit cross with the Opera House though. I phoned and explained that because of the conditions we would not be able to make it and the abrupt reply was, more or less "tough, the show is on, so no, you can't have a refund or a credit to rebook for another show at a later date". I shall think twice before booking any winter shows there again.

Kath


So sorry Kath, but I know what you mean about spending the evening worrying about not being able to get home safely. So frustrating that you can't get your money back or at least a credit as tickets are always so expensive. If you don't make any winter bookings next year that'll ensure you have no snow!!!!!!:frusty:

[Barbara]

Hi everyone over there in winter wonderland - this really has been an education for me listening to the difficulties and variables involved in a snowy winter. I realise that it is an unusually severe one, but still it has given me a lot more of a personal insight than I ever gleaned from watching the news.
Kath, sorry to hear that you are going to miss out on your show, funnily enough, sometimes it makes you feel better once the decision has been taken out of your hands and you don't have to weigh up the safety aspects of venturing out.
Also interested to hear the suggestions for solutions to your ratty problem. I remember back when mum had the guesthouse we had quite a large family of rats sharing our accommodation at one time. They seemed to mainly live in the space provided by the false ceiling that had been installed. The funny thing was that if any of the guests ever heard their scuttling, my mother always piped up and said, "Never mind that - it's only possums". - and they always believed her.
On another note, our lovely old cat, Sammy (who was the cat before Gus Gus) once caught a rat, which he had never done before We found it dead on the back lawn one morning and threw it into the bin. The next morning I found poor old Sam had died. It's a bit of a downer of a story, I know, but we obviously think the rat must have been ill from poisoning, which is why Sam managed to catch it and that Sam got poisoned as well after biting it.

[adesmith]

Kath I am sorry that you missed your show! Better that you are safe though. Shame that the theatre were not very helpful. Might be worth an email or letter to the manager as the circumstances really are exceptional. They must have had people travelling from all around to get there. They may give you money off another show or something as a gesture.

Barbara, it must be a bit of an education reading about our winter woes. I am afraid that my geography is very inadequate so i apologise for what may be a silly question but how cold does it get where you are in the winter? We spend such a lot of time wishing for snow (it is lovely to see everything covered in white) but we always seem to forget the problems that it brings! One day I will get sorted and be able to put some pictures on here. Are you on Facebook because I have some pictures on there of the recent weather.

[Kath Mulligan]

Do you know who is in the SCD tour? Just interested. I did read that Ricky Whittle hadn't been invited - but as he needs a hernia op. probably for the best!

Janet

Chris and Ola, Brian and Ali, Ricky Groves and Aliona, Matthew and Kelly Brook, Mark Ramprakash and Kristina, Austin Healey and Lilia, Natalie Cassidy and Darren, Zoe and James. Ian Waite and Natalie Lowe are also just there dancing in a professional capacity. We shall have all four judges at our show next Sunday afternoon, ie Craig, Len, Bruno and Arlene. Should be good, and no danger of us missing that since the show is in the afternoon and we are planning to get the train to Manchester.

Kath

[Kath Mulligan]

So sorry Kath, but I know what you mean about spending the evening worrying about not being able to get home safely. So frustrating that you can't get your money back or at least a credit as tickets are always so expensive. If you don't make any winter bookings next year that'll ensure you have no snow!!!!!!:frusty:

Do please remind me of that later in the year, Jane, if I show any sign of booking for another show in January! To think that by resisting the temptation, we may avoid having any snow next winter would be just perfect.

Kath

[jane jackson]

.
On another note, our lovely old cat, Sammy (who was the cat before Gus Gus) once caught a rat, which he had never done before We found it dead on the back lawn one morning and threw it into the bin. The next morning I found poor old Sam had died. It's a bit of a downer of a story, I know, but we obviously think the rat must have been ill from poisoning, which is why Sam managed to catch it and that Sam got poisoned as well after biting it.[/QUOTE]


Oh Barbara how awful. That's something I dread when people say they're putting poison down.

[gloria townsin]

My sister lost her Springer some years ago. My vet said he was acting as though he had been poisoned and tried to save him but all treatment were no use. Then a dead fox was found in the garden, there had been a lot around at the time as someone was feeding them locally, so all we could conclude was that someone else put down poison and that is what happened to the dead one in the garden, it was well tucked away which is why it wasn't immediately discovered. When we had poison put down at Bryher last year I was very worried, although we hadn't got the dogs with us at the time and the trays were put down under the floorboards. I thought the infestation people used trays that only vermin could get into, although there is still the problem of a poisoned dead body being found by a pet. Trouble is what are you to do......you can't live with vermin in the house, well I can't, and traps have never been successful when we've used them. I have to say this does worry me as to what might have found it's way into Bryher.

[gloria townsin]

Kath so sorry you couldn't risk it to the show last night. It was probably a wise decision. I think venues that regularly put events/shows on at this time of year will suffer next, especially if they are unsympathetic towards genuine cases of people unable to travel due to severe weather conditions. You'd have to be willing for the same thing to happen if you book again during winter months. It's a real shame - was looking forward to hearing all about it. Hope you will doubly or even trebly enjoy the tour show.

[Janet Swan]

Chris and Ola, Brian and Ali, Ricky Groves and Aliona, Matthew and Kelly Brook, Mark Ramprakash and Kristina, Austin Healey and Lilia, Natalie Cassidy and Darren, Zoe and James. Ian Waite and Natalie Lowe are also just there dancing in a professional capacity. We shall have all four judges at our show next Sunday afternoon, ie Craig, Len, Bruno and Arlene. Should be good, and no danger of us missing that since the show is in the afternoon and we are planning to get the train to Manchester.
Kath


Thanks, Kath. Notice some missing names e.g. Vincent? Maybe he's not allowed to tour with Kristina again!!! Also Anton, but then he has his own show on the road with Erin. So pleased Ali and Brian are doing the tour - must be such a happy time for them at present, but will Brian have to go back to USA eventually, I wonder? Do hope Ricky Groves copes OK as his marriage has sadly floundered - I did wonder why his wife never supported him during the programme. And I am always just a bit taken aback that previous contestants continue to tour e.g. Austin and Mark. Both are very good, but I'm surprised they have no other commitments now. Just pondering!

Janet

[gloria townsin]

I felt rather sad that Ricky Groves is now separted from his wife......that must have been hard for him to be the cheerful chap he was on the prog. when the marriage was falling round his ears, but then who knows what the circumstances are other than those involved. She was in the audience once maybe twice during the series, but I don't remember her being on one of those 'support your relation' type interviews. Not sure I catch the drift re Vincent and Kristina...must have missed something!! I agree the people you really want to see are the up-to-date ones, well I would have thought, but perhaps that's not generally true.

[Kath Mulligan]

Vincent and Kristina had a bit of a fling on last year's SCD Tour, Gloria, even though his girlfriend was expecting his baby. I think he wanted to spend a bit more time at home with his family this year, plus I think he and Flavia are taking part in the Professional Dancers' Tour later this Spring. Would love to see that too, but the nearest it is coming to us is Liverpool, so that's out.

Didn't like Ali and Brian in the series, so not particularly looking forward to seeing them, but I loved watching both Mark Ramprakash and Austin Healey dancing so looking forward to seeing them a lot. And of course, Chris and Ola! Think Matt Cutler and Kelly Brook could do rather well as a partnership too - would love to see them doing a jive. The Tour usually consists of some celebs from the current series, and some from previous years.

Anton and Erin have never done this tour as they always have their own show on the road during the same months.

Apparently Brendan's show in Buxton was fantastic, gutted that we had to miss it.

Kath

[tarn]

I am reaaly surprised the show went ahead considering the weather; to do with refunds perhaps.... and what it would have cost Buxton Opera House or the company that manages it.

[gloria townsin]

I'm sure it's made you feel very fed up Kath to have missed the show, it certainly would me. Must have missed the bit of Vincent/Kristina news of last year. I was a supporter of Ali and Brian so would be really interested to see them but all the couples are exciting to watch one way and another, although I have to say I can't stand Austin Healey - no idea why just can't take to him.

[Barbara]

Adrian,
It gets reasonably cold here - well, I thought it was reasonably cold until I saw how cold it's been over there - we get a few days when it gets down to about 1 degree., but most of the winter night time temperatures are between 5 and 10 degrees. Inland a little way from here it can get to minus 3 and 4 quite often. Down south we get snow sometimes on the peaks right near the south coast.
The eastern states of Australia in New South Wales and Victoria have highlands and during winter get good snows. They have ski resorts open during winter.
I think we have just about every dimension in Australia - flat sandy coastal plains, rocky cliffs of granite on the sea like Cornwall, sandy and scrubby deserts ,tropical rain forests, snow fields - you name it, we've got it - except volcanoes. We haven't got any of those - at least not in this millennium.
So ends today's geography and climate lesson - I hope you were all paying attention.:blink:

[Janet Swan]

I am reaaly surprised the show went ahead considering the weather; to do with refunds perhaps.... and what it would have cost Buxton Opera House or the company that manages it.

I watched the BBC weather news yesterday evening, and conditions in Kath Country (!) were horrendous - really deep snow and still some people were trying to travel in little cars and, of course, getting stuck. One of the roads to Buxton was also filmed - just white-out conditions. Kath was wise to stay home although I do understand how very disappointed you must be, Kath, and feeling the financial ouch!

Janet

[jane jackson]

That's really interesting Barbara re your weather and the diverse climates over Australia. We have a programme on TV in the mornings at the moment "Wanted Down Under" where they send a British family out to Australia for a week to see if they really do want to emigrate. They explore either town, country or coastal living; look at propery they could afford; try a job option; meet up with locals or ex pats and compare the cost of living. I love watching but am always amazed how people seem to think they can move out to Australia and have a better, cheaper lifestyle with less hours at work than in the UK. I think people may watch too much "Neighbours" and "Home and Away"! Nearly all love the outdoor lifestyle, the friendliness of the prople and the houses but the cost of living seems to be higher than they expect and the house prices don't seem any cheaper than ours are. A lot of the families do still want to emigrate as they think there's a better future for them and their children even when they discover they will have to work just as long hours as over here. We get to see lots of different areas of Australia's coast and countryside which I enjoy.

Of course Cornwall throws up a similar problem regarding house prices nowadays as once it was very cheap to buy in Cornwall especially if you were moving from the Home Counties but that's not so true now. It will still be cheaper but not the vast difference it used to be.

[gloria townsin]

I must have seen the same report as you Janet - when they mentioned Buxton I pricked up my ears and yes it was just as horrible as you've been saying Kath, weatherwise that is.

[Kath Mulligan]

Elizabeth decided to go her usual, over the hills route to work this morning because the traffic on the main road was horrendous (just glad I didn't know about it until she had got to work safely!) and said that, apart from a few exposed bits where snow had blown back onto the road from the fields, it was ok but she was staggered to see that where the snow ploughs had cut through, the drifts at the side of the road were higher than her car in places. This winter is now definitely reminiscent of the 1962-3 conditions.

I missed that report on the conditions around Buxton, but have seen plenty of coverage on the local news bulletins, and photos on local BBC websites.

Kath

[adesmith]

Thanks Barbara - I was paying attention. I am afraid that in the past (I havent watched them for years) I have watched Neighbours and Home and Away and they sort of portray an always hot and sunny Australia. I did suspect that in such a big place the weather conditions would vary. I have a friend who is moving to Sydney very soon with his family and when we went around to see them after a recent exploratry trip I thought we were going to find out about life in the real Australia. They promptly produced pictures of them on the beach that they use for filming Home and Away!

[Sybille Weber]

I am reaaly surprised the show went ahead considering the weather............................

We had an event over here at Essen on Saturday that also took place despite the horrendous weather conditions, and it was the more surprising as it was an openair event! This year Essen and the Ruhr Area are cultural capital of Europe, and the opening ceremony took place on Saturday afternoon. All the speakers delivered their speeches in considerable snowfall, and between the show acts the stage always had to be cleared off the snow. I watched the broadcast on TV and was wondering why they had gone for an openair event at this time of the year. Anyway the organizers were very pleased with the whole event and said the snow added a special touch to it. I certainly could have done without this special touch if I had been one of the audience who were sitting there in the cold with all the white stuff coming down.