Saturday, 9th Jan. 2010

[Sybille Weber]

Really atrocious weather conditions over here. It's quite frosty, and there's blowing a blizzard outside. It has been like this for most of the night, and according to the forecast it is to continue like this until tomorrow at least. Driving is extremely difficult with the snow having been blown away in parts and just leaving blank ice while in other places there are snow drifts. It's still most comfortable to drive where there is just a thick layer of snow on the roads. We have heavy snowfall, and it just wouldn't stop. Still the roads in town haven't been cleared at all today it seems, but then with these extreme winds it would probably be a superfluous task anyway. Chaos on the roads is sometimes aggrevated by people who haven't bothered to exchange the summer wheels of their cars for winter wheels. There are still some of those around, and when they get stuck or can't get up a hill chaos is inevitable.
So glad I don't have to venture out today as Rolf will be doing the shopping on his own.

Hope you will be able to make it safely to Buxton and back again today, Kath. Would be such a disappointment to miss the show, but your safety must come first.

From the static cam at the Minack Theatre Cornwall seems to be off much better than the rest of Britain and Europe, even though it may be cold, too.
Here the weathermen say we should have at least 10 more inches of snow this weekend on top of what is already there.

Our mail still arrived punctually today despite the weather. I was sorry for the poor postman, or rather postwoman, having to venture out in these conditions. She was too early for us to be up on a weekend, or else we would have asked her in to warm up with a cup of tea.

[jane jackson]

That sounds pretty awful Sybille with all that snow yet to come. We may have more snow tomorrow too even down here in the far west of Cornwall. The sun is shining in a clear blue sky at the moment but we still have very icy patches especially in the side roads. When Bryan went for the paper this morning a car was spinning on the entrance to our road where it's hilly and out of the sun. He tried later to walk up our road to see if we could drive out safely that way but he fell over so we've left the car in the drive. We did manage to walk the dogs down to The Prom which was great as I haven't been out since it snowed on wednesday. The sea was a lovely blue and very calm at high tide and it was great to see the outside world again. We walked back though the town where most pavements have been salted but there were still a few dangerous places so I was being very careful as I don't want to risk falling and damaging my hip and making it worse.

We met a neighbour who is due to go on a skiing holiday in Austria next saturday flying from Birmingham so he's really hoping the weather will warm up and allow him to get there. They've already missed their Christmas holiday to Italy due to the snow and ice.

[Kath Mulligan]

My sympathy to you Sybille, your situation sounds as grim as ours. The best and only place to be at the moment is tucked up snug and warm at home, and that's where I am planning to stay now! Claire and I have been out this morning and done a big shop so if it gets even more grim this next week, I don't need to venture out further than Mum's, which is only a two minute slither away!!

I can imagine the hill up to your house being a bit dodgy if it is icy, Jane, because it is quite steep at the bottom end, isn't it? Take care, and hope Bryan is ok after his fall.

Kath

[adesmith]

Sybille it sounds terrible in Germany! I did see on the news here that it was bad there and that they had advised people to stock up on food etc. Jane I hope that Bryan is okay. A couple of people at work had falls and it wasnt very nice for them.

I was really pleased to see the gritting lorry come down our road today. The road itself is much better but the footpaths are terrible. I couldnt believe it though but they put the grit on the footpath on the opposite side of the road leaving our side still treacherous. I know that I shouldnt really complain because at least something was being done. We then went to the supermarket to get some ingredients for supper and there were huge gaps on the shelves in Saisburys. We wanted some leeks but they said that they were unavailable due to the weather conditions. We then went to Waitrose and Asda but both were the same - the fresh produce was nearly all gone! In the end we got some (never ones to be defeated!) at a local greengrocers. So at least we have a nice hot stew in the oven and I have made some rice pudding (with double cream) which is cooking as well.

The weather forecast for us is quite ambiguous for tomorrow and the beginning of next week. Light snow is threatened but for a long time so that it will build up. I think they will be reluctant to keep school closed to pupils so it could turn out to be a challenging week!

As I have said before keep safe and warm everyone. We will look back at this and laugh when we are sweltering in our boiling hot summer!!!

[Kath Mulligan]

As I have said before keep safe and warm everyone. We will look back at this and laugh when we are sweltering in our boiling hot summer!!!

Now there's an optimistic man if ever I heard one! One genuinely good thing about this hyper cold weather is that it will kill off lots of the virus infections that are around - you see, there is always a silver lining if you look hard enough. ;)

We managed to buy leeks without any problem at Tesco today, Adrian, but the store was absolutely heaving with people piling trolleys high with foodstuffs - not that I can complain since I was doing exactly the same thing myself. Not stockpiling for the sake of it, just making sure that I don't have to go out next week unless it is really necessary.

Kath

[adesmith]

Have to keep positive. We shall be alright as long as they dont promise us another BBQ summer or for that matter a mild winter again!

[gloria townsin]

Yes forecasts of 'Sizzling Summer' and 'Mild Winter' should be made taboo.......not that I believed them anyway - a real doubting Thomas - that's me!!

At the moment Adrian my laughter at the weather is a bit hollow, but maybe in time I will see the 'amusing? -erm....?' side of it.

[jane jackson]

A very inbetween day here ~ overcast and about 1 or 2 degrees with tiny fluffy white bits falling in the morning. Snow disappearing a little but expect it will freeze again tonight ~ really want to get to the beach with the dogs now...............................

[adesmith]

I heard on the news that the high pressure etc is breaking down and that temperatures are beginning to rise. I am fed up with the cold and snow now and we havent had half the amount many people including Kath have had! BUT I just looked on the Met Office website and there is heavy snow forecast for us (and much of the South West of Britain) on Tuesday and Wednesday. I have a horrible feeling that we havent seen the last of it yet!

[Kath Mulligan]

It's been doing light snow here for most of the day, but melting a little bit too. However, it is now starting to snow harder again, and have just watched the Farmers and Growers forecast on Countryfile. Could have more tomorrow, a respite on Tuesday, then lots more heavy snow for most of the day on Wednesday. Bored, bored, bored now - want it to go away, pretty please!!!

Kath

[Linda]

we havent had any..oh! a little flurry overnight on Friday but that's it. I am not sure if I feel left out or not!
:blink::D:blink:

[tarn]

It's been snowing all day here and now the road is more or less iced over with frozen snow. We went walking to Ilam yesterday and had to push a young couple out of trouble, then we hit snow drifts and had to abandon our car and extend our walk! We were unable to go anywhere last night and today risked the snow drifts to get to the shops. Well we will live 1000 feet up! They have given more snow for Tuesday......

[tarn]

Some reporters on the weather keep referring to 'An expected Snow Dump' or 'there has been a considerable Snow Dump. Now not a lot annoys me but I find this phrase 'Dump' annoying! I have never heard this used before and where has it come from? My hubby seems to think they use it in America?
Can anyone shed any light on this.

[jane jackson]

Bryan has great hopes that tuesday/wednesday will see the start of a change for the better with the weather with temperatures supposed to be rising. He's hoping the snow will rapidly become rain but I think Kath that you'll have to wait a little bit longer for the change to reach up to you. We're just below freezing at the moment and I had to be careful where I trod when I went out with the dogs as a few patches of ice glistening.

[gloria townsin]

It was snowing quite hard late yesterday evening here and I expected to wake to snow deeper than ever - but although the uncovered cars were partially covered and the front drive had another inch or so it actually looks as though it is slowly thawing. Would love to think that's the last of it but far too soon to hope for that I fear. I think the little infant/junior school might still be closed. Our bins weren't collected last Thursday and are still waiting to be emptied. I know the side roads haven't been too clever but for a big council lorry they shouldn't be a problem.

[jane jackson]

It was thawing quite nicely last night until it rained a bit and then went below freezing about 7am this morning which left ice everywhere! However the sun came up quickly and it did thaw again so we were able to get the car out ~ hooray!!!!!!!!!!!!! We actually went to Long Rock Beach and let the girls run ~ it was great. There were still patches of ice around on the car park so we were careful. We also managed a visit to Tesco on the way home so got a few bits for us and an elderly neighbour. There was the sound of lots of people shovelling snow and ice at lunchtime as a lot of the drives are on slopes. It was good to get out. :clap2::smow::clap2:

Do hope things are looking better up your way Kath and anyone else who still has too much snow.

[Kath Mulligan]

It has tried to thaw a little bit here today and we have had sleety rain rather than snow for most of the day, so it could get a bit dodgy on the roads if it freezes again overnight. Sounds as though Jane and Adrian are going to be worst affected by the next lot of snow coming in. They are threatening us with it later tomorrow and into Wednesday, but I am hoping it will fizzle out before it reaches us.

Glad you managed to get your car out Jane. I haven't even tried to start mine for almost two weeks, it's still buried under about 5-6 ins of snow, but might clear it off tomorrow and try to turn the engine over. No doubt my brakes will have seized on too. Don't actually need to drive anywhere this week, so shall probably leave it parked up until most of the snow has cleared around it - at the moment it's firmly wedged in between 2 drifts!!

I'm now wondering just when our bin men will get around to us again. Not had a green bin and paper collection for 5 weeks now, and the black bin for general waste is overdue too. The centre of the road is now fairly clear, so no real excuse for them not to come now, although I suppose they will have a huge backlog to clear.

Kath

[gloria townsin]

Snow gone from the parked cars which included mine and Eddie's although they have been cleared a couple of times. No bin men and the bit of telephone conversation I overheard between Eddie and the builders tells me that nothing much is being done at Bryher,,,,,,now how did I know this? Will get the full picture later.

Haven't heard from Mim and John for a while so I hope they are both o.k. no lurgy etc.

[adesmith]

School was open today to pupils in Years 10, 11, 12 and 13 so it was quite a quiet day. I only had a Year 10 class and a Year 12 so had three extra free lessons which was good. There has been a bit of a thaw and I just went out to feed the birds and its cold but not freezing out there. They have given weather warnings for us from tomorrow afternoon for heavy snow in Cardiff and Newport. The man on the local radio said it was going to be 'apocolyptic'. I do hope that he was exaggerating. If it is as bad as they are suggesting at the moment I am a little anxious for both Rachel and myself getting home. I am doing my termly detention duty and so wont be leaving before 4pm. The last time we had heavy snow during the school day the M4 got blocked and people abandoned their cars. I got home just in time on that occasion! Well we will just have to see what happens. I wouldnt be surprised if it just sleets or rains.

Bins were collected on Sunday morning which was good and did I say that they came down our road gritting the pavement. The only trouble was they gritted one side - the other side! I heard on the news today that leeks and cabbages etc are now in short supply because they are having trouble harvesting them - tell me about it!

Gloria I am sorry that not much is happening at Bryher but this cant last much longer and as soon as the weather warms up a bit I am sure things will get under way. This time next year you may be sitting in front of a warm fire looking at the snow falling in Mullion!

[Sybille Weber]

........Glad you managed to get your car out Jane. I haven't even tried to start mine for almost two weeks, it's still buried under about 5-6 ins of snow.......................... Kath

Over here a man returning from the airport after a holiday abroad called the police telling them his car had been stolen while he was away when infact it had only been buried under the snow! :haha: Sorry, Kath, I know it won't be fun having to dig it out, and you have my sympathy.

[jane jackson]

Snow gone from the parked cars which included mine and Eddie's although they have been cleared a couple of times. No bin men and the bit of telephone conversation I overheard between Eddie and the builders tells me that nothing much is being done at Bryher,,,,,,now how did I know this? Will get the full picture later.

Haven't heard from Mim and John for a while so I hope they are both o.k. no lurgy etc.


Gloria according to our local TV News today it said the road to The Lizard was a sheet of ice as was the road from PZ to Helston. They showed people trying to walk along the pavements holding on to the hedges and still slipping.

This evening it is now +4c and dry so that bodes well for tomorrow unless the temperature drops below freezing at dawn as it did today, hope not.

[Kath Mulligan]

Much to my amazement, my car started first time this morning, but I have decided to leave it under its snowy blanket since I don't really need to drive anywhere in the next day or two. Trudged to the library on foot a little while ago, not pleasant since the wind is quite strong today and it felt like being slapped in the face with ice chippings!

http://www.buxtonadvertiser.co.uk/ This is the website for our local newspaper, and there is a video clip on about the conditions in week 4 of the big freeze - ie, this week. If you watch it you will see why we didn't attempt to drive to Buxton on Saturday!

Kath

[jane jackson]

:smow::car: Well done your car Kath! I watched the video clip re Buxton ~ a proper winter!!!!!!! I think you were very wise not to risk it however disappointing it has been. Really dreadful day here with all the rain but at least the ice has all gone.

[gloria townsin]

Having watched the video clip Kath.......Brrrr.........no good decision!!

[adesmith]

I think you are wise not driving yet Kath.

We were taken quite by surprise by the snow tonight. We knew it was forecast but it was expected later. The meeting that I was in finished and I went outside and the car was white! A tricky drive home for me and Rachel but I have heard on the radio that roads are closed and the M4 has long tailbacks. I dont know how long it will continue or if it will get heavier. Will have to go through all of the 'is school closed or open?' hassle in the morning if it carries on. The novelty has firmly worn off!

Going to have a look at your link now Kath.

[Kath Mulligan]

Just as an antidote to all our talk of cold and snow, spare a thought or two for poor Jen in Melbourne! I have just been reading a report saying that yesterday they had daytime temperatures of 43C and the temp at midnight was still 34C. And to add insult to injury there have been power cuts too leaving people without air conditioning. I couldn't cope with 34C during the daytime, never mind during the night - it just doesn't bear thinking about. So, much sympathy to you Jen in your suffering. As we have said on FB, if only you could send us some of your heat, and we would happily send you some of our snow in return, then perhaps we would all feel much more comfortable.

Kath

[jane jackson]

Those high temperatures wouldn't suit me either, we just need a compromise between our cold and their excessive heat then all the world would be happy! The News reports were saying that the A30 was closed through Bodmin again and lots of problems near Exeter. Not funny as Adrian says when you have to travel to work and yes I'm sure the novelty is wearing thin. Our snow has gone now thank goodness so hopefully will everyone elses very soon.

[jane jackson]

Absolutely tipping it down at the moment 11pm, thank goodness the dogs have already been out for the last time this evening. Both cats inside in the warm. It's lovely when all the animals are inside, safe and cosy while the weather outside is awful. After all the moaning we did when we had constant rain for ages before Christmas, we're now happy to have that again rather than snow and ice. Do so hope we all have a wonderful hot summer but perhaps just not as hot as Jen is having at the moment.

[gloria townsin]

The car that crashed into a wall in Trewoon Road happened just past Bryher - in fact the fire-engine stopped outside B. Not even our neighbours 4x4 could be taken out of the drive. They were hoping to use it today......the garage roof is off.......the builders have turned the water off at the main as the pipes are frozen - can't not worry about the situation though and there's no way we can get there to see what's what anyway. Not sure I would have gone down this path if I'd known all the worry it would bring. Couldn't bear it if last years problems happened again, although there is no tank in the loft now. The builders have to park in the village car park and walk down but they can't do anything much so it's all a bit of a waste of time being there. Porthleven is difficult if not impossible to get out of apparently. This weather has a lot to answer for. Think it's supposed to spread to us overnight from the Cornwall and Wales.

[jane jackson]

According to my friend in Berkhamsted they have now got 6 inches of snow and are back to square one so I expect you have similar in Croxley Gloria. As for here in PZ we had +2c last night and all our snow has gone with yesterdays rain. We even managed to take the girls to Sennen beach this morning which was wonderful after all this time. However Radio Cornwall are saying there is/was black ice on Truro roads and Constantine/Gweek area + of course Bodmin.

So frustrating for you re Bryher but who would have thought that we would be getting these temperatures down this far south west for 2 consecutive winters. It WILL be alright in the end.

[Janet Swan]

In North Herts, it's been snowing again since dawn. Botheration!!! Had planned to take my car out of it's damp dripping garage (must get the roof fixed soon) today, but have abandoned that idea since it is looking like Narnia outside again. Yesterday, much of the snow and ice had gone, and I went with some friends, by bus, to the cinema in Letchworth to see the new Daniel Day-Lewis film - 'Nine' - which was enjoyable although a bit OTT in places!!! Suspect I might be hibernating all day today.

Janet

[gloria townsin]

Janet - know how you feel!!! For Goodness Sake - enough is enough!! Spain looks more inviting with every day......there's a house across the road from my friend just ready and waiting .......

If Gweek and Constantine are bad then Mullion will almost certainly be the same. The builders say we would never get in and out of our drive.....that's cheerful for coming years - Not!! Does this mean I will have to go down the route of a 4x4 with snow chains in the Winter? Although even they don't seem to have fared well. I remember some long time ago happily saying that they don't get the bad winters in Cornwall.........should never have said it.

[Liz]

Its been snowing here since at least 3.00a m ( one of my middle of the night wide awake sessions) and more heavy snow is forecast for this afternoon. We've never seen snow this deep here before and are fast regretting our 'lets go green and swap the 4x4 for something more economical' descision that we made earlier this year :fie:

All the deep footprints around the garden are now covered and I'm trying hard to keep up with the demand for bird feeding - its the expense more than anything!

[jane jackson]

We also thought we wouldn't get bad winters with frost and snow in the Far West but so far we've had 3 winters out of the 4 we've seen with frost and now snow and ice. Last years snow was hardly worth even mentioning apart from the novelty factor but we did have the very low temperatures of minus 8 and 9 degrees which finished off a lot of our plants and set others back a very long way. This time we haven't gone below minus 4c like 2 years ago so hopefully the plants have just been set back and not finished off! After last winters experience we've been bringing in lots of plants overnight so the dining table looks like Kew Gardens as does the kitchen with an orange and lemon tree + a red banana plant in there. It's the ice that's really caused the main problems this winter down here with so many side roads being treacherous for cars as well as people.

You really shouldn't need a 4X4 Gloria and anyway they're not much better for coping with ice especially the black sort. According to my friend her modern automatic Range Rover which seems to be in permanent 4 wheel drive isn't as good as the old fashioned sort. She's still on Exmoor and was thinking of driving the very short distance up the drive to the horse yard yesterday evening as the continued use by Shooters vehicles has made it far too dangerous to walk. There'll be a lot of cooped up horses dying to get out and charge around a field soon.

Don't forget as well Gloria that had you been living at Bryher you could have cleared the snow from your entrance and put salt down and kept on top of things. You'll be fine!

[gloria townsin]

Thank you Jane for your cheering Gloria up session......it's appreciated. Just worrying to think how remote we will be to what we are now - at least here I only have a shortish drive to a main road then off to the supermarkets without too much trouble, although the car parks are solid ice as I discovered yesterday, so pretty dangerous to get in and out of the car, not to mention pushing a shopping trolley. I'm never keen on the 'post Christmas' look of shops but this year it's worse than ever. What a misery I am........!! When will we need these again? :dirol:

[adesmith]

Another day with school closed and we were told to work from home. Had about the same as last week with another two or three inches. I want to see my garden again! I suspect that school will be open to staff in the morning but I dont know whether all the pupils will be there. Had to get on with some work today so Rupert was a bit neglected watching DVDs and CBeebies. We did build a snowman though and had a drive out for me to get my haircut. That was eventful because the first attempt I gave up because I couldnt get out of the road. An hour or so later we managed only to find that my usual barbers was shut. Determined to have a cut I spotted another barbers nearby but it was a bit unusual. It was all nice and modern and trendy but it was a bit odd. They shaved my neck with a cutthroat razor and then padded me with talcum powder. He then lit a small piece of fabric on a metal stick with meths and burnt my hair. I pretended to take it all in my stride but I have never seen that before in all my 37 years!!! He did a good job but I may go back to my normal barbers next time! Poor Rupert should have started his 4 sessions of playgroup a week last week and although he was apprehensive he was ready to give it a go. He hasnt really had the opportunity to try his new routine yet though. :(

The local weatherman says that we are to have a thaw and more milder temperatures at the weekend but then there is the possibility that it will go cold again next week. Considering that we dont normally have the snow until February I have an awful feeling that we havent seen the back of it yet.

Gloria I am sure that you will get used to winter in Cornwall. I guess that if you pay close attention to weather warnings and stock up when necessary a few days of inconvenience will be far outweighed of the amazingness (is that a word?) of living in one of the most beautiful places in the world during the rest of the year! :)

[Liz]

They shaved my neck with a cutthroat razor and then padded me with talcum powder. He then lit a small piece of fabric on a metal stick with meths and burnt my hair. I pretended to take it all in my stride but I have never seen that before in all my 37 years!!!

As a child I remember going with my father to have his hair cut and watching the same thing happening - I never did understand why!

[adesmith]

I looked it up on the Internet and it is a Turkish thing when cutting mens hair. I did think that they were Turkish when I arrived at the barbers. It is funny though and would have thought that it has its dangers!

[Kath Mulligan]

Have to say Adrian, I think I should have been up and out of that barber's chair like a shot and out of the door! Did it not smell horrible when they singed your hair? I only ask because I have a vivid memory of my friend, Pauline, once setting fire to her fringe during a chemistry lesson when she leant too far over a Bunsen burner and the smell of that lingered in the lab for the rest of the lesson!

We have had a strange combination today of a very slight thaw, plus light snow falling for most of the day. Where it fell on lying snow, it stuck, but the roads stayed quite clear until later this afternoon when they began to turn white again. Elizabeth said it was a bit interesting coming up our hill this evening but she made it safely in the end. Seems to have stopped snowing now but it is freezing hard once again, so black ice could be a problem in the morning rush hour.

Kath

[Linda]

we went to the mainland today for my check up and came back to the island amid heavy falling snow! About an inch maybe two has fallen and it has stopped now...but we have run out of coal and so relying on oil heating...which means the house is not so warm and snug...and we are fast running out of oil...our track is too icy still for the fuel lorry. So we will have to put a barrel up the end of our lane and have it filled and bring it back with the tractor. Have to say in defence of 4x4 that we could not have done without it during thsi weather, vehicle wise we would most definitely have been stuck here. Even now its only with the 4 wheel drive on that we can get up and down the lane.
Anyway stocked up on food stuffs again now so ready for another three four weeks...just need to get some fuel sorted...or Jeff will be chopping wood.... :)~:)

[Kath Mulligan]

For quite a few days during this past week or two, it has only been 4x4 vehicles that have been able to get up and down our hill with any ease, and even they have struggled at times. In our very hilly terrain, even if you don't go off-roading, in winter a 4 wheel drive vehicle is a very sensible option.

Mum is very thankful that she stocked up with a ton of coal just before Christmas so at least she is able to keep her living room nice and warm all the time. Hope you manage to get some fuel soon, Linda.

Kath

[adesmith]

Kath I did want to jump out of the barbers chair - it was so odd. And yes it did smell. I kept getting whiffs of it when I got home. Have had a bath and washed my hair now but I can still smell the funny perfume. Cant smell singed hair any more though.

Hope that you manage to get some fuel sorted out soon Linda.

[gloria townsin]

Now this will show my age but I clearly remember seeing barbers advertisements when I was young and singeing was mentioned then - so it's something from the past but of course might well have origins in another country. Singed anything smells foul so I can imagine how your hair smelt.

[jane jackson]

Very strange experience Adrian! I asked Bryan if he'd ever come across it but no he hasn't either.

Hope you get your fuel soon Linda, at least Jeff will keep warm chopping wood! It was always warm work when our logs were delivered as the tractor could only get so far towards the log store which was conveniently just by a door to the house. Bryan stood by the store while I threw individual logs up the slope towards him ~ got a bit dodgey at times.................but a wonderful feeling when it was all stacked high.

[Liz]

I know just what you mean about the good feeling when the log store is stacked and you know you'll be warm for the foreseeable future Jane - our wood pile is now considerably smaller, we've been keeping the fire in overnight during this icy spell.

Although real fires are so cosy they are a lot of work and I've noticed a big increase in the amount of dust everywhere!

[Liz]

I did want to jump out of the barbers chair - it was so odd. And yes it did smell. I kept getting whiffs of it when I got home. Have had a bath and washed my hair now but I can still smell the funny perfume. Cant smell singed hair any more though.


I've found the following info about having your hair singed Adrian

A singe is a treatment available at a barbers.
A lit taper (candle) or other device is used to lightly burn and shrivel the hair. This is supposed to have beneficial effects - sealing cut ends, closing up the follicles preventing the hair from bleeding and encouraging it to grow.
This practice was popular approximately a century ago; it was believed that hair had "fluid" in it and singeing would trap the fluid in. This belief has since been debunked.

Your barber was obviously going for the traditional touch! :blink:

[gloria townsin]

Oh Flip!! I hasten to add I am not a Century Old!! Maybe I travelled on old transport i.e. buses/trains, that advertised this treatment on it's billboards. What a strange experience though.

[Brenda]

Stacking our logs when they're delivered in the fall (or when Peter brings a small load out of the bush) is one of my favourite outdoor jobs. And when we need to replenish our wood supply in the basement, I love getting outdoors on a sunny, crisp winter day to help out with that. Peter always does the chopping, and I pile the split logs into the wheelbarrow, take them around to the back of the house, and cart them into the basement, armload by armload. I feel like I've really earned my place in front of the woodstove once that job is done.

My friend, Debbie is visiting her family around Chesterfield right now, and writes that she has been caravan-bound for several days due to the icy conditions. Her sister is living in the caravan temporarily while her house is being renovated. Poor Debbie says she is getting cabin (or is that caravan?) fever!

Linda, best wishes for more efficient transportation of your fuel oil - perhaps it's done by now. And to all of you who are struggling to ensure that you have enough heating fuel and groceries in the house...I am sending wishes for much-improved weather in the immediate future. You've all had enough weather woes this winter to last you a lifetime, I'm sure.

Brenda

[Brenda]

Have to agree with you, Liz, about the amount of dust created by a wood fire. Our airtight stove has a built-in fan and there's also a ceiling fan in the living room so, as we keep the fire going 24-hours a day from October to April, the dust spreads throughout the house. None of my previous houses have ever been dusty like this one is. I won't have any excuse, of course, once we move and have a gas fireplace. Oops, might have to dust once in a while! Brenda

[Liz]

Oh Flip!! I hasten to add I am not a Century Old!! Maybe I travelled on old transport i.e. buses/trains, that advertised this treatment on it's billboards. What a strange experience though.

:laugh: LOL! I really do remember seeing my father having this done so the information isn't quite accurate.... hopefully!

[jane jackson]

Although real fires are so cosy they are a lot of work and I've noticed a big increase in the amount of dust everywhere!

Bryan is glad not to have the work of the woodburner and I the dust but we do miss it. When we moved the buyers took it out and replaced it with an electric fire but they're elderly and Edgar is ill so they couldn't cope with the work.

[Barbara]

Adrian, re - your interesting haircut experience.
Lachlan and I have been watching for the past several weeks something called "Francesco's Mediterranean Adventure". Tonight he travelled to Turkey - and you guessed it! - he went for a haircut. The minute he walked into the barbers, I said to Lachlan that I knew what was coming next. Sure enough, out came the little flame to singe Francesco's hair - then he was given a shave with a cutthroat razor, had his nose hair trimmed, ear hairs plucked, had some gooey stuff put on his cheeks then removed to clear his pores, and last of all he was given a hand and a shoulder massage. Seems like Turkish barbers see their work as more than just a short back and sides.

[Janet Swan]

Thank you Jane for your cheering Gloria up session......it's appreciated. Just worrying to think how remote we will be to what we are now - at least here I only have a shortish drive to a main road then off to the supermarkets without too much trouble, although the car parks are solid ice as I discovered yesterday, so pretty dangerous to get in and out of the car, not to mention pushing a shopping trolley.

Gloria - when you are living full time at Bryher, maybe you will find that you prefer to buy almost all your shopping from local shops and farm stalls, and give up the joys (what joys?!) of supermarket shopping? Indeed, recently I've plodded, slipped and slid half a mile to my nearest newsagent/corner shop, and I was amazed at the relatively huge range of goodies they sold. A little more expensive than Sainsbury's but well worth it for the convenience. It convinced me that I could manage without a supermarket visit and, of course, we do need to support our local shops to keep them going. So, as Jane, says, you will fine and really don't need a 4x4!!!

Janet

[gloria townsin]

This is true Janet....Mullion has three general stores - two of which are close to Bryher. They sell fresh packaged meat from the butcher in St Keverne and I have bought this when we've been down. The corner store which is more of a hardware shop also sells my fruit teas so no panic there if we run short. We only go to Falmouth for food once a week and Tesco the same, the rest of the time we shop locally and as you say would do that in bad weather. Only problem is whether the deliveries have managed to get to them........it will be a case of making sure I have a good larder and freezer for the winter months. I can make bread so no worry there. I'm making a mountain out of a molehill I'm sure....this weather has been so depressing, well the length of time it's gone on, we've got out of the swing of bad Winters.
Thank you for the pick me up.......

[adesmith]

Thanks for the historical background Liz, how interesting! Barbara what a coincidence with the tv program as well. I do have to say that if he had started massaging me without any warning I probably would have panicked! I dont think I would have liked him burning my nose hair much either. I wonder when it stopped being done generally in British barbers.

I would love a wood burner and I have often wondered about getting one installed. Trouble is we havent got a chimney in our 1970s semi and the pipe thing that they put in would have to go through our bedroom some how. I did listen to a radio program a while ago where they were saying how environmentally friendly it is. They ere talking about burning chips as well.

[gloria townsin]

Our wood burner will be a new learning curve once it's all installed.....we were fortunate the chimney was still there although filled in, which we didn't realise until the builder started taking it apart and clearing it.

[Kath Mulligan]

I am so happy to report that it is raining hard here today! Never thought it would give me so much pleasure to say that, but at long last the snow has started to slowly disappear. My car is now only under about 3 inches of white stuff instead of 7/8 inches! I may even be tempted to clear the rest of it and venture out to Tesco - first time I shall have driven since New Year's Eve! Wonder if I can remember how to drive!!

Kath

[Annette]

I am so happy to report that it is raining hard here today! Never thought it would give me so much pleasure to say that, but at long last the snow has started to slowly disappear. My car is now only under about 3 inches of white stuff instead of 7/8 inches! I may even be tempted to clear the rest of it and venture out to Tesco - first time I shall have driven since New Year's Eve! Wonder if I can remember how to drive!!

Kath

Same here Kath, I am planning on going out today if my car starts.

[jane jackson]

My car is now only under about 3 inches of white stuff instead of 7/8 inches! I may even be tempted to clear the rest of it and venture out to Tesco - first time I shall have driven since New Year's Eve! Wonder if I can remember how to drive!!

Kath

Amazing that you still have even 3 inches of snow on your car! I felt a great sense of freedom when I got the car out after quite a few days but it wasn't anything like as long as you've had. We're back to normal now without going below freezing last night and 9c quite early this morning. My friend on Exmoor has got rid of most of the snow but it's uncovered sheet ice which hasn't thawed yet so she's still having difficulty getting her horses turned out. Have fun in Tescos!

[gloria townsin]

Tesco will seem like a whole new experience for those of us who have been unable to get there for a while........almost a pleasure to go and do the food shopping (note I said 'almost!!')

[Kath Mulligan]

After the heavy rain all morning, it has now stopped, but like your friend on Exmoor, Jane, whilst it has washed away a lot of the powdery snow, it has exposed the solid sheet ice underneath, so the pavements are very treacherous. I decided against going out, will leave it until tomorrow when hopefully, still more will have gone. Only about an inch of snow remains on my car now. Maybe by tomorrow morning it will be completely clear, then I shall have no scraping to do at all.

One thing to be said in favour of the snow and ice is that I have saved money by not going out shopping as often, and have obviously saved on petrol costs too since I have only driven once in the last month! Good job I had a very well-stocked freezer and pantry, it has been a godsend this past few weeks.

Kath

[Liz]

I think we've all had the rain today. The snow isn't quite so deep here now but everwhere is becoming slushy - yuk.

We've also had fog today so everywhere is grey, damp and depressing............ but I'm sure there'll be snowdrop flowers pushing up under the snow and who knows I may be able to let the hens out again soon!

[gloria townsin]

Actually it does make you think what you can make out of the store cupboard, fridge/freezer. I'm a dab hand at buying something because it's a good price, put it in the freezer and then put off using it because I've a) forgotten it's there or b) because I forgot to take it out of the freezer to defrost. We've been using some freezer food and some fridge ingredients and to tell the truth I think I go out food shopping too much. It wouldn't be so bad if I only bought what I needed and went out for but I always end up with at least two or three extras in the basket, plus running the car back and forth. Hope the rest of the icy mess has gone by Sunday Kath.

[Kath Mulligan]

Most of our snow has now gone from roads and pavements, and quite a bit from the garden too, but as usual in wet weather, my car has decided to throw a strop and will just not start! It's been well squirted with WD40 so will try again in a while, see if it has mended its manners. I simply have to get it going this weekend since Claire's car is booked in for its MOT on Monday morning, so I shall be taking her to and fetching her from work in Romiley. The forecast is for a dry day tomorrow, so am hoping it will behave itself then and we will use it to go to Marple to catch the train, so that I can re-charge the battery a bit and dry it all out. Ended up going to Tesco in Elizabeth's car instead.

Kath

PS. On a more cheerful note, I have discovered quite a lot of daffodils coming up in my tubs and window boxes, and crocuses too, so there has been plenty of activity going on under the snowy blanket.

[adesmith]

It was good to wake up this morning and see green fields, hills and my garden! Some plants seem to have bounced back (pansies and polyanthus/primroses) but the cyclamen look very sorry for themselves. The bulbs in pots are coming up. Some of the plants on the rockery and flowerbeds look a bit sad and possibly a bit beyond recovery. Will leave it a little bit and see what happens though. I was tempted to buy some potted bulbs etc at the garden centre to bring a bit of quick colour but I guess it wont be long before the things that planted back in the autumn will poke through. Hoping to see some snow drops.

[gloria townsin]

Bulbs doing well......in fact shot forward under the snowy blanket. Cyclamen....little or no trace, ornamental cabbage one purple one remaining, the white one and the other purple are gonners!! Pansies shining up their little faces but several other things look a bit downcast. I'm giving them all the chance to pull themselves together before declaring them dead and gone, have a feeling a bit of warmer weather will make a huge difference. Oh and wonderful, wonderful I notice that the pretty pink blossoming tree in the front garden has lots of flower and some if it is beginning to break. Not sure that some of the tender plants are too chirpy though.

[Kath Mulligan]

It's amazing just how quickly lots of the bedraggled looking plants will revive though, given a spell of reasonable weather. The snow will have actually protected them from the worst of the big freeze. I think I may well have lost my little camellia bush in a pot, that is looking very pale yellow and sorry for itself, but will wait a while before I consign it to the compost bin. I really don't know why I keep trying to grow camellias, I have never had any success in about 20 years of trying - time to give up maybe? (or wait until I make my move to Cornwall, should be able to grow them there). My cyclamen have given up the ghost too, but the polyanthus, although bedraggled, are still trying valiantly to flower.

Kath

[Liz]

My biggest problem since the disappearance of the snow is MOLE HILLS!!!

They are the biggest I have ever seen - presumably the mole had to go deeper into unfrozen soil to find any worms, the huge mole hills being the excavated soil.

As much as I dislike doing it I will have to see if I can get rid of him tomorrow. The tunnels will cause all sorts of problems, walking over them can be a nightmare, its easy to twist your ankle when you sink in.

My spring bulbs are looking promising but all the cabbages and cauli have had it, I'm hoping when I check tomorrow that the beetroot, carrots and parsnips have fared better.

I found some tulip bulbs today that I have missed planting but I think I'll give them a go in pots even though its past the time they should have been put to bed.

[jane jackson]

I was just going to say that our cyclamen are looking very sorry for themselves too but now more importantly than that I'm having the problems that Gloria + a few others had before in that I've had to log in again to reply to this thread!!!!!!!!!!!

[gloria townsin]

Jane - fear not you aren't alone........I'm using the lap-top which worked fine with the new web-site....suddenly tonight - oh no!! got to go through the constant logging in thing. So assuming my main computer is o.k. tomorrow I'll have a go at what I did to fix that.......funnily enough the lap-top still shows me the original first page and I've accessed the forum from there as in the old days, but tonight when I tried it was told I was trying to access a page I wasn't entitled to....or something like that. So the problem I had and sorted has moved on to the lap-top.

By the way Jane have you got over the cold that sent you to bed the other day? Hope so.

[jane jackson]

Oh dear so you have problems again too Gloria. My cold is still with me but it comes and goes. I've been coughing a lot so have started on my inhaler as that helps. I think fiddling about with this forum so late has made me forget about it!!!!!!!! I can hear Bryan coming up the stairs wondering where I am! Hopefully we'll all be back to normal again soon.

[gloria townsin]

I thought I wouldn't get it sorted with the main computer and then it did work out so will have to try to fiddle around with the lap-top and see if I can get it sorted there. Odd isn't it how the lap-top was fine and now it's gone kaput!!

[jane jackson]

Brilliant Jeff has sorted my problem Gloria which is wonderful and I now know that I have IE version 8 which is news to me! Even better, the sun is shining and it's a lovely day. We've just come back from Porthcurno beach which was just great. The sand has been swept up the beach as far as the lifeguard hut and is all over the steps and the dunes. After the slope down, the beach is virtually flat with 2 of the cables sticking out of the sand so there must have been a very high tide with powerful waves. There was one lone surfer enjoying himself although not enough surf to stand up.

When we got back into the car a beautiful robin came and perched on one of the wing mirrors, so lovely ~ didn't even move when I eventually started the car. I wished I'd had some food for him but he did look very well and happy.

[Janet Swan]

About camellias and molehills mentioned above! (Yes, I know I'm a bit late!)

Camellias need ericacious (?spelling) compost and a special liquid and foliage feed from about May - August. I've had one for 10 years, in a pot on the patio close to the house, and it gets very little t.l.c. apart from the above and watering with rainwater. The leaves DO turn yellow a while after flowering, but that is when I start the feeding (and pick off the yellow leaves) and, so far, it's always bounced back. So, by Spring, dear Kath, if yours shows any sign of life, perhaps repot and remove anything that looks sickly?

As for molehills, dear Liz, could you not just collect up the soil - would make wonderful potting compost and would also smooth out the ground - and hope Mr Mole tunnels his way away from your land? O.K. I'm far too sentimental, but I think moles are cute and their hard work results in such good compost!

I'll go back behind the sofa now!

Janet

[jane jackson]

I tried collecting molehills in a wheelbarrow when we had the smallholding and could hardly push the barrow when I'd filled it up but it was lovely textured soil. Good luck Liz! I suppose I shouldn't have filled it so full but there was a fair distance from the field with the molehills to the garden.

[Kath Mulligan]

Janet, if I removed all the sickly yellow leaves from my baby camellia, I should be left with a stem!! But I shall give it till Spring to see if I can bring it back to life, if not, I can always pass it on to my friend, Anne, who took charge of my last effort and now has a whopping great big bush from it!

I am probably tempting fate horribly here, but so far I have never had any moles in the garden.

Kath

[adesmith]

It was a bit disheartening looking in the greenhouse yesterday as it looks like I have lost the succulents that I bought in Cornwall again. I did take two rosettes off one that seem to have rooted in a pot on the kitchen windowsill. I also have the Shwartzkopf (sp?) that I bought for a couple of pounds by the roadside on the way to Porthcurno on the windowsill in Rupert's room. It doesnt look healthy healthy but its not dead! The one that I bought from Hardy Exotics looks like its a goner! BUT the Agapanthus seedlings (small plants) that I have grown from seeds collected in Cornwall look okay. A few yellowing leaves but otherwise healthy so that is good. Strangely I looked at some of the Polyanthus that I planted in pots in the autumn and whilst a couple of them look okay quite a lot of them seem to have rotted and the leaves are dropping off. Never seen that before as they seem to withstand anything.

The bad news is that more snow is forecast on Wednesday. At the moment it looks like it will be rain for us at the lower levels in Newport. Fingers crossed!!!!

[gloria townsin]

But the good thing is the snow should only last a very short while then the temperature is supposed to rise......let's hope so.

Re Agapanthus - they had stems for sale at M&S at the weekend - £4.99 for one stem!! Thought that very expensive, one stem wouldn't go far in an arrangement. Glad yours are doing o.k. and maybe, just maybe Adrian the succulents will revive.

[Barbara]

It's been very hot here these last few days - it hit forty on Sunday and was up in the high thirties yesterday - melting time. Must admit, though, that our dear friends who have a pool did not forsake us - came and collected us both afternoons, so we had a lovely swim on both days.
I've always wondered what it would be like to have a mole in the garden - we don't have moles over here or native squirrels for that matter. The only place you'll see a squirrel is at the zoo.
I expect the moles do throw up some lovely soil - never occurred to me that people use it for their gardens, but it makes a lot of sense.
At mum's guesthouse, we had about eight huge camellia bushes - which were really like trees. They had been planted a long time before we lived there. They just flowered and flowered, and we used to pick them and put them in boxes and sell them to the local florist - such beautiful flowers.

[adesmith]

Moles are also quite good archaeologists. There is a Roman city near here called Caerwent and if you kick over the mole hills and look very carefully you can often find tesserae (bits of mosaic), pottery and I have even found some small bits of Roman wall plaster. Of course you are not allowed to dif there yourself but if the mole digs it up! I should say that moles are not very good archaeologists really because of course once they have disturbed the archaeology it is not as useful to an arcaheologist.

Barbara I could do with some of your sunshine and a nice swim in a pool! Glad that you have got somewhere to cool down because that is awfully hot.

We used to have a Camelia bush in our back garden at the old flat. It must have been planted years before and was about 5ft tall. I used to prune it like mad so that it didnt grow too much but in the late spring it would flower and flower. Big pink flowers. I didnt really know how to look after it but i did read that you have to water it during the summer because that is when they make their buds for the following year. I bet if I bought one now and tried to look after it I would kill it!

[Sybille Weber]

...............As for molehills, dear Liz, could you not just collect up the soil - would make wonderful potting compost and would also smooth out the ground - and hope Mr Mole tunnels his way away from your land? O.K. I'm far too sentimental, but I think moles are cute and their hard work results in such good compost!.....................Janet

Yes, isn't that a good idea? (Infact anything that would save Mr Mole's life would be a good idea to me.) ;)

[Liz]

Moles are also quite good archaeologists. There is a Roman city near here called Caerwent and if you kick over the mole hills and look very carefully you can often find tesserae (bits of mosaic), pottery and I have even found some small bits of Roman wall plaster. Of course you are not allowed to dif there yourself but if the mole digs it up! I should say that moles are not very good archaeologists really because of course once they have disturbed the archaeology it is not as useful to an arcaheologist.


That's really interesting Adrian. I'm part of a local archaeology group and have taken part in several digs around the area, ranging from a 12th C Bloomery (iron making) to a water mill. We obtain funding from various sources to pay for professional archaeologists from Cardiff Uni to take charge of the dig and there are around 10 of us locals who help out with the donkey work. A couple of years ago our friends the moles actually helped locate underground walls in a field - they dug up to them and then meeting an obstruction, changed direction. The resulting series of molehills showed quite clearly the position of a wall.

So maybe they're not all bad - just the ones in my garden! :mad:

I took a photo today of the havoc they have created in my lawn , I'll put it in my album Barbara so that you can see what you are missing .........not!!!!

[Liz]

As for molehills, dear Liz, could you not just collect up the soil - would make wonderful potting compost and would also smooth out the ground - and hope Mr Mole tunnels his way away from your land? O.K. I'm far too sentimental, but I think moles are cute and their hard work results in such good compost!
Janet

I agree with you Janet, the excavated soil does make lovely compost but.........

Our moles not only dig deep tunnels (when the ground is icy) the spoil from which can be cleared up fairly quickly and the tunnels forgotten about, they also dig tunnels just under the surface of the grass itself. These are a nightmare as you sink into them when you walk. The only thing I can do is peel back the turf over the run of tunnels and then back fill them and relay the turf - this takes several day and its a job I have to do every spring, once Mr Mole has returned to the woods where he spends the summer. I'm afraid the novelty of having moles in the garden has long since worn off .

They are beautiful little creatures though, but very antisocial apart from a brief time each year when their thoughts turn to 'other thing's'. It would be so much better if they all got on together and lived in family groups with one run of tunnels instead of singly, taking over the whole garden!

[adesmith]

A couple of years ago our friends the moles actually helped locate underground walls in a field - they dug up to them and then meeting an obstruction, changed direction. The resulting series of molehills showed quite clearly the position of a wall.

How interesting is that! Perhaps you should keep an eye on your moles because wouldnt it be great to find that you have your very own Roman Villa in the garden. Your archaeology group sounds interesting Liz. I have only ever done one dig even though my degree is History and Archaeology and I have often wondered about getting involved in a local group. I am a member of the Monmouthshire Antiquarians (I may have said before) and they have lots of talks about archaeology but not really the opportunity to get involved. I am also a member of the CBA but they dont seem to do very much. There is a lecture every now and then at Cardiff University but I have never been to any of them. They do have some very good lectures on Roman archaeology at the Legionary Museum in Caerleon which I do try to get to if I can.