The weather

Jellybaby1

Just checking on all you ould folks, hope you're all warm and cosy indoors. 'King Leo' said we had to stay in but I hope we can go out to play soon. I'm already suffering from cabin fever. Surely it will be all over by Sunday? Eh?

looksee

This old folk has spent a very peaceful day mostly by the fire trying to remember how to use Photoshop. Bored now though, fine tomorrow would be good (I'm pretty sure its not going to happen ). The cats had their legs crossed by mid afternoon and just had to go out and brave the drifts of snow in the back garden. They didn't stay out long!

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Going stir crazy. I'm an out and about kind of fella and being stuck in for the past two days is so boring. They now say the alert to remain indoors is until 6pm tomorrow with Orange alert after that. We are very rural and the roads are already impassable. We also only have enough milk for tomorrow.:eek:

But, warm and well fed.

Keep warm and safe all.

Jellybaby1

Three survivalists so far. I do feel sorry for those out in the sticks as I know things get sticky during bad weather but I don't understand city folks stocking up on bread and milk! In our local supermarket they were cleaned out of milk and bread and nobody seemed to want fresh vegetables. I rang a few lone elderly people I know and they were all fine. Nobody bothered to ring me though so I mustn't be old enough, yet!

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

Three survivalists so far. I do feel sorry for those out in the sticks as I know things get sticky during bad weather but I don't understand city folks stocking up on bread and milk! In our local supermarket they were cleaned out of milk and bread and nobody seemed to want fresh vegetables. I rang a few lone elderly people I know and they were all fine. Nobody bothered to ring me though so I mustn't be old enough, yet!

My son in law rang this morning 'because the guy on radio said to check on old people'. The cheek

Decent of him to offer to hike the 4 miles to us with supplies, if we needed anything though - and he was being genuine.

Jellybaby1

You're blessed!

garancafan

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

Just checking on all you ould folks, hope you're all warm and cosy indoors. 'King Leo' said we had to stay in but I hope we can go out to play soon. I'm already suffering from cabin fever. Surely it will be all over by Sunday? Eh?

Thanks JB. This oul geezer is warm and snug in his cabin without a trace of fever so far. Cranked up the old 4x4 today and ventured forth to stock up on wine and pipe-tobacco. Have hooked up a TV to the old hi-fi and am set up to watch an opera (or even two) on DVD tomorrow. I know it's not to everyone's taste but I'm excited. Our wonderful little hound is 1 tomorrow. She has been a source of great hilarity in the snow. Best wishes to all.

looksee

Ok, now its snowmageddon! We had snow yesterday. Now we have a lot of snow!

Jellybaby1

There are some things I'm finding strange this week:

Firstly, I've noticed a lot of Irish TV reporters standing in snowy surroundings with blizzards a-blowing around their ears and very few of them are wearing woolly hats or hoods. Is it just vanity or stupidity?

Irish TV reporters stop people on the roads for their comments on the conditions and the reporters seem to expect negative responses when the majority of people are not overly concerned but getting on with it and showing a great spirit.

Irish TV channel showing snowy reports most of the day. When I switched to other channels from across the water, the snowy reports only come on when they normally would, during or after the News. They are experiencing the same conditions as us.

Two reports said someone said they had never seen such weather before in all their lives. I beg to differ, we may not have had a Russian blizzard but we definitely have had loads of snow before as we had to dig ourselves out way back in the 70's. In the 50's or 60's I remember the Liffey freezing over and people skating on the ice. I'm not bewildered. Anyone else remember bad conditions like this?

I'm expecting a few snowballs come my way after this.

OldGoat

I love the snow, always have. I've been out for the dawn every morning hoping to get some good photographs. Having the snow on my doorstop saves me having to get up two hours before dawn to drive into the mountains to shoot stuff. Lie ins FTW.
Also, my sourdough is legendary now. I've gone into high production now and have been giving starters to neighbours and friends cos, you know, bread.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Sick to my teeth of it at this stage. Apart from Mrs S I haven't seen a living soul in four days. I thought we were out of biscuits this morning but found two packs in my secret emergency stash.

Hopefully the road here will be traversable tomorrow.

looksee

Just back from a dangerous sorti to the supermarket (about half a mile away). Hard work as some of the snow is still 10 inches deep and some is that half frozen slush that is more difficult than the snow. I have recently discovered how very useful a walking stick is for this kind of situation (and mud and mucky woodland). Nice to get out though!

Alice1

All well here. Nice and cosy. Snow up my knees though!

Jellybaby1

We've been ok for vittles this week as I usually have a lot in the freezer. We could survive for another couple of days I think. (Funny thing, my computer dictionary has never heard of 'vittles' and has suggested 'tittles'!!

looksee

I ran out of cat food! We could have managed fine, but the moggies would have been heartbroken. And told us about it, a lot.

Gael23

How does this rate against ‘82? Or for anyone ould enough to remember 1963 or 1947?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Gael23 wrote: »

How does this rate against ‘82? Or for anyone ould enough to remember 1963 or 1947?

It depends on the part of the country you're in. It was worse where I am, by far, in '82 from the point of view of snowfall but this year beat '82 in the south east. '62 was more of a big freeze than a snow storm. It froze from late December until March.
I was only 3 in '47 but it was the worst, by all accounts. There were huge snow falls over a period of weeks and several hundred people died.
This year will probably be a record for low temperatures in March tough.

looksee

Not very relevant, but I was born in the middle of the snow event in 1947 - I apparently arrived before the midwife! I was born at home but the midwife could not get through the snow.

cobham

Surely 2010 rates a mention? 5 weeks of ice snow etc. We had family funeral.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

cobham wrote: »

Surely 2010 rates a mention? 5 weeks of ice snow etc. We had family funeral.

2009/10 was a prolonged period of cold but nothing compared to those other dates.

cobham

Cataleya Spoiled Tuba wrote: »

2009/10 was a prolonged period of cold but nothing compared to those other dates.

I am thinking of snow that started c nov 25th 2010 and stayed until thawed rapidly on st stephens day. I was snowed in for that month.... had to walk out of estate to get taxi to airport dec 10th and also walked to hospital appointment c dec 17th, trouble getting a shared taxi part way home later that day.

Jellybaby1

We wouldn't make good pioneers. There is plenty of meat and vegetables available but there was no bread in Dunnes again today. The queues in Lidl today were horrendous.

Rubecula

I'm sure that in 1963 we survived better than we can these days even though the conditions were worse. we have become a nation of softies I feel, and yes I am as bad as anyone.

Jellybaby1

Those of us who remember the good or bad 'ould days can manage pretty well I think,but I'm hearing about people stocking up on booze or Pepsi Cola and crisps because they won't be able to fight through the snow to get them, makes me think there are a lot of flaky snowflakes about too.

Rubecula

agreed JB

Graces7

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

Three survivalists so far. I do feel sorry for those out in the sticks as I know things get sticky during bad weather but I don't understand city folks stocking up on bread and milk! In our local supermarket they were cleaned out of milk and bread and nobody seemed to want fresh vegetables. I rang a few lone elderly people I know and they were all fine. Nobody bothered to ring me though so I mustn't be old enough, yet!

We are very well looked after out here. (Moved to a small offshore island last autumn; not my first island home) When the forecast came re snow, caught the small ferry and stocked up well. That was Monday before the forecast panicked folk) . Cat food and dogfood high on the list, and coal.

And then we hardly had much snow... As we get cut off often, I tend to stay well stocked anyways.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

I think most of us old 'uns, and particularly those living rural, can survive a week or ten days without access to the shops. We're inclined to do a full shop every week and stock the freezer with bread and meat, as a matter of routine - none of these daily top up visits to the shop for us. Fuel is usually bulk bought. The only thing I was stuck for was my daily paper and not seeing another living soul, bar Mrs S, for five days.

Graces7

Cataleya Spoiled Tuba wrote: »

I think most of us old 'uns, and particularly those living rural, can survive a week or ten days without access to the shops. We're inclined to do a full shop every week and stock the freezer with bread and meat, as a matter of routine - none of these daily top up visits to the shop for us. Fuel is usually bulk bought. The only thing I was stuck for was my daily paper and not seeing another living soul, bar Mrs S, for five days.

Moving here has sharpened my wits on this We can be cut off a week at a time and there are no bulk deliveries . People were kind with turf. I love the challenge and the isolation. But not my first stay on a small island.

Rubecula

sometimes I wish this island was a bit smaller and further away. too close to the mainland by half.

Jellybaby1

Rube, just find the biggest oar you can, hop in a boat, and just push off! You'll arrive here in a couple of days.

Rubecula

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

Rube, just find the biggest oar you can, hop in a boat, and just push off! You'll arrive here in a couple of days.

you have no idea how much I want to do just that xxx

Graces7

cobham wrote: »

I am thinking of snow that started c nov 25th 2010 and stayed until thawed rapidly on st stephens day. I was snowed in for that month.... had to walk out of estate to get taxi to airport dec 10th and also walked to hospital appointment c dec 17th, trouble getting a shared taxi part way home later that day.

Agree totally. I was up in the Donegal mountains in 2010 and could not get out for nearly 6 weeks. The road was 3 inches of solid ice and one of the local priests was out on skis to help take supplies to folk.

I will evermore be grateful to a boardsie with a suitable vehicle who helped me at that time.

Always regional; this last episode was almost nothing here . No comparison.

Graces7

Rubecula wrote: »

you have no idea how much I want to do just that xxx

Ah you are in Anglesey! One of my family's frequent camping places and I am sure that that is where my passion for sea and island's began. I have such great memories; we were sent winkle picking as kids and now I am where they do it too...

Rubecula

Graces7 wrote: »

Ah you are in Anglesey! One of my family's frequent camping places and I am sure that that is where my passion for sea and island's began. I have such great memories; we were sent winkle picking as kids and now I am where they do it too...

Nice place, and I really do love the place to be honest, but sadly it is the language which foxes me. I call the place "the land of the horizontal tree" because it is so windy in many months of the year.

Jellybaby1

You've heard of wind breakers haven't you Rube? I can lend you one.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Rubecula wrote: »

Nice place, and I really do love the place to be honest, but sadly it is the language which foxes me. I call the place "the land of the horizontal tree" because it is so windy in many months of the year.

I've a few trees like that right here but probably leaning the opposite direction.

Rubecula

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

You've heard of wind breakers haven't you Rube? I can lend you one.

it needs to be 100 miles long and about 1000 feet high

Jellybaby1

I could sew two together. Sorry Rube, best I can do.

Graces7

Rubecula wrote: »

Nice place, and I really do love the place to be honest, but sadly it is the language which foxes me. I call the place "the land of the horizontal tree" because it is so windy in many months of the year.

lol... Yes, I remember shopkeepers in Llandudno breaking into Welsh.. Here it is Gaeltacht, but they are too polite to do that. Our islanders are bi-lingual here. I tried to learn but got as far as the first 2 words of the Lord's Prayer and gave up..
I once went to Mass in far flung Dingle; had not realised it was to be in FOREIGN... LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOG homily

What was rather lovely was that I was chatting to folk after and the mothers were teaching their toddlers both languages.

Bent trees! There are a couple I pass every time I am out. One day recently I tried to walk the dog in a gale and was marching on the spot....

Altogether it sounds like here; thank you as I have always wondered where my total passion for small islands came from and it is Anglesey. I loved it and it was before our family disintegrated.

THANK YOU!

Graces7

Rubecula wrote: »

it needs to be 100 miles long and about 1000 feet high

lol.. reminds me of one market day in Killibegs when my canopy walked me across the road and nearly into the sea. I was rescued by 2 priests

Jellybaby1

Graces7 wrote: »

.....One day recently I tried to walk the dog in a gale and was marching on the spot...

Graces7 wrote: »

lol.. reminds me of one market day in Killibegs when my canopy walked me across the road and nearly into the sea. I was rescued by 2 priests

:D:D

Rubecula

Graces7 wrote: »

lol... Yes, I remember shopkeepers in Llandudno breaking into Welsh.. Here it is Gaeltacht, but they are too polite to do that. Our islanders are bi-lingual here. I tried to learn but got as far as the first 2 words of the Lord's Prayer and gave up..
I once went to Mass in far flung Dingle; had not realised it was to be in FOREIGN... LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOG homily

What was rather lovely was that I was chatting to folk after and the mothers were teaching their toddlers both languages.

Bent trees! There are a couple I pass every time I am out. One day recently I tried to walk the dog in a gale and was marching on the spot....

Altogether it sounds like here; thank you as I have always wondered where my total passion for small islands came from and it is Anglesey. I loved it and it was before our family disintegrated.

THANK YOU!

I tried very hard to learn the Irish language but living in this place I had to do it on my own lol obviously I did not succeed very well.

Jellybaby1

Never been interested in learning Irish though I wish I could already speak it, but to be honest I've never been in a situation where I would need it. One day when I have nothing to do I may go back for a course but then I might prefer Spanish or French or German. Anyway this is way off the subject of weather.

Rubecula

the europeans have bad weather too lol

Graces7

Rubecula wrote: »

the europeans have bad weather too lol

Stay safe ... there was one day here when the door( opens outwards) was grabbed by the gale and before I could let go I was literally flung across the concrete path , full length. Only a graze but had I hit my head? Dog just sat there asking me what I thought I was doing. The council do know and I know there has been trouble with this door before but I have fixed it myself. Large rocks so that it cannot open more than is safe. We sometimes do not realise the sheer force of these gusts,

Graces7

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

Never been interested in learning Irish though I wish I could already speak it, but to be honest I've never been in a situation where I would need it. One day when I have nothing to do I may go back for a course but then I might prefer Spanish or French or German. Anyway this is way off the subject of weather.

If you are in a tourist area, a foreign language can be a blessing. I speak fluent French and at markets the look of sheer relief on faces when I greet them is awesome. It can be a great courtesy

Rubecula

Graces7 wrote: »

If you are in a tourist area, a foreign language can be a blessing. I speak fluent French and at markets the look of sheer relief on faces when I greet them is awesome. It can be a great courtesy

the courtesy idea is why I want to speak Welsh. I want to speak Irish for family reasons. I can get by in other languages.

Graces7

Rubecula wrote: »

the courtesy idea is why I want to speak Welsh. I want to speak Irish for family reasons. I can get by in other languages.

But you are a foreigner there so they should accommodate you

Rubecula

they do but it is not the same really ... Mae'n ddrwg gen i, ond ni allaf siarad yn Gymraeg is the longest phrase I can say in Welsh

Jellybaby1

Rubecula wrote: »

they do but it is not the same really ... Mae'n ddrwg gen i, ond ni allaf siarad yn Gymraeg is the longest phrase I can say in Welsh

Impressive!

Graces7

It has gone quiet out there... shhhh!