country at a standstill "why"

[MKG]

It's an interesting one, we were chatting about it the other night and were discussing how long we could realisitically survive without having to venture out at all. I won't tell you what our conclusion was, but I don't think we'd need to panic. Although I think a few of the livestock might

You lot are a pretty hardy and inventive bunch, out of interest how long do you think you could survive without a visit to the shops ? If you didn't have to go to work or school etc.

Well, that made us think a bit. As we're now retired, we don't have to worry about work or school, so ...

We got it all worked out and then it struck us - the dog. We couldn't feed the dog for any great length of time independently, given his taste for pig's ears - we don't breed a lot of those. So if we have to include the dog - which we would, of course - then not very long. But if it was a simple "How long would the two of us survive?" then things become simpler. And we reckon that ...

Given a constant supply of water and power (a lack of which would kill us off in fairly short order), we could survive for three months without changing anything at all - we'd still eat and drink the same stuff. If we'd had previous warning of such an emergency state, we could closely examine what we had and change our habits. If we did that, we could probably survive for 5 months - 6 at a great push. Hopefully, the shops would have re-opened by then because if we started that period now, that would dump us in June. Great weather, but there's not an awful lot to eat in June if you're depending upon crops.

There are a lot of rabbits and pigeons around here, so I reckon they could add a bit to our estimate - but they'd thin down soon enough if they were being cropped seriously.

I was honestly hoping I'd be able to say that we'd survive for a year - but I can't. Thank goodness I'm an Isher rather than a complete survivalist - I don't think we'd have a chance. But there's a silver lining - as things stand, I could keep us in wine for two years. Phew!

Thanks for cheering me up

Mike

[ShaunP]

The wrong tyres is the biggest problem that causes the roads to block. I was in Austria at the end of November and got caught out with no winter tyres although I had chains. As I will be back again for several trips over the next two months a decided to get some winter tyres last week. WOW ..... what a difference it has made.....my neighbours 4x4 on summer tyres is struggling for grip up our little lane but my rear wheel drive merc is sailing up there no problem.

In reality....as already said... IT IS DOWN TO MONEY.....as a personal choice a have made an investment in something that makes life easier for me!!!!!

[Gert]

we could probably survive for 5 months - 6 at a great push. Hopefully, the shops would have re-opened by then because if we started that period now, that would dump us in June. Great weather, but there's not an awful lot to eat in June if you're depending upon crops.

There are a lot of rabbits and pigeons around here, so I reckon they could add a bit to our estimate - but they'd thin down soon enough if they were being cropped seriously.

I was honestly hoping I'd be able to say that we'd survive for a year - but I can't. Thank goodness I'm an Isher rather than a complete survivalist - I don't think we'd have a chance. But there's a silver lining - as things stand, I could keep us in wine for two years. Phew!

Thanks for cheering me up

Mike

That's pretty impressive Mike. I especially like the two years worth of wine

[Millymollymandy]

The wrong tyres is the biggest problem that causes the roads to block. I was in Austria at the end of November and got caught out with no winter tyres although I had chains. As I will be back again for several trips over the next two months a decided to get some winter tyres last week. WOW ..... what a difference it has made.....my neighbours 4x4 on summer tyres is struggling for grip up our little lane but my rear wheel drive merc is sailing up there no problem.

In reality....as already said... IT IS DOWN TO MONEY.....as a personal choice a have made an investment in something that makes life easier for me!!!!!

Unfortunately it costs several hundred pounds or euros to have your tyres switched over, and you've got to do it twice a year, so when you live somewhere where it is doesn't snow regularly it's rather a huge expense for something that may never happen. You have to drive slower on winter tyres as well if you leave them on all year round.

[ShaunP]

[
Unfortunately it costs several hundred pounds or euros to have your tyres switched over, and you've got to do it twice a year, so when you live somewhere where it is doesn't snow regularly it's rather a huge expense for something that may never happen. You have to drive slower on winter tyres as well if you leave them on all year round.[/quote]


The point was to highlight that the reason cars are getting stranded is due to the wrong tyres. I only changed due to the trips I have planned to the alps. I have heard so many people on the radio complaining about lack of gritting and it seems to me that some people think the state should be held responsible for the weather!!!

[Thomzo]

It's an interesting one, we were chatting about it the other night and were discussing how long we could realisitically survive without having to venture out at all. I won't tell you what our conclusion was, but I don't think we'd need to panic. Although I think a few of the livestock might

You lot are a pretty hardy and inventive bunch, out of interest how long do you think you could survive without a visit to the shops ? If you didn't have to go to work or school etc.

It depends on whether I can carry on getting milk and yogurt delivered by the Milkman and the veggies from the veg box scheme (as I do at the moment)? In which case, I could carry on, pretty much indefinitely. I'd probably get a bit bored with omlettes though and I guess I'd have to venture out to the doctors' for a repeat prescription once every six months so could stock up on flour and meat then.

The only problem is cat and chicken food. One cat would be able to feed herself but the other is a bit old now to catch mice. The chickens could probably survive on scratchings from the garden and the veg peelings but their egg production would go down and I'd be counting on those for all my omlettes.

Zoe

[Stonehead]

Unfortunately it costs several hundred pounds or euros to have your tyres switched over, and you've got to do it twice a year, so when you live somewhere where it is doesn't snow regularly it's rather a huge expense for something that may never happen. You have to drive slower on winter tyres as well if you leave them on all year round.

You're confusing different types of tyres.

Winter, or more correctly, cold weather tyres are intended for use in temperatures below 7C. That's the temperature at which summer tyres start to become less effective. And all parts of the UK experience temperatures below 7C in winter.

Cold weather tyres are made from different compounds to summer tyres, they have different tread patterns for better performance in the wet and on snow/ice (but secondary to wet), and they have many more sipes (the thin cuts) than summer tyres. As a result, cold weather tyres have more grip, are less prone to aquaplaning, and have much better braking distances on wet roads than summer tyres. (The last time I checked, cold weather tyres typically cut braking distances by 15-20% on wet roads and 40-60% on snow, compared with summer tyres.)

Snow tyres are different again and intended for use in prolonged sub-zero conditions, with a lot of snow and ice. They're often drilled for studs. (I have Snow & Mud for my Land Rover, and they make a huge difference in winter—although they rumble a lot on dry roads.)

And then there's the all-season tyre. It's made from the same compounds as winter tyres, but with tread patterns similar to summer tyres. They're not as noisy as winter tyres and are more comfortable, but they're not as quiet and smooth as summer ones.

While our budget is extremely tight, I'd rather have good grip and shorter braking distances than find myself upside down or smashed into the front of a lorry.

And it should also be remembered that it's not that expensive in the long term to have two sets of tyres. Why? Because you're only using each set for half the year, which means it will take twice as long to replace them. If you buy a set of cheap steel wheels for your winter tyres and swap them over yourself, then you'll keep those costs down too.

At the end of the day, is it the council/government's sole responsibility to ensure cars can get around in all conditions? Or should drivers take a bit of responsibility for ensuring their cars are appropriately fitted out for different conditions and driven appropriately for those conditions?

I'm firmly in the latter camp, but I know I'm in a small minority!

[missy]

It took my poor husband 6 hours to get home from Oxford to Reading yesterday. Normally takes him an hour.

similar problems for us. it was always going to be a bad sign when on monday morning, hubby's 45 minute journey to work took 3 hours... but we didn't expect it to take him 7 1/2 hours to get back. bless him, he got in at 3am and was frozen as the heating in the car is playing up.

[gdb]

Unfortunately it costs several hundred pounds or euros to have your tyres switched over, and you've got to do it twice a year, so when you live somewhere where it is doesn't snow regularly it's rather a huge expense for something that may never happen. You have to drive slower on winter tyres as well if you leave them on all year round.

You're confusing different types of tyres.

Winter, or more correctly, cold weather tyres are intended for use in temperatures below 7C. That's the temperature at which summer tyres start to become less effective. And all parts of the UK experience temperatures below 7C in winter.

Cold weather tyres are made from different compounds to summer tyres, they have different tread patterns for better performance in the wet and on snow/ice (but secondary to wet), and they have many more sipes (the thin cuts) than summer tyres. As a result, cold weather tyres have more grip, are less prone to aquaplaning, and have much better braking distances on wet roads than summer tyres. (The last time I checked, cold weather tyres typically cut braking distances by 15-20% on wet roads and 40-60% on snow, compared with summer tyres.)

Snow tyres are different again and intended for use in prolonged sub-zero conditions, with a lot of snow and ice. They're often drilled for studs. (I have Snow & Mud for my Land Rover, and they make a huge difference in winter—although they rumble a lot on dry roads.)

And then there's the all-season tyre. It's made from the same compounds as winter tyres, but with tread patterns similar to summer tyres. They're not as noisy as winter tyres and are more comfortable, but they're not as quiet and smooth as summer ones.

While our budget is extremely tight, I'd rather have good grip and shorter braking distances than find myself upside down or smashed into the front of a lorry.

And it should also be remembered that it's not that expensive in the long term to have two sets of tyres. Why? Because you're only using each set for half the year, which means it will take twice as long to replace them. If you buy a set of cheap steel wheels for your winter tyres and swap them over yourself, then you'll keep those costs down too.

At the end of the day, is it the council/government's sole responsibility to ensure cars can get around in all conditions? Or should drivers take a bit of responsibility for ensuring their cars are appropriately fitted out for different conditions and driven appropriately for those conditions?

I'm firmly in the latter camp, but I know I'm in a small minority!

I think that's about right.

My own set of studded tyres did indeed cost a few hundred euros - but they are only on for 4 or 5 months a year and so they last a good few years. And whilst they are on, the other 'normal' tyres are having a rest in the garage.

The only thing I'd disagree with is your last point; I'm happy to pay for my snow tyres, and I don't expect the council to ensure my car can get around in all conditions. But then, the council tax over here (in Sweden as it was in France) is just a few pounds a year. They dont ask anything from me. I dont expect anything from them. But I think UK residents pay the highest property tax/rates in Europe - more or less. Annual bills for an ordinary house can be as hight as 1500€ per year and even more. I think if I had to pay that lot to my council, I'd expect something for that money - and I think that a lot of Brits probably feel that way?

[Millymollymandy]

I've never heard of snow tyres or studded tyres! I don't know the ins and outs of tyre performance but was just pointing out that most people in England would most likely begrudge paying to change over tyres twice a year when they probably wouldn't need it. Unless of course this global freezing carries on - two years in a row that England has had some real snow!

[mrsflibble]

maybe everyone in the uk should be forced to own a set of snow-socks....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ITALIAN-MADE-SNOW ... 53de0f3c81

they're relatively cheap, you only need one pair as they go on the driving wheels of your car (so unless you've got a 4x4 i suppose) and i can vouch for them working cos we had some with out old rover before we got the volvo.


also, i think laziness has a lot to do with stuff. round my area there's a lot of old folks and those who were more able were out smashing the ice down the green and the main pathways so that the less able didn't fall. even the little old lady near soph's school was out, holding onto her mobility railings and smashing the ice on hers and her neighbour's pathwqays with the end of her broom.

i know if i had no transport, i would walk to find fuel and food for my daughter. if the worst happened, she'd be kept alive at all costs.

our volvo has year=round wet-performance tyres because it rains soooo much lol!