Anyone planting ANYTHING at the moment?

[ina]

Definitely not planting anything now, I just heard on the radio this morning that the Russians are sending their weather over here next week - and it's -35 degree there at the moment! They even feed their elephants (in the zoo...) with vodka to keep them warm! I thought the cold war was over...

[shiney]

Yeah Ina I heard that too.

But anyone here remember a big freeze some time ago? It was when I was about 17 ish, (in the ice age) it was about -22 and my starter motor froze in my VW Beetle! So...I got on my motorbike and rode to work ten miles away. I must have been off my head.

Oh the innocence of YOOVES eh?

[gunners71uk]

is off to russia in a elephants costume to the zoo now vodka ye hah lol

[Shirley]

LOL gunners !! Don't need to go all that way surely - come and have some of my vodka here in Scotland... slightly closer surely lol.... You can still wear the elephant suit if it really matters

Shiney - when I last lived in Aberdeenshire we had a cold spell - it was around about 10 years ago I guess - and the temperature got to -25. The rented house we were in at the time only had two tiny heaters upstairs and the inside of the WALLs had ice crystals growing on them. Seen it on windows before but not walls... every day the layer got thicker. Quite pretty and exciting too really.

I wonder whether we'll get any of this 'big freeze'? It's been really mild lately here + 12 C at the moment!!! Set to get windy this evening though with gusts of up to 70 mph or more.

Shirlz x

[Andy Hamilton]

Was this not supposed to be the coldest winter for 20 years or something? We have had some cold days and nights and perhaps colder than it has been in the last couple of years, but 12c in scotland in january thats not a sign of the coldest surely

[Shirley]

Was this not supposed to be the coldest winter for 20 years or something? We have had some cold days and nights and perhaps colder than it has been in the last couple of years, but 12c in scotland in january thats not a sign of the coldest surely

Haven't noticed it being particularly cold - but on the Landward programme the other day the met office mannie said that Feb would have to work very hard indeed if it was to end up being the coldest winter blah blah....

Mind you - not becoming complacent... it could still happen! Will keep stocked up just in case... the essentials.. wine, bread, cheese, milk... !

[Tigerhair]

Gunners, I got a bottle of the wonderous V for christmas, so if you care to pop to Ashbourne!!!...

Shirlz, LOVE your "essentials" list with WINE at the top LOL

[Millymollymandy]

My garlic and rhubarb have shot up in the last couple of days. December was pretty cold though, and the beginning of Jan. Minus figures most nights and much colder during the day than last year.

[Wombat]

Sunday in Melbourne it is going to be 41 Deg C!

Nev

[shiney]

Nev, I don't want to hear that!


I hate the cold and would much prefer being in a warm climate.

Mind you, I froze my bits off south of Sydney when I was in Oz. The wind in July is absolutely freezing!

[ina]

The worst snow I've seen in Aberdeen since I moved here was in 2000 (I think), when we had more than a foot over night - in March. And two years later there was a day in January with +17 degree. Scottish weather, expect anything, at any time of the year. I've been in a snow shower in August, too.
There always seems to be more severe weather in January and February rather than earlier in winter.
The good news - when I started work this morning (at 7.30), there was a hint of daylight in the sky! And at 5 this afternoon still almost more than a hint!!! Summer must be round the corner!

Ina

[Muddypause]

I'm always surprised to hear people describe snow as being 'the wost', or some other negative term.

Last time I was in Scotland a few winters ago, the snow produced the most breathtakingly, heart-wrenchingly, spectacularly, awe-inspiringly, amazingly, stunningly {continue in this vein with your own descriptives} beautiful landscape you could ever see. The way it sculpted the trees, softened the lines of the buildings, highlighted the hills and illuminated the night was beautiful beyond words.

And people couldn't get to work, so had the day off, and we all had fun on the hills with toboggans, tea trays and other slidey things.

Surely, Ina, you must mean 'the best' snow.

[ina]

It would have been the best - if I hadn't needed to get to the airport, and no taxi could get through the snow! I only lived 3 miles away, too, and I'd left plenty of time, but I almost didn't make it. Even at a few inches of snow traffic just comes to a standstill. As I said, that would have delighted me under normal circumstances...

And normally I wouldn't have taken the plane, anyway, only due to the beginning of the foot and mouth outbreak (long story), I'd lost my lift with somebody who should have been going that way anyway, so unfortunately flying was my last short notice option.

Now, when we have snow, I enjoy the sight of it, am glad that it's the others on the farm who have to worry about feeding the sheep out on the hills, hope that none get lost and freeze to death (yes, there's that side to it, too), and stay at home. It never really lasts very long anyway.

Ina

[nick]

muddypause - reminds me of a 'letter' that I heard read out recently (in a dairy format)

1)just moved to the most beautiful place in the world
2)this is absolutely the best place I have ever been
3)snow started falling today - isn't it the most beautiful stuff you've ever seen
4)more snow today - will have to shovel the driveway later
5)more of that dreaded white stuff
6)even more snow today
7)I don't know why anyone in their right mind would live in a place like this

Have been planting corn, beans, beetroot, tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, zuccini, silverbeet, lettuce, broccoli and cauliflower.
Have been picking onions, corn, beans, beetroot, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, celery and potatoes
taking over the garden - pumpkin
to plant asap more potatoes

[ina]

It would have been the best - if I hadn't needed to get to the airport, and no taxi could get through the snow! I only lived 3 miles away, too, and I'd left plenty of time, but I almost didn't make it. Even at a few inches of snow traffic just comes to a standstill. As I said, that would have delighted me under normal circumstances...

And normally I wouldn't have taken the plane, anyway, only due to the beginning of the foot and mouth outbreak (long story), I'd lost my lift with somebody who should have been going that way anyway, so unfortunately flying was my last short notice option.

Now, when we have snow, I enjoy the sight of it, am glad that it's the others on the farm who have to worry about feeding the sheep out on the hills, hope that none get lost and freeze to death (yes, there's that side to it, too), and stay at home. It never really lasts very long anyway.

I love a good, clear frost, too - if I have the time and leisure to go out walking in it. Unfortunately what frost means to me now is frozen water pipes, and, if I'm lucky, having to fill dozens of water buckets by hand and carry them to the pens. Nobody's favourite job.

I'm not trying to be too negative - the snow itself wasn't "bad"; if there was more of it more often, everybody would be better prepared to deal with it, too. In countries where snow of that kind is a regular occurence, the council is much better able to deal with it, drivers have more experience of driving on snow and ice, and cars are better equipped. (They have problems believing me in Germany when I tell them nobody has winter tyres here... Everybody overthere has two sets of tyres!)

By the way, the latest update of the longterm weather outlook from the met office for the next four weeks:

Easterly winds will develop early in this period as high pressure takes control to the north of the United Kingdom. Many areas will be noticeably colder with widespread frost expected. Some patches of freezing fog will also occur and these may linger all day in places. There is also a threat of snow at times, particularly in eastern areas. After temperatures fall to mostly below normal early in this period, a few very cold days are expected. The probability of milder weather then returning looks low at this stage.

Ina