The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: anderso on February 10, 2012, 01:03:45 pm

Title: Weather
Post by: anderso on February 10, 2012, 01:03:45 pm
just so the people north of Watford Gap know it has been snowing down south.... all of 2inc or 50mm the roads are unpassable and peole are traped in there house's because there is so much of the stuff. By the way the ducks are happy rooting around in and the spay the dog thinks it is great to roll around in it and come and try and sit on me.

hope you are keeping warm werever you are and speak again soon

regards :farmer: :wave:
Title: Re: Weather
Post by: Hermit on February 10, 2012, 01:37:07 pm
We are getting off lightly up here.No snow or ice to speak of much so far. Yesterday was a lovely day, I managed all my outdoor jobs coatless and hatless .Today is a dreary day but not cold just drizzly.
Title: Re: Weather
Post by: Rich/Jan on February 10, 2012, 02:55:05 pm
v v cold in SW France.  Charente.  Animal waters frozen and has been for over a week now.  Makes life really difficult  for the animals - our sheep are lambing but at least they are in a barn with plenty of straw for bedding. -  5 lambs so far - about another 70 to go if they are all pregnant.  Weather set to stay cold for another week or so.  Snow and freezing weather arrived over a week ago and has not thawed or warmed up one bit. 
Title: Re: Weather
Post by: MAK on February 12, 2012, 09:28:03 am
Same here - no water in the house for well over a week and we have to carry water from a distant cellar for animals - it freezes within an hour !
What strikes me is how the UK grinds to a halt and the "News" people go on about the big freeze and snow. They hyoe things up and generate a culture of panic about a bit of snow. Our minor roads are now packed snow/ ice but the post arrives every day and we all drive about as usual. The main roads are clean as a whistle and we drove into town yesterday lunch time ( -14) to find all the supermarket carparks cleared of the snow and all the shelves stocked as usual - with everyone going about their shop as usual.
I heard on breakfast TV that the predicted half term travel chaos can be put down to airports etc not geared up for the cold. Strikes me that in future years we will continue to get more severe winter weather and even very hot summers. Water is a key issue on our little plot - it's either frozen or in the summer the spring can dry up - my bet is that the UK will have problems with the roads melting, train tracks bending and water shortages this summer.
Rant over - hope  it warms up for everyone and that life gets easier ( especially for those in lambing).
Title: Re: Weather
Post by: Rich/Jan on February 12, 2012, 09:53:16 am
our French neighbour lost half of his 50 lambs to the severe weather - all frozen to death.  They did have some shelter but no real comfort.  Yesterday with the wind chill it was -18.  Our sheep are in an enclosed barn waiting to lamb and their body heat keeps the shed above freezing.  We had two dead twin lambs overnight though - possibly a week early.  I just hope the weather warms up a little - one over freezing would help.  The existing lambs under heat lamps - expensive but necessary to keep them alive.
Title: Re: Weather
Post by: manian on February 12, 2012, 11:57:10 am
snow and still freezing in debyshire
fed up with it now- not gone in a week
gritters work well and roads good round here but still freezing water and snow across the field. fell into a 'pig hole today as thought it was level
 :o ;D
Title: Re: Weather
Post by: little blue on February 12, 2012, 12:11:48 pm
I'll second that Manian - fed up of forever breaking ice off the duck pond & all the drinkers.
Lost two of the guinea-pigs' bottles where they've cracked, the chickens are having to have bowls as the proper drinkers are galvanised metel, so freeze solid within minutes.

The roads aren't bad ... but the pavements are lethal!

Just watched the forecast - should be getting milder (but then, it wasn't right about the snow, so wait and see!)
Title: Re: Weather
Post by: Mel on February 12, 2012, 12:22:10 pm
And I agree,I had to break the ice on the pond today so my Geese could get out!what a nightmare that was.it is trying to snow here too albeit very fine,I have noticed the temperature is dropping again too. :(


Title: Re: Weather
Post by: robert waddell on February 12, 2012, 12:37:25 pm
what a change  it  is like spring outside today the frost has all but disappeared dryish mud birds singing
oh we Scots do feel for yous down south in the frozen wastelands   makes a change from us having all the crap weather ;) :farmer:
Title: Re: Weather
Post by: Rosemary on February 12, 2012, 01:39:33 pm
It's glorious here today - full sun, light breeze - gorgeous.

Hope it's improving elsewhere
Title: Re: Weather
Post by: anderso on February 12, 2012, 04:29:58 pm
good to see the top of the UK is getting some good weather - here in the south the thaw is sitting in lots of nice mud to get the oppo moaning about the floor.

forecast is temp raising but wait until next week..
Title: Re: Weather
Post by: Bangbang on February 12, 2012, 06:56:32 pm
Beautiful here today, snowdrops in full bloom, and no wind (for a change).
All jobs nearly done.
 
OH not to happy - bitten by our ungrateful cat again. (semi-ferrel) or he's just mean or finds her tastey.
Title: Re: Weather
Post by: Mel Rice on February 12, 2012, 08:16:10 pm
Beautiful here too....all be it was -10. The sun made it feel warmer it was even melting a little bit of the snow where it shone on black tarmac or my wheeliebin!
Title: Re: Weather
Post by: mcginty on February 12, 2012, 10:03:16 pm
Good here in Ireland, temp at 9 and sun.
weatherman says mild for the week ahead.
Title: Re: Weather
Post by: Lesley Silvester on February 12, 2012, 11:26:03 pm
It was 7C here in Shropshire today.  Even last night wasn't too cold, 3C at 1am.
Title: Re: Weather
Post by: Rumpleteazer on February 12, 2012, 11:28:23 pm
Down to -16C here yesterday. A relatively warm 1C today and starting to thaw at last. Looking forward to some warmer weather this week (hopefully!).
Title: Re: Weather
Post by: Rich/Jan on February 14, 2012, 11:25:35 am
-1 here today - thank goodness I can get water relatively easily to the animals - hope it doesnt freeze up again.  I think the sheep must have waited for a temperature increase - had four lambed today - only singles but ... and today is not over yet - few more look likely.
Title: Re: Weather
Post by: MAK on February 14, 2012, 11:55:32 am
great news that it is warming up Jan and hope the lambing goes well ( sad about your neighbours sheep - but sounds like he reaped what he sowed in terms of care).
Snowing here but much much warmer. Hopefully the plastic pipes in the barn will thaw soon and we will get water to the house. Fingers crossed that we have no burst pipes that appear when water starts to flow.
Pigs ventured out the other day but sad to see blood on the snow where they had tried to root.
Title: Re: Weather
Post by: Lesley Silvester on February 15, 2012, 12:08:41 am
Spring is on its way.   :D :D :D