[Helencus]

So how is everyone managing? I think its bad here god knows how those of you in central scotland are managing.

Any tips anyone can share to help others cope with this bitterly cold weather.

[Fowgill Farm]

Here in North Yorkshire its been down to -14!
having to hammer thro the ice on pig troughs, even drinkers inside the buildings have frozen. Been carting warm water fom the garage but even that tap has frozen up now and am now taking it from the kitchen. Going thro' straw like nobody's business but all the pigs seem content. Rufus my boar has slipped on the ice and is limping, hopefully nothing too serious. At the weekend our tractor and implement shed roof collapsed under the weight of snow and ice so waiting for the NFU assessor to come out, thankfully it happened during the night as the previous day OH had been working in there, my poor little tractor has just its nose poking out from under all the debris, amazingly its electric roller shutter door still works. Just a pity our new shed is yet to be started, the steelwork was supposed to be going up last week but the weather has brought that to a halt!
other than that all keeping warm, woolly tights under trousers, woolly hats, hoodies and 2 pairs of gloves are the order of the day! Worst part is have had no post for a week and two parcel carriers are holding chrissy parcels hostage as they won't come down the track to the farm!
Hope you're all keeping warm.
Mandy

[bamford6]

we have 2 foot off snow all over the shovel bust on the tractor spent the day fixing that .10.05 just come in minus 10 in the field a nother cold 1 chickins Carnot move just peep out not good for them just hope it gets better.with onley 2 weeks to christmas

[sheila]

I am beginning to get cabin fever as I reckon the best way to deal with the cold is to stay home!

[Micko]

Bit chilly in Northumberland...especially as we're living in a small touring caravan. Thank god we've got the dogs to kep warm. Reckon the pigs are better off than us...toasty warm in their arks with mountains of straw (wheat straw this time cos the buggers loved munching through the barley we had previously).

[HappyHippy]

I'm just south of Glasgow, in Lesmahagow. All our drinkers in the shed are frozen (have been for about a fortnight) so it's double trips with buckets of water morning, noon and night ! The pigs in the field don't seem to mind the snow, could be because they are hairy Kunes, their arc is really warm - you can see the steam rising from it  The little ones are tucked up in the shed with loads of cosy straw so they're okay too. The chooks come out for about 5 minutes, don't venture far then straight back in again ! Hubby's also kept busy sawing and chopping wood to keep the wood burner going - a full time job in itself in this weather 

Yesterday we had the WORST DAY EVER ! We got stuck in the car with our 6 month and 18 month old babies (on the way to collect my 5 year old daughter from her special needs school) we were on the motorway at an almost complete standstill for over 5 hours  No food, no drinks (we ended up melting snow so they could have something to drink ) all the roads to the school were closed and the taxi driver had to WALK my wee girl from the school to meet us on the motorway - a trip of about 3 miles ! It was AWFUL ! Then to top it all off - after we got home hubby had to go back out again to collect his parents who had somehow managed to make it from Aberdeen to Glasgow (despite us telling them NOT to get on the train  ) NOT a day I want to repeat any time soon !
But we managed, got through it and are still sane (kinda) - what doesn't kill ya makes you stronger 

[doganjo]

Take care, Karen. what a dreadful day - lived some of it with you on FB.  Hope you have a great Christmas time with those lovely kids. xx

[HappyHippy]

Thanks Annie - if I didn't have the FB friends I do, I think I would've gone insane 
You know, there were the a***holes doing their usual jump the queue, drive on the hard shoulder, peeping thier horns and revving their engines (yeah, like THAT'S gonna help  ) but there was a lot of evidence of the good of human nature on show too - total strangers getting together to help shove cars, making snowmen and having snowball fights to keep everyone amused - and if it hadn't been for my wee girls taxi driver walking to the school and then walking her down to the motorway (and this IS Kaitlin we're talking about ) she wouldn't have been home with us last night. I honestly can't imagine what I'd have done if it wasn't for him - he didn't have to do it, but he did - what a star 
Thinking of you and hope you and yours have a lovely (and uneventfull  ) festive period 
Karen xxx

[Rosemary]

Brings out the best and the worst in people.  Tell your taxi driver he's an official TAS star!

[ballingall]

I really could be doing without this weather now. I really feel for you with that trip yesterday Karen. It must have been horrendous. I know how I felt after a 3 hour drive into work, I can't imagine doing it with babies as well!


We still have well over a foot of snow lying still, from the 2 foot that fell. The drive is dug out, but only to the get the 4x4 and the van in. So carrying feed and water means taking it the whole length of the drive along a snow trampled path. Everything needs defrosting every day- the milking machine isn't working because it is so cold, so have to handmilk the goats. At least there are only 2 being milked twice daily, and another 2 only being milked occasionally as we are drying them off. I have my shoveller's elbow back (developed my version of tennis elbow last winter), so carrying the water buckets is fun.

The roads are horrendous, but I tried to get the train into work today and that was worse. Standing at a train station in -10 for 2 hours is not my idea of fun. I took the van in yesterday, but I discovered I cannot park it anywhere, as the park and ride has never been cleared of the first fall of snow. I can't park it at work, as a) I don't have a space, b) it is a double decker car park with height restrictions c) it too is covered in snow and they are struggling to clear it. I can't take in the 4x4 to work as OH and my mum need to have a vehicle they can get out in, just in case my sister in Glasgow goes into labour and they have to try and get to her to pick up her 2year old. Feeling very guilty at the lack of time I have spent at work over the last fortnight, but really struggling to get there. As it stands, I think I will have get Alex to take me in every day, which means double the fuel, as he has to drive me in and then home again. Oh and our petrol station is now rationing fuel.....! Arghhhh!

Beth

[robert waddell]

beth if it is happy larry that is on he lets you go round to fillup twice

[sabrina]

Its very bad with us but trying to cope best as we can, this could go on for weeks.

[ballingall]

Didn't know that Lilian- might try that if he is on!

[robert waddell]

Beth,
Make sure you go to a different pump though obviousy you know who happy larry is. Ask him if he has spent all the money yet from the robbery. I keep asking him but no comment

[Helencus]

Wel it sounds like I'm getting off lightly with a few burst pipes and just carrying water back and forth. Worst I've had is a 2 hr journey into work last week when snow was on the ground.  In terms of tips Annie I've used the veg oil in the hens water and it has worked well. Wonder if I could do it for horses and pigs.. Suspect animal health would have a fit if did with pigs.. And they may have a bad reaction to it! Ie express train through them.
Well I hope it thaws soon and we have time to regroup before the next wave.. Stay warm all.