[Frieslandfilly]

How is everyone getting on with the snow?? It has been laying here for nearly 5 days now, how is it up North? The temps are plunging to -13 and i have lost numerous water buckets as well as a lovely Gold Laced Orp cockerel, not sure why as he is only about 5 months old. Everyone is probably very busy constantly trying to get fresh water supplies out there and drying off boots and gloves ready for the next round!! Merry Christams to everyone and hang on to the fact that Spring is not far away now!!

[Rosemary]

I had to buy more buckets yesterday  . Fortunately, we've not had any deaths yet, but I have one hen inside 'cos she doesn't seem to cope with the cold. We've not had it too bad, probably because we're near the coast with the hills to our North.

[bamford6]

highlands minus 20 7.30 snow since 26 th november not good still no let up .it will soon be 4 weeks .the feed wont last at this rate 

[ellied]

Snow here since 27 Nov too, it started to thaw once but then kept refreezing so was a sheet of ice in the fields and the yard was hard compacted 3" where the car had been coming and going

Barn roof collapsed that first weekend and lost 1 cat on the road, probably because drivers on the A road outside daren't brake   Am carting water in drums from the kitchen and taking an hour or more to check and feed the ponies 5 miles away as the single track lane there is very variable from new snow (fine in 4x4) to cresta run

Trying to ration the heating oil tho I have enough for now, I appear to be getting chilblains all up my legs between boot top and coat bottom   Wish I was on a beach in Bali but still getting by just about..

Trying to respond to loss of grazing by moving 7 ponies home but can't risk it with the ice on the tracks there not to mention putting them in with the ones already here and the racing about on ice/frost/ruts that could make it even more dangerous than 16 ponies on 10 acres already will be   Without a barn I can't even take a couple of entires out of the mix and share the space more evenly

Roll on spring from one perspective but once the boys get hormones I reckon they'll  have to get the chop or it'll be total mayhem

[Fowgill Farm]

Minus 14 during Mon nite and during the day yesterday it never went above -5! Today it is positively balmy at -2 on the edge of the North York Moors 
Got up yesterday morning and the diesel has frozen in my pick-up, rang the dealer for advice on how to thaw out best and he told us where to point a fan heater in the engine, he also said not to buy diesel at the supermarket as it didn't have the additives in it to stop it freezing that the likes of BP, Shell et al put in theirs which was interesting. Poor girl was duly thawed out and is now ticking over nicely and has been topped up at BP! Had to get the car out of the garage, it hasn't been anywhere since the 22nd Nov! Rear wheel drive!
Our other main problem has been a collapsed shed roof which we have now got the go ahead to repair and frozen water, even the taps in the garage have now frozen so water for the pigs is having to be lugged from the kitchen, my arms get longer every day. My other main concern is how much straw we're getting thro.
Lots of snow flurries this morning but thankfully nothing significant, this is our fourth week now and i just want it to go away. Roll on light nites & spring!
Keep warm everyone and have an exceeedingly Happy Christmas and a very Merry new Year
Mandy x

[princesspiggy]

my friends diesel truck froze miles from home, took him alday to fix it and get home. waters the flaming pest, iv bin using containers to lug water about,  but theyre all now frozen solid inside. loads of broken water buckets from the ponies jostling, feed starting to run low and dont think lorry will get up our track with snow. animals coping very well thankfully. but i tell u wot today is a beautiful day, doesnt feel that cold, loads of snow sparkling in sun like diamonds.

[mab]

Been getting off lightly here in Suffolk:- Has been cold at night recently -8 / -10 and sometimes only reached -6 during the day, but the snow has mostly passed around us - only an inch or so over the past couple of weeks. Today it's been raining and the ice is melting! 

Will try and waft some of our (relatively) mild weather north for you over then next week   

mab
 

[doganjo]

My local drainage man and I have just spent the best part of about 4 hours in minus 12 trying to defrost a sewage pipe.  We finally managed to connect an auxiliary pump to a shorter hose and unblock the system.  So until it freezes up again I am able to wash dishes without throwing the water out into the garden, go to the loo without worrying about whether to flush it or not, and get all my washing done before the family arrive on Boxing Day.  Then we spent another half an hour trying to get his little van up the slope and across the railways bridge. All I need worry about now is whether there is enough grit for me to get over the bridge tomorrow, and whether I chance bringing the car back over or leave it at the other side and slither across on foot.  That will depend on whether I get home in daylight and if I have anything to carry.  Did I tell you all how much I HATE snow and Freezing temperatures?  I can see a need for a 4WD, a portaloo and an extra freezer with a 6 week supply of food and water in it if these winters are to continue.     I used to get depressed fairly easily, thank goodness I've grown out of that and can have a laugh!  The smell in my garden tonight is NOT of roses!

[robert waddell]

i would question your thinking
 on a portaloo sitting on -12/-17 plastic with no heating not to be recomended with bare checks better the old fashioned way in the dung midden

[TheGirlsMum]

Hubby and girls had been snowed in at his sister's in Honeybourne for 4 days when he took his chance yesterday to dig his car out. He was all loaded up, girls seat belted and ready to set off as the snow plough drove passed and snowed him in again. BiL had to dig him out of his door so he could them dig the car out again to set off. All home save now though.

But I'm running really low on the straw for the ponies, good job they've got rubber matting

[Brucklay]

Snow over a foot since the 26th Nov with 2 days where the track thawed out - got clever though and paid the local farmer to plough our track when he does the top road so now a nice snowy packed track so I can get out and drive hay up to the sheep, OH made nice basic hay timber hay racks to keep hay off the deck and reduce wastage - Christmas food shop came most of the way down the track - not many on line Christmas shopping gifts appeared!! Lambies shelter had an upgrade. Ducks now spending all day in the goat shed, goats skip around them - probably bigest pain is the water - I know lots have said things will eat the snow if desperate but they do seem to much prefer the ice being turned into water - lambies drank a bucket in a hour or maybe they just know it's about to freeze!! Oh and it's really snowing now!!! Not being sarcastic but wishing you all a Merry Christmas - thank you for all your help over the last year for some great advice and met some great people and am looking forward to meeting more xx

[morri2]

Hi All!  About the same here in Wales too - 10in or so of snow, freezing conditions, constantly topping up water buckets.  Minus 18 Tuesday morning!!  Frozen outside pipes and in the outbuildings, OH mad busy (plumber) with frozen condensing boilers (they are a waste of time, he says) and burst pipes.  Me and the youngest have gone down with rotten colds, OH thinks he's getting it too - but it will be worse for him than anyone else, of course    And our huge load of hay, purchased direct off the field in September which we thought would last all winter - is going to run out by mid-Feb at this rate. 

I heard there are blizzards forecast for some areas Boxing day and Monday- Bamford6 are you out there???  Whats the latest??

[faith0504]

were knee high in snow, all water sources are frozen, so carrying buckets from the kitchen, horses are doing ok, enjoying there drinks of warm water and eating loads, just got 2 round bales delivered so they should last a couple of weeks, the hens are doing ok, looking longingly for some grass, but they are coping with the variety of stuff im giving them, plus warm water. dogs are still having a geat time they love thew snow, the kittens are not to sure. humans are doing ok, laughing our way through, merry christmas everyone 

[doganjo]

Now, as well as my drainage system having frozen up,  have no water - not a drop.  Nor my neighbours, although the people across the railway line. Strange thing is it happened in the afternoon before the temperature dropped again.

[faith0504]

oh gosh what are you going to do???


i forgot to mention we not seen binmen for a month and not had any post for nearly a month, i still waiting for pressies that i ordered for the dogs and my oh.