Another pointless thread

Have a good time Tony, see you next week.

ah, I'm driving up north tomorrow, forecast is for -30

Still, the car started today and it's now full of petrol and the airpressures are close to where they should be, the impromptu radiator cover is in place and my insulating roofcover is done. Monitors here and at work recalibrated, presents found and flashes dug out... this is going to be an interesting christmas with the big flashes in the lounge

Bret

Hi Tony - just for your info, the driving conditions around Worthing is not bad at all.

Season's greetings to you.

And that would be why birds fly South. Not daft, our feathered friends.

I think our forecast is +30°C. No chance of snow here. I would have inserted a text speak "lol" there, but I hate text speak. IMHO it's FN RDCLS.
Anyway, drive safely, watch for 'roos through the heat haze (wait, that's here), I mean, polar bears and black ice.
Regards

Allegedly the roads are "fine", i.e. normal, and I don't see anything to unnerve particuarly. When it's this cold, the melt-refreeze of around -20 simply doesn't happen, which is really nice.
Just the question of which route, now; the direct scenic or boring main road. Think it depends on how soon I can get out of the office.....

Bret

I had my first hairy moment of the winter yesterday. Roads were fine on my way to work, well a bit slushy, but I expected that. Then when I got to Kenilworth there was a complete white-out, several inches of snow on the road, and worryingly no traffic coming in the other direction.

I'm not too worried about driving on snow but towards Leamington there's a steep hill, and vehicles were queueing to go down it - still driving on packed snow. I didn't want my *new* Micra getting crushed between a truck and a sliding double decker bus, so I turned around and drove back on the virgin snow of the other lane and headed for the M40, which was fine.

The mechanic at the car yard I bought Meggy Micra from said they're good in snow cos they're front wheel drive, but I presume he was bullshitting>!

Had a feathery moment yesterday!

Driving home from work down the lovely M11 and suddenly, as if by magic, a pigeon appeared out of nowhere and threw itself at my front windscreen with a bang that made my ears hurt!

I pulled over to pick the remains off but unfortunately not enough for a pie! - Back to Fray Bentos for that I'm afraid - but that's another thread!


MZ

well, safely up north - and yes, I saw -30 on the way

Also got a nice icicle at the end of my exhaust, around a foot long. dropped off now or there'd be a pic here.
Ice on the inside of the windscreen is still there after nearly four hours of driving and heating....

Bret

I got water out of my windscreen washers today
The weather has been positively tropical compared to recent weeks

If I'd had a camera, and not been so tied up in Christmas preparation I'd have headed off to the National Championship skating marathon today. Held on the frozen lakes and canals of Overijssel this year. Always good for some lovely shots, and in an area I know well.
At least they don't have to go to Finland for it this year .

Maybe if this keeps up we'll get an Elfstedentocht (11 towns tour). Maybe I could sleep on my son's boat up in Harlingen (one of the 11) if it does go ahead. Although knowing him he'll be hiring it out to make some extra money, and I can't say I'd blame him. Winters are hard when you have to earn enough in the summer to see you through.

It was a balmy 1.5C here today, almost a summer's day! No water out of the washers though as the journey through Wales found temperatures down to -10.5C.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New year

Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda

Gelukkig kerstfeest ende beste wensen voor het nieuwe jaar.

Do you not have a spell checker John?

Well - it's getting less and less fun up here

Please would someone up 'there' turn on some heating ?

Decided to have a shower later today - turns out to have been a wise decision - I seem to have low water pressure Everything is still working but my cold water pressure is definitely on the low side - have had the tap running for long enough so I know that I'm not frozen solid , heating is still working nicely

My eldest son just phoned from Germany where he is spending Christmas Eve with the in-laws. They only just made it there yesterday - on the radio they were hearing how the road behind them was being closed, and they were racing the snow to get to the in-laws. It was touch and go at the end but their 34 year old Swedish Tank got them there. Now they are snowed in, so may not make it to us tomorrow. It depends on German efficiency to clear the snow. But since today is the big day in Germany I can't see them doing an awful lot of clearing, but I could be wrong.

I have told them not to even attempt the trip tomorrow if they are at all doubtful. I'd rather they just cancelled, but they are determined to get here for BBQed turkey.

Here it is dry, cold and cloudy, with a really strong north easterly blowing. There is still lots of snow around and the minor roads are sheet ice, but no snow falling or expected. In the south and east they have heaps of the stuff, as do Belgium and Germany.

I don't mind the cold weather as long as the roads are safe. Now if we could get rid of the snow and still keep it cold for skating I'd be happy.

Well well - it's certainly cold

Just spotted a Scottish Water van with a gadget attached to the 'thing' in the road .

Seems that the area pressure control valve had frozen overnight so it's been thawed out and the local pressure valves have been opened up a bit to see if that will help .

According to the wee man who was here - he's worked for Scottish Water all his working life [ lucky man ] and he's never seen that happen before .

My water pressure is now a good bit higher than this morning and a bit higher than it's been for a while .

Time for a relaxing coffee break