Still Bloody Cold


Despite the dire warnings of the forecasters, we still don’t have any snow. Well, not strictly true, I guess, as my car does look like it has a bit of a dandruff problem.

My Car Has Dandruff
My Car Has Dandruff

The wind blew a hooley most of last night, so I was expecting snow drifts this morning. Boy was I disappointed and I know my great-granddaughter, Summer, is too. She was hoping for a “snow-day” or two off from school. To be fair the school is closing at lunchtime.

How do I know this ?

The school, much to my surprise, sent me a text message early this morning. Unbeknownst to me, my granddaughter had provided my number as one of the emergency contact numbers. They, exercising due diligence, had informed the parents and emergency contacts.

Anyway, the forecasters are still warning of imminent snowmageddon so, Summer may still get her wish.

So, until “The Beast From The East” puts in an appearance this is what I’ll have to put up with, looking out of my lounge window …..

Snow - No Show
The Beast from the East still hasn’t put in an appearance

Although we haven’t been inundated with snow it is still cold, bloody cold. It is -4 outside and there is still that biting wind to contend with. Not sure what the windchill factor is but all I know is, I am staying inside to keep nice and cosy.

My thoughts are with all those in the UK who are having to contend with conditions much worse than we are experiencing down here in southern Hampshire.

 

It’s Cold


Sitting in the car waiting for the girls to come out of the bingo hall.

The heater is struggling to keep the interior warm as Britain falls under the grip of “The Beast From The East”, media’s name for the weather front scheduled to dump snow on us over the next 48 hours.

My phone tells me it’s -4, the car thinks it’s -3.

Whatever, it’s cold. Too bloody cold.

No snow…… yet !!!

Typical !!


It must be a conspiracy. Our conservatory re-build has stalled this week. Two days, Tuesday and Wednesday were non work days while the mortar in the brickwork was allowed to go-off and the guys worked on another job.

Thursday and Friday were awful from a weather perspective and although some construction progress was made we are not where we are supposed to be due to the torrential rain scaring off our workers.

Conservatory - The sun is shining, where are the workers ?
Conservatory – The sun is shining, where are the workers ?

Typical of the British weather system, today, Saturday, is bright sunshine and dry.

Conservatory Re-Build – Day 11


Here we are, Thursday and Day 11 of the re-build. The guys turned up and unloaded their van.

The first of the new frames were installed ….

Conservatory - Utility Room door and window frames are in
Conservatory – Utility Room door and window frames are in
Conservatory - windoww sills in place awaiting the windo frames
Conservatory – window sills in place awaiting the window frames

Unfortunately, the weather was against us and rain stopped play, or rather, build.

So the guys finished unloading their van and departed for a job where they could work under cover. They’ll be back tomorrow to try to turn this pile of miscellaneous metal plastic parts into a conservatory…….

Conservatory - The kit (puzzle) lays ready for assembly
Conservatory – The kit (puzzle) lays ready for assembly

Conservatory Re-Build – Day 8


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Conservatory – Wall Starter Ties, being used where the new conservatory wall butts up to the house wall.
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Conservatory – Showing the progress of the end wall pillars, including the internal blockwork and insulation.
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Conservatory – Wot No Window. Good job the floor level is going to be raised too.
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Conservatory – Looking through the bi-fold aperture towards the end wall pillars.
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Conservatory – Looking through the bi-fold aperture towards the end wall showing the newly laid blockwork.

Dark Skies


Dark Skies
Weird cloud formations as seen over Queen Alexandra Hospital yesterday afternoon

Weird cloud formations as seen over Queen Alexandra Hospital yesterday afternoon.

Update: Apparently this kind of formation is known as Mammatus, also known as mammatocumulus (meaning “mammary cloud” or “breast cloud”), is a meteorological term applied to a cellular pattern of pouches hanging underneath the base of a cloud. The name mammatus is derived from the Latin mamma (meaning “udder” or “breast”).

Wet and Windy UK


rainJust like many others, I’m sure, I’ve been listening to the wind for several hours. Apparently Lee on the Solent has been experiencing 60 mph winds and that is only a couple of miles away. Sometimes it sounds like an express train passing through a station at speed. The 80 foot high Beech Tree at the front of the house is perhaps the most vocal although the wall of smaller trees to the back are competing well. It’s as well that it is dark outside as I would probably become rather anxious if I could actually see the trees moving in the wind.

The gutters are also making quite a bit of noise.Or, rather, the water spilling out of them is. Forming an impromptu waterfall and pool by the lounge window.

Well I’m heading to bed now. Keeping my fingers crossed that the dawn is going to reveal any damage.

Good Night and Good Luck to the rest of my fellow UK residents.

Slow Snow, Slow Slow Slow


Against my better judgement, I drove my wife to work today. Normally the round trip, not accounting for waiting time, is around 30 – 35 minutes. Today, due to the inclement weather conditions, the whole journey took around 130 minutes. Of course I moaned all the way to my wifes place of work. Problem is that I had no one to moan to on my way home and that was by far the longer and worst part of the journey.

I took a few snaps during the journey which was punctuated by many tedious stops.

snow
Stakes Hill Road approaching Purbrook Way roundabout.
snow1
London Road, heading towards Widley
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London Road atop Portsdown Hill, waiting our turn to dive down towards Cosham
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London Road heading down the south face of Portsdown Hill
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A3(M) Heading north on the Junction 4 slip.
snow5
A3(M) Heading north, still on the Junction 4 slip. Matrix says 40. You’ll be lucky. I think they display motorists wish lists
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Purbrook Way and the College Road Junction. Thanks to the guys in the fluorescent jackets who were trying to keep us all moving. The road here was very icy under the snow. You can just see the car on the other side has gone askew.
snow7
View from my front doorstep. Boy was I glad to get home. Only a two-hour round trip. And I have it all to do again later today.

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