Tag Archives: weather

Looking Back and a Question

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19

If you live in the UK you won’t need me to tell you that we have snow. Nor will you need me to mention that 1963 was the year of the Big Freeze when snow and ice covered the land for 3 months. Without this fact, and the fact that this event was half a century ago, the mainstream TV channels would be finding it difficult to fill their air-time.

I can remember the event. (Regular readers will remember that I about 175 years old). It wasn’t as difficult for us as in other parts of the country. Wales and the West was very badly affected. This has been portrayed well by film and commentary from the period, but there is one thing that I remember that has not been mentioned.

My memory is that the snow was so deep that roads became obliterated. It was so difficult to find a way on foot that people walked on hedges. I’m sure this was reported in newspapers of the day. So, my question is….. am I right? Does anyone else remember that? Why hasn’t it been mentioned on TV because that would be a very graphic illustration of the event?

Answers on a postcard…….. or in the comments box below. Sorry, no prizes, and yes, there were three questions in the end……

Have a safe day wherever you are.

It’s a little chilly!

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8

The day started a few degrees colder than this, but I don’t think it will get much warmer.  It feels cold.  I don’t know how cold it feels, but the forecast said that it would feel colder than it is due to the ‘chill factor’.

Yesterday we made a trip to the post office to send some orders.  The young girl that served us is a very pleasant and chatty lady from Poland.  As always there were comments about the weather.  She revealed that yesterday it was -15 in her hometown.  Today must be similar.  They are used to really low figures there, and try to be prepared for all eventualities.  However, and I quote, ‘it seems colder here even though the temperature is more than 10 degrees higher’

So if you see me today, and I’m looking rather like the Michelin man, just bear in mind that I’m dressed in layers to ward off that chill……

On the Fly

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16

Today is the official first day back at work after the holidays.  It was hard to get up this morning, mainly because I also had to go to the dentist!  It was only a check-up, but I could think of better things to do!  Undaunted, I got into the car (I usually walk, but if you had seen the rain and wind………) and managed to arrive in good time.  In fact, due to an abundance of emergency appointments I had ages to wait, but thankfully I had thought ahead…..

When the appointment was made (6 months ago) I hadn’t considered it being the first day for the dentist to be back at work.  It didn’t even occur to me this morning, but at the last minute I picked up a needle and thread and the fabric I showed you yesterday.  I actually sat and stitched in the dentist’s waiting room.  TAST has begun, and I’ll slowly add more information here as I do a little more. (It’s now finished, so do go here to look.)   I was so pleased that the impromptu act meant that I wasn’t sitting there twiddling my thumbs and thinking of everything I could have been doing.  The stitch is Fly Stitch, which is a very useful embroidery stitch, and has lots of possibilities.  (Take a look here to see the work in progress as it continues – more added on 4th Jan)

So, finally I was in the dentist’s chair for just a few shortish minutes.  During that time the clouds began to part, the wind dropped and blue sky made an appearance.  What a relief!  Trees are down in many roads, one local house has it’s driveway blocked by a fallen tree and debris is everywhere.  We have no damage, though, and for that I am extremely thankful.

I hope you are all safe too.  We need rain here, but it was so heavy that it has all just run away into the drains.

Just Snaps

365 Days of Colour

View from the Back Door

Looking Back

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5

The end of the year is only a short while away.  Soon the book will close and can no longer be opened.  What an interesting year this has been.  How will you remember the year?  Have you recorded it in any way?  Have you recorded it the way you would have wished?

If you are looking for a new way to keep a record of next year you may like to consider something like this

‘This is a year-long time-lapse study of the sky. A camera installed on the roof of the Exploratorium museum in San Francisco captured an image of the sky every 10 seconds. From these images, I created a mosaic of time-lapse movies, each showing a single day. The days are arranged in chronological order. My intent was to reveal the patterns of light and weather over the course of a year.

This video is designed to be viewed in a large format, so it’s best viewed in full-screen mode at 1080p.

More information on the project site:
http://www.murphlab.com/ahots‘

If you view it in full screen mode you will notice that the time of day is noted in the bottom right hand corner.

Today’s 365 Days of Colour

Today’s Just Snaps

 

Line – Break

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2

What’s the last thing you do before going on vacation or holiday?  We all have rituals and routines.  Doors and windows are locked and double-checked, milk deliveries cancelled etc, etc, you know the sort of things I mean.

Our neighbours recently went away on a sun-seeking trip.  There journey meant an early start from home, so their dog was taken to the kennels the day before, and the last load of washing included the dog blanket, which was hung on the line to dry.  Off they went, leaving us with damp and dismal weather, the dog blanket continued to hang wet and limp.  Then…. the weather changed!  The sun came out and it was dry and cheery!  The dog blanket flapped cheerily on the line, and it was all ready to be taken back inside ready for Maxwell’s return.

However…….

Forever fickle – the weather changed, fog arrived and flights into London Heathrow were delayed.  The return flight from said sunny resort was sidetracked to a venue much further north and the journey home took much longer than expected.  Tired and weary neighbours arrived home this morning at 11.00…….

…….. just 30 minutes after it started to rain……………………………………..

 

Now, where’s that ‘jummy’

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3

The best bit about living in the UK is that you never know what the weather is going to do! Yes, we get a certain amount of rain, but that’s why it’s so lovely and green. Today it is pouring….. It is so dark it’s like November. In fact, it’s so cold I need a jumper, but I can’t find it! Tomorrow will be different, and probably not worthy of note.

If I feel the need to wear a bikini in November I’ll let you know – but don’t worry, I won’t post a picture. I’d hate to frighten your cat!