Stormy Weather

[salymap]

Sorry about that Chris. A bed at the pub sounds a good idea if they have rooms. Off topic, as if you care now,but all HS's Troovi page has gone blank and I wonder if yours is still there. Get tonightout of the way first though. What a day, Goodluck from saly

[Chris Newman]

These things are sent to try.......hey ho! I just had a peep at HS's Troovi (whilst I still have power) and it seems OK as does mine. Maybe you caught a few minutes of site maintenance like we get here and on the old Beeb sites. Keep warm.

[salymap]

Thanks to those who gave updates on electric blankets. Ishall probably get one after Christmas but I'm sure Argos have enough deliveries on these snowbound roads around here without mine.

[mangerton]

salymap, get it before 1-1-11 when our delightful Chancellor has decreed VAT will rise to 20%.

( btw, I understand that with all the impending cuts, his post is to be renamed Canceller of the Exchequer.)

Chris, I hope your power is soon restored. What a miserable thing to happen.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Now that the snowy weather is really affecting London, it has completely taken over the national news.

[greenilex]

Central Southampton so far relatively calm...the students thronging the streets dressed in grubby bedding seem to have taken said bedding home to Mum.

Will count plaster-casts next time I'm in Salisbury. I do hope Chris Newton has had power restored by now.

[Chris Newman]

Morning all. Thanks for the good wishes. We got the power back at 2.30am though where the pavement used to be they have left the Grand Canyon to be filled when the weather is better. Apart from noise of the pneumatic drill still going at 1.30am as they searched for the fault it was bearable. Mind you the drill was about ten feet from my bed. The workmen were cheerful and very sympathetic. It turned out 14 houses were affected. We kept warm in the evening by going to an Indian Restaurant and eating very slowly followed by a mini pub crawl where we drank hot chocolates....OK, I confess, I had a mulled cider at one. Got back at 10pm and were amazed at the heat generated by 15 tealights. It was interesting too that , being an urban area and people being reserved Wiltshire folk, we actually spoke to some of the neighbours for the first time.

[salymap]

Morning Chris, Glad to hear from you that you survived the experience. Have they put something round the large hole, to be filled later? If not you may soon become a first-aid post. Keep in touch, best, saly

[Uncle Monty]

Snowing hard here this morning -- I'm afraid the rest of you across the south are going to cop it later.

The intrepid Mrs Monty has driven off to try to get to Tescos five miles away for essentials. ("I'm going out and I may be some time".) I drew the short straw and had to take the dogs out

[mercia]

Got back at 10pm and were amazed at the heat generated by 15 tealights.

You don't mean you left them burning while you were out, do you..............do you?

[mangerton]

Morning Chris, Glad to hear from you that you survived the experience. Have they put something round the large hole, to be filled later?

No doubt the council will be looking into it.

I'll get my coat..........

Chris, it seems that you and your neighbours made the best out of what could have been a dreadful experience, although I'm not sure I'd fancy hot chocolate on top of an Indian meal!

[ostuni]

Big thanks to johnb: reading his message 4 in this thread, just after the forum opened, I ordered his recommended Yaktrax; yesterday & today were the first opportunities to use them. Brilliant! Some pavements, and most roads in Cheltenham are sheet ice, but getting around was a doddle; today, a quick walk up & down a couple of Stroud hills was wonderfully secure underfoot.

Interesting times for the freelance musician at the moment. On Saturday I was settled in at home at the beginning of the afternoon, looking forward to an evening in front of the fire & dvd player, but a call came through: a player was stuck in Kent, and could I get to Colston Hall for the afternoon & evening. Fine. Yesterday evening, playing in the sheet-ice-stricken Cheltenham (most of the band managed to get there, but there was some last-minute phoning round for a substitute timpanist, and a viola had to pretend to be an oboe d'amore for a few numbers). And tonight in Cirencester: the concert is sold out, but quite how many of the punters will actually make it is another thing entirely...

[Chris Newman]

No doubt the council will be looking into it.

I'll get my coat..........

Chris, it seems that you and your neighbours made the best out of what could have been a dreadful experience, although I'm not sure I'd fancy hot chocolate on top of an Indian meal!

When you are cold you'll drink anything hot, mangerton.

No, hercule. We lit the tea lights (I remember when they were nightlights) when we got back home but 15 soon generated some warmth. They were placed in either alabaster holders or on dinner plates.

Keep cosy, everyone.

[Mary Chambers]

tea lights (I remember when they were nightlights)

So do I, and I still don't know what connection they have with tea.

Glad things have improved for you, Chris. Loss of power is my greatest dread in this weather.

[vinteuil]

the tea lights (I remember when they were nightlights) .

the helpful wiki says: "Tealights may be distinguished from nightlights by the duration of burning: a tealight usually burns for 3 to 5 hours but a nightlight, which is larger, is intended to burn for a whole night (about 8 to 10 hours)."