Stormy Weather II

[teamsaint]

It’s been freezing here for days, but little snow.
The house is nice and warm, but the cutlery is very cold when you go to take it out of the drawer........

[Nick Armstrong]

Indeed - not looking forward to my shortly forthcoming outing to the local St Sprees, nearly a mile away. Shan't be biking it today - yesterday wasn't so bad in that respect.

As you were posting that, I was pedalling eastwards to do a bit of shopping (similar distance) ... eyes were streaming, oaths rising to chilled lips: significantly worse than yesterday’s cold (which was tolerable - see Photo Booth “Winter” thread) due to the slicing wind.

Was glad that the trip home was westwards... and even gladder to lock the door behind me

[Serial_Apologist]

As you were posting that, I was pedalling eastwards to do a bit of shopping (similar distance) ... eyes were streaming, oaths rising to chilled lips: significantly worse than yesterday’s cold (which was tolerable - see Photo Booth “Winter” thread) due to the slicing wind.

Was glad that the trip home was westwards... and even gladder to lock the door behind me

What with all the hassle of needing to get things in and out of pockets in the cold - spectacles, gloves, £ coin for the trolley, shopping list, face masks - at some point on my journey I managed to lose my house keys, dammit. I re-traced my steps around the store, looked around the trolley stand, and then gazed at the pavements, road surfaces and low walls and ledges on the outward walk. No sign of them - nor at home. So I literally resumed the out journey on foot again, wheeling the bike, trying to remember exact crossing places etc., and asked at the enquiries desk if any keys had been handed in. No came back the answer. And so I got on the bike - by this point it was nearly dark - and cycled the almost a mile home against that sharp easterly, which was exaggeratedly sharp along the Parade, at - 2 Celsius. At least I possess a vew spare sets of keys. Nevertheless, even wearing usually adequate gloves, several finger tips have split open and have had to be elastoplasted, which makes typing this without making mistakes take twice as long as usual.

[Nick Armstrong]

What with all the hassle of needing to get things in and out of pockets in the cold - spectacles, gloves, £ coin for the trolley, shopping list, face masks - at some point on my journey I managed to lose my house keys, dammit. I re-traced my steps around the store, looked around the trolley stand, and then gazed at the pavements, road surfaces and low walls and ledges on the outward walk. No sign of them - nor at home. So I literally resumed the out journey on foot again, wheeling the bike, trying to remember exact crossing places etc., and asked at the enquiries desk if any keys had been handed in. No came back the answer. And so I got on the bike - by this point it was nearly dark - and cycled the almost a mile home against that sharp easterly, which was exaggeratedly sharp along the Parade, at - 2 Celsius. At least I possess a vew spare sets of keys. Nevertheless, even wearing usually adequate gloves, several finger tips have split open and have had to be elastoplasted, which makes typing this without making mistakes take twice as long as usual.

[Joseph K]

What with all the hassle of needing to get things in and out of pockets in the cold - spectacles, gloves, £ coin for the trolley, shopping list, face masks - at some point on my journey I managed to lose my house keys, dammit. I re-traced my steps around the store, looked around the trolley stand, and then gazed at the pavements, road surfaces and low walls and ledges on the outward walk. No sign of them - nor at home. So I literally resumed the out journey on foot again, wheeling the bike, trying to remember exact crossing places etc., and asked at the enquiries desk if any keys had been handed in. No came back the answer. And so I got on the bike - by this point it was nearly dark - and cycled the almost a mile home against that sharp easterly, which was exaggeratedly sharp along the Parade, at - 2 Celsius. At least I possess a vew spare sets of keys. Nevertheless, even wearing usually adequate gloves, several finger tips have split open and have had to be elastoplasted, which makes typing this without making mistakes take twice as long as usual.

Sorry to hear this, SA.

[BBMmk2]

What’s that funny round yellow thing in the sky?!!!?

[oddoneout]

What with all the hassle of needing to get things in and out of pockets in the cold - spectacles, gloves, £ coin for the trolley, shopping list, face masks - at some point on my journey I managed to lose my house keys, dammit. I re-traced my steps around the store, looked around the trolley stand, and then gazed at the pavements, road surfaces and low walls and ledges on the outward walk. No sign of them - nor at home. So I literally resumed the out journey on foot again, wheeling the bike, trying to remember exact crossing places etc., and asked at the enquiries desk if any keys had been handed in. No came back the answer. And so I got on the bike - by this point it was nearly dark - and cycled the almost a mile home against that sharp easterly, which was exaggeratedly sharp along the Parade, at - 2 Celsius. At least I possess a vew spare sets of keys. Nevertheless, even wearing usually adequate gloves, several finger tips have split open and have had to be elastoplasted, which makes typing this without making mistakes take twice as long as usual.

That's not much fun SA - insult to injury springs to mind (or perhaps the other way round!) I find the dreadfully dry conditions from this kind of weather sets my skin off - cracks round nails, and a trail of scurf from legs and arms - to match the dandruff snow from earlier in the week! The normal unguents have limited effect (although my trusted standby, Hypercal ointment, can help with the finger cracks to prevent them getting worse) the only real improvement comes from a change in the weather.
Do you have to change locks now, or are the chances of someone matching keys and property sufficiently slim not to matter?

[oddoneout]

What’s that funny round yellow thing in the sky?!!!?

Dunno, what did you put in your morning coffee....?

[Nick Armstrong]

Do you have to change locks now, or are the chances of someone matching keys and property sufficiently slim not to matter?

I was going to ask that. Hope not.

I’ve never heard of finger-cracking. In this sort of weather, I do sometimes get dry skin on ankles & calves which can get itchy when warm e.g. under bedcovers (although it hasn’t manifested itself this week) so I think I get what you mean

[Cockney Sparrow]

That's not much fun SA - insult to injury springs to mind (or perhaps the other way round!) I find the dreadfully dry conditions from this kind of weather sets my skin off - cracks round nails, and a trail of scurf from legs and arms - to match the dandruff snow from earlier in the week! The normal unguents have limited effect (although my trusted standby, Hypercal ointment, can help with the finger cracks to prevent them getting worse) the only real improvement comes from a change in the weather.
Do you have to change locks now, or are the chances of someone matching keys and property sufficiently slim not to matter?

I've used Calendolon from the same manufacturer for years for cuts, grazes and sore skin. I've come to the conclusion its more effective because the ointment base contains beeswax. DIY and gardening, as well as the cold and dry weather give rise to cracks and I use a plaster with this ointment to accelerate healing.

https://www.weleda.co.uk/calendula-cuts-1-grazes-skin-salve-25g-205005

[oddoneout]

I've used Calendolon from the same manufacturer for years for cuts, grazes and sore skin. I've come to the conclusion its more effective because the ointment base contains beeswax. DIY and gardening, as well as the cold and dry weather give rise to cracks and I use a plaster with this ointment to accelerate healing.
https://www.weleda.co.uk/calendula-c...lve-25g-205005

You've reminded me that I need to find some beeswax ointment for when the gardening season gets going; I find it seems to 'stay put' longer than others and as you say is effective. One problem I have is that it is often mixed with almond oil to make it softer and easier to apply, but almond oil dries my skin dreadfully so I have to avoid it. I used to be able to get a good one from a friend's daughter who'd gone into bees in a big way and set up a small skincare product sideline, but she has moved to France.
The forecast change to the weather is going to cause problems methinks. There is so much surplus water at present that just having the snow and ice thawing would add significantly, but if we get the heavy rain on Sunday night as well then things will become challenging. There have been several places where sewage has been distributing itself through alternative routes(mostly where pumping stations have proved unable to cope) and has still not been cleared. One area is a hotbed of very expensive properties(well off London second homers) which won't be best pleased. Even when the liquid levels have gone the after effects will take some time to dissipate.

[Serial_Apologist]

That's not much fun SA - insult to injury springs to mind (or perhaps the other way round!) I find the dreadfully dry conditions from this kind of weather sets my skin off - cracks round nails, and a trail of scurf from legs and arms - to match the dandruff snow from earlier in the week! The normal unguents have limited effect (although my trusted standby, Hypercal ointment, can help with the finger cracks to prevent them getting worse) the only real improvement comes from a change in the weather.
Do you have to change locks now, or are the chances of someone matching keys and property sufficiently slim not to matter?

Thanks for your sympathies oddoneout, and to all. Yes, cracks around nails and knuckle insides, so I keep plenty dressings on hand for the winter part of the year. The fact that I also suffer from a form of dermatitis affecting the backs of hands doesn't help, for which I have Clobovate, a vaseline-like prescription product, and nowadays a creeping muscular arthritis whichmakes typing and grabbing painful doesn't help.

A number to contact for spare lock keys came with the cycle lock when new - if I can find the paperwork, and the manufacturer still exists...

The joys of getting older, eh??

[Nick Armstrong]

the dreadfully dry conditions from this kind of weather sets my skin off - cracks round nails, and a trail of scurf from legs and arms - to match the dandruff snow from earlier in the week

A chiropodist I had to see a few times some years ago put me on to this for dry skin



and I must say I’ve found it works a treat to eliminate flaking & itching in excessively dry weather.

[oddoneout]

A chiropodist I had to see a few times some years ago put me on to this for dry skin



and I must say I’ve found it works a treat to eliminate flaking & itching in excessively dry weather.

Teatree oil is another 'natural' remedy that my skin doesn't like unfortunately, although I don't have as bad a reaction as my son did when Wright's coal tar soap stopped being coal tar and had tea tree instead - it set off his eczema.

[Nick Armstrong]

Teatree oil is another 'natural' remedy that my skin doesn't like unfortunately, although I don't have as bad a reaction as my son did when Wright's coal tar soap stopped being coal tar and had tea tree instead - it set off his eczema.