General Chat

or there is a different culture now .................

most of the complainers that I have seen on our news have been below the age of 40 ;-)


or there is a 40 or 50 year climate cycle

The winters here in Vancouver had lots of snow in the late 60s and 70s, when we first arrived. Then there was little to no snow most years through the 80s to about 3 years ago, with just the occasional winter having significant amounts. I'd estimate those years were about 7-10 years apart!

Last winter and this winter have been colder and with more snow.

I'm thinking we might be entering a colder cycle.

Well, the past is a foreign country isn't it?

Sharron ..............

I grew up in Lancashire on the edge of the Pennines.

Granted most people didn't have cars back in the 40s through 60s, but we had tons of snow most winters.

People didn't go stir crazy about large amounts or dash out stocking up on food.

The buses would run for as long as they possibly could. We didn't hear of the trains stopping because of 2 or 3" of snow.

The army would set to, and fodder for animals would be delivered to isolated farms on the moors, in Yorkshire, etc that were cut off sometimes for weeks.

Dad would open the front door at about 6 am at least once a winter, and find snow to above half way up. He'd set to and dig out the long garden path down to the gate, and then leave to make his way to work. I would then have to make my way up a steep hill in knee high snow to school. It was the rare day that Mum would say that I wouldn't be able to make it and could stay home.

My baptism was delayed because of snow in 1940 .............. Mum couldn't make it up the hill from our house.


Brits used to not make as much noise about something that used to be a regular part of life.

We used to buy snow tires which came with or without studs. Snow tires had studs in them, and eventually were banned in the city here unless there was a certain amount of snow on the ground, because the studs damage the tarmac.


We now basically have 3 types of tires

1. All season or now more commonly called 3 season tires are the ones for spring through fall .... for warm, mild and wet weather. Temperature above 7C

2. All weather tires are for mild winter conditions, with heavy rain and snowfall that quickly melts. Temperature above and just below 7C. Have a mark of mountain and snowflake on the side of the tire

3. Winter tires ...... Temperature below 7C. Have the mountain and snowflake mark

a) non-studded ........... harsh winter conditions with lots of snow.

b) studded ............ harsh winter conditions with lots of snow, ice, and freezing water on the road.

In addition, drivers that drive regularly outside the main cities often carry chains that can be put on before attempting to drive on a mountain or country road. Trucks HAVE to carry and use chains on many roads.


We have the all weather tire at the moment because we don't go out of the city. If we still had the cabin (EDIT:- or would be going more than about 20 km outside the city or regularly to one of the ski areas nearby), we'd have the non-studded winter tire and have a set of chains in the back of the car.


BTW ............... the all weather tire is good for all year driving if you have to drive a lot on gravel roads. They do wear faster, but you get a good grip on the road.

OH has embroidered now that he's in. Says sometimes snow tyres have steel pins, like studs in them too.

Give him through a coffee and I'll learn more. :-D

A female aged 51 set out for a hillwalk in Clackmannanshire
during the heightened weather warnings and it is believed
she got lost in the Ochill Hills Thursday afternoon, apparently
a body has been found.

It beggars belief.

My beloved says there's no difference. The Americans call them snow tyres while we call them winter tyres.

Apparently many years ago when we had a big Ford we had Town & Country tyres on - now called winter tyres.

T & C tyres had a deep tread.

What do I know? I only drive the things. :-D

Then he would have to look knowledgeable and suck his breath in through his teeth while he thought up an answer.

Send him a text message asking, then he can think something up on the way home!

Someone may know the difference but I don't - somewhere I read that there is a difference between snow tyres and winter tyres.

Bamboozled, because I thought same tyre different name. :-S

OH is out or I would have asked him.

Sylvia, Canada is a very different animal. You have snow regularly and take it all in your stride whereas snow sends the British silly.

One example is that people in Glasgow would even consider going out in tee-shirts at home because the place they are going will be warm!

There was a bit on the Scottish news about people turning up at Glasgow Airport dressed in T-shirts, and then being stuck for hours as all flights were cancelled. The airport staff were handing out blankets so that they could keep warm!

How daft is that - the T-shirts, not the blankets?

If we travel in winter, almost all Canadians will carry the following things in their car, even if they are only going a short distance. In fact many people will have most items in the trunk or back of the car all the time .........

candles .............. can be lit for short intervals to bring some heat
blanket(s) or those emergency blanket(s)
cushion(s) or pillows(s)
torches,
water
emergency food
possibly a thermos with hot water of coffee.
spade

Babies and children are regularly carried, with appropriate coverings and clothes.


One important thing to remember is to ensure that the tail pipe is clear of blocking if you do start the engine for warmth ................ blocked tail pipe means carbon monoxide enters the car. Finis for passengers. :-(

If there is one good thing to come out of this spell of freezing snow, it is that we have been awarded some humility by nature which has shown us once again that this planet does not belong to us.

The worst is them going to airports on the off chance the plane will take off then moan because they have spent x hours sitting about and losing time from their jolly hols.

West Joy, in Merseyland :-D :-D

The day after dtr turned back on the A66, snow gates swinging shut as she got through, further along, closer to urban areas, a little girl (Sienna Louisa Dottie Waring, weighing 10 lbs 1 oz) was born in her parents' car stuck behind traffic at the side of the A66 on the way to hospital.

You are doing the right thing LaG. I don't know how far north or whether it is east or west but several roads are still closed. The A1M north of Morpeth is one of them and trains were not travelling into Scotland either.

We are staying in because our old bones would suffer if we were stranded :-(

Somebody else has called a television station to say her thirty-one weeks pregnant sister was stuck in the traffic.

She must have been thirty-one weeks pregnant when she went out in the snow.

Yes we saw that and wondered how they thought it was ok to take the poor little thing out in this weather.

Why would you take children let alone a baby out in this weather

If there's a breakdown etc then there would be no heating in the car , even if you ran the engine the fuel would get run down