Batten Down The Hatches 2010/11

[2cvbloke]

As a temporary measure, you could put a washing up bowl under the trap and slacken the trap outlet pipe, so the water dribbles into the bowl.

I've gone one better than that, I put a bucket under it, the washing up bowl let out too many splashes, and with an electrical connection just next to it, yeah, needed a bucket...

It did the same earlier in the year in the last "big freeze", I should probably do something about it, but I have no pipe fittings for making a proper drainage system for it, but it's not my responsibility, although I may just go take a hacksaw to the pipe and just let it drain onto the ground, get some nice icicles on the go...

 

[2cvbloke]

Just been out there, and muck fee it's cold out there!!!

Don't know the temeperature, but extrapolating the observed temps. on the BBC weather site, I'd guess it's about -8 to -10....

 

[2cvbloke]

Well, would you know it, I found a thermometer while rifling through a drawer for something, it's a decorative one so probably not 100% accurate, but I stuck it outside in the back kitchen window, and left it to settle, and it's settled on -7.....

 

[hexah]

Well, would you know it, I found a thermometer while rifling through a drawer for something, it's a decorative one so probably not 100% accurate, but I stuck it outside in the back kitchen window, and left it to settle, and it's settled on -7.....

O-Ha

It's most likely in the ballpark!

 

[hexah]

Oh joy - another 2.5" of snow fell this afternoon on icy ground. The drive home was absolutely horrible. We slithered to a halt on the hill and I had great fun getting the Fiesta moving again. Against all the recommendations I finally managed to get some traction by spinning the wheels in second gear.

Not exactly fun.

As soon as it started snowing last week, I was out checking my summer tyres by doing hill starts, and later in the week on the packed snow (all B roads round here) doing hill starts, always starting in second gear. I also did some emergency stops, to gauge the stopping distances on those tyres.

Tyres usually needed inflating as they won't grip properly if even slightly under-inflated. I always add, winter or summer, an extra 4 psi to every tyre to compensate for the drive to the garage. Grip on snow is always increased.

The morons in government have some odd recommendations, like it is ok to drive on treads depths 2 - 1.6mm when every manufacturer of tyres and cars says 3mm is the safe minimum, even in summer!

In your case it may be a good idea to change all your tyres to All Season tyres, so you are helped at all times in winter, have additional traction in mud, and help with usual country driving hazards during the other seasons.

 

[Lazarus]

Tyres usually needed inflating as they won't grip properly if even slightly under-inflated. I always add, winter or summer, an extra 4 psi to every tyre to compensate for the drive to the garage. Grip on snow is always increased.

There are some misguided folk in the Media who advise reducing pressures for more grip, but this is total bunk. Completely upsets handling. That said, I believe I am one of the rapidly diminishing number of motorists who actually bother to make frequent checks on Tyre Pressures, oil/water/brake fluid levels, lights/indicator etc. function.

People in the village think I'm mad ................. you can tell by the looks they give when hurtling past in their 4WDs with one hand on the wheel and the other clutching their Mobile Phones to their heads. And this isn't confined to the ones who've been done for drunken driving. But they are key figures in the Church, so that makes it ok for them to have their own rules.



[/Mini rant]

 

[hexah]

There are some misguided folk in the Media who advise reducing pressures for more grip, but this is total bunk. Completely upsets handling.

All hills round here, so it would be suicidal. Crazy. They would slide and mangle their cars - and themselves.
O-no

That said, I believe I am one of the rapidly diminishing number of motorists who actually bother to make frequent checks on Tyre Pressures, oil/water/brake fluid levels, lights/indicator etc. function.

However, their complacency is bound to catch them out in the long run. No wonder record numbers of people have had to call the car breakdown companies over the last week or so. I wonder how many instances were due poor maintainace and the avoidance of servicing in the daft belief it would save them money?!

People in the village think I'm mad ................. you can tell by the looks they give when hurtling past in their 4WDs with one hand on the wheel and the other clutching their Mobile Phones to their heads...

The correct response: :-123

 

[hexah]

Oh joy - another 2.5" of snow fell this afternoon on icy ground. The drive home was absolutely horrible. We slithered to a halt on the hill and I had great fun getting the Fiesta moving again. Against all the recommendations I finally managed to get some traction by spinning the wheels in second gear.

How not to drive the Fiesta in snow.

[video=youtube;z2c9PTcV1QI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2c9PTcV1QI[/video]

 

[2cvbloke]

Here's why I'm not entirely sure of the accuracy of that thermometer:

 

[Lazarus]

Here's why I'm not entirely sure of the accuracy of that thermometer:

Looks about right for around here!

 

[2cvbloke]

Looks about right for around here!

Doesn't feel that cold though, and I think it'd be on the news if it were that cold, just look at how that place in northern scotland got in the news for being-21 or something...

 

[hexah]

-23 C might be a record.

It would definitely feel that cold!

O-Ha

 

[Analoguesat]

Theres travel chaos right across the central belt & around Glasgow this evening

-http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-11924238

Ive just been having a look at the traffic cameras on the traffic Scotland website & numerous main roads around Glasgow are at a standstill.

 

[Analoguesat]

-11.2C on my little weather station at the moment. Brrrrr!

 

[satelliteman]

-9°C here ATM.

 

[Lazarus]

We have a tropical 0C here. Back to the T-Shirt.

 

[Analoguesat]

Six oclock and its -10C already. Thanks to some knob'ead parking by next door I got the car well and truly stuck in the soft snow up the side of the farm track, and had to dig it out.....

 

[Lazarus]

Yes, Scotland v.bad today and tonight.

We had it pretty rough here in t'Moors for the previous three days, temperature wise, but it's not so bad at all now.

 

[satelliteman]

Don't think it's risen above -5°C all day here, currently -7°C.

 

[Analoguesat]

-11.3C and decreasing RAPIDLY!