Friday 28 November 2014

Just in case part 2

First of all, welcome to Rebecca Pickering via Bloglovin and secondly, we are not shopping today, I find the whole concept of Black Friday disgusting! It seems to bring out the worst in some people.

The wind howled all night and we listened to what sounded like snow hitting the bedroom window. We had a nursery electric heater on low in the bedroom where we all were, to keep an ambient temperature for DS and hoped we would not have a power cut.

The next morning we got up and could see a lot more snow had settled. The outside temperature was cold and the sky still grey. Luckily for us DB had filled as many things with fuel as he could and put them in our small porch to keep dry. Back then, we didn't have a wood burner but a Parkray, a solid fuel anthracite enclosed fire that also heated our hot water.

Everywhere around us was pristine, no-one seemed to be out and we found out over the radio that we were cut off in all directions. Luckily we still had our power. We remained cut off for a whole week. Our supplies lasted but the then two village shops were besieged and eventually ran out of most things.

The doorbell rang the next day and on our doorstep, trussed up in coats and boots was the district nurse who had come to see how we were getting on. She seemed most bemused when I asked her if she had been dropped in by helicopter (I know, the way your mind thinks after having a baby). Turns out she lived around the corner, less than 100 metres away!

Anyhow, she checked us both over, did a little discreet stitch cutting for me as I was very uncomfortable with 2 stitch tails that had somehow swivelled and were sticking into me. Ah, that's better said I and off she went. She managed to come every day until DS was 10 days old, letting us know what was happening regarding the village being cut off. Eventually she informed us that a snow plough had finally made it through and just one road was open.

That time had an impact on me and so every late autumn early winter I go into survival mode. Although the village is all electric and our central heating is oil, it would be useless in a power cut as you need electric to pump the water and fuel around the system. We now have a wood burner and everything needed to keep warm.We also have a one ring gas cooking stove and a camping kettle plus enough cartridges of gas to see us through for a few weeks of emergency soup etc. The wood burner could also be used to cook on.

Our store cupboards are kept stocked as much as possible to enable us to make that soup and we now have an emergency store cupboard. The freezers are kept stocked but would probably be no good in the event of a long power cut. However, if the power cut was the result of snow, we would build a snow fridge/freezer and transfer the goods into it. Same would go for lack of water due to snow, the snow could be melted to drink.

Due to that one time our village was cut off, despite being new to the village we slowly got to know our neighbours and in similar times, have warmed water and brewed tea, made soup and all sat around our fire to keep warm and have a chat.

We know we are lucky but if the very least you can keep for an emergency (or everyday for some folk nowadays), is enough basic items to make soup and a way of cooking it, then you should be okay.

This was us several weeks later once the thaw had started. Those icicles hanging near the then front window were more than 4 feet long originally and yes, we did break 2 off to have a game of swords!
On the whole, our temperatures have warmed since childhood, when we both remember almost every winter being very cold and having snow most of the time. I think soon, children will be born who grow up to never know what snow is unless they go abroad to see some!

Have a good weekend everyone.




7 comments:

  1. Would that have been the winter of 1976 or 1981 by any chance I had my eldest in 76 and remember going to hospital in labour, in a snow storm and my youngest was born in the summer of 81 and I can remember it being difficult to get out that winter with the little one in a pram, the middle child on the pram seat and the eldest walking with me - I couldn't push the pram through the snow - it was too heavy - I just wondered... xx

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    1. I was no where near was I? that was the year that our neighbours had to go out in the heavy snow as they had no food in - I'd always kept a full cupboard and was like yourself, all set up with no need to go out shopping. They were ever so posh but no food in the house - I remember it amazed me xx

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  2. Good Lord_ I was most bemused when I got to the snow! I thought where on earth are you? We've had no snow!!
    I'm back after a longish break. Just could not put pen to paper - as it were. but hopefully back on the job now.
    I do so agree about that stupid and disgraceful debacle that was Black Friday. So many people I know were horrified by the news reports. I hope next year they change things in a big way. It really disheartened me.
    Anyway, soon have the missing post uploaded and I will be well on my way. Good to be reading again! Lxx

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  3. Ha! Life does get in the way sometimes doesn't it? I get like that with making things, definitely got to be on the mood, oh, I can hear a Glen Miller song coming on!

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  4. Ahhh the Winter of 86/87. My youngest was born in February 87. It snowed and snowed while I was in hospital. After 4 days I was desperate to get home (I had a cesarean and was supposed to stay in for 6 days) and used the "we'll be snowed in here if we don't get home" excuse, although the hospital was in Barrow in Furness and we only lived over on Barrow Island, so nowhere near as dramatic as you living in the middle of nowhere for real!! Once home I had a cosy week and a half stuck indoors with Jason, while my husband managed to get out through the snow to take our eldest to infant school each day. The icicles on the flats opposite ours were also four or so feet long. Snuggly memories.

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    1. Our butcher lived near us but his shop was an 8 mile round trip. He found tennis rackets in his garage, cut off the handles, put them on his feet and trudged to work. Took him 3 hours each way. Now that is dedication!

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