Snowmageddon

The Beast from the East has arrived and yesterday we woke up to a winter wonderland but unfortunately our central heating was not working.  Extreme cold had stalled our modern condensing boiler.  The process condenses moisture in the gases and the waste liquid is expelled into the drains via a slim plastic pipe - a pipe which is prone to freezing in particularly cold weather, stalling the entire system.

This was how much ice was in the pipe!!!!!

Phil was a hero and at 7.30 a.m. was up a ladder in the freezing cold unfreezing the pipe using a hair dryer.  He got the boiler working again but it's time to think of a longer-term solution.
Fortunately, we also have a real fire to keep us warm.

When March comes in like a lion it goes out like a lamb", goes an old saying and this March arrived with a ferocious lion's entrance.  The Met Office gave its highest and rarest weather alerts - red warnings.

And today the snow was even deeper. So soft and fluffy we couldn't build a snowman.  Champagne powder because it was below freezing when it snowed.

Brrr!

                                                 

Hundreds of schools are closed in the UK and Chloe's is one of them.

 I remember when I was a child, waking up and running outside into the garden and catching the snowflakes with my tongue.  Now it's the grandchildren's turn.

And I found some old photos of Alun and Caroline enjoying the snow.  I think Caroline was four.

                                         Was Alun pushed or did he fall?

Snow makes even the most ordinary places look like a scene from a fairy tale.....as if you'd been kidnapped while you slept and woke up in Narnia.

Talking of books - Emmie's school didn't shut for snow but she wasn't upset because it is World Book Day and she loves her fantastic costume.  Well done Mummy.

However, the south-west of England and Wales are bracing themselves for more snow as Storm Emma makes its way up from France to meet the Beast from the East.  Red 'danger to life' weather warnings have been issued from 15.00 hrs.

                                                           I know its cold but...............

Stay warm and safe in the snow.

Winter Bites Back.

We woke up to a smattering of snow in Milford on Sea on
Sunday morning (18th March) as the "mini beast from the east"
arrived.  Snow on the South Coast!

The beach was looking very festive and Jamie wanted to know
when Father Christmas was coming!

Simple joy of snow for children.  It was bitterly cold though.

Hopefully the beast will relax its grip.

March may have come in roaring in like a lion, but will it go out like a lamb?  The upheaval in the stratosphere over the Arctic that triggered this freeze looks likely to reverberate through most of March, especially in the northern parts of the UK.  However, the outlook for southern areas is for a possible return of some slightly milder weather later in the month, so maybe in the south, at least, March may go out like a lamb.

HAPPY BEASTER - weather forecast warns "Beast from the East 3" may return with snow next week - and a "White Easter".  Maybe Father Christmas will come instead of the Easter Bunny.