Snow has arrived!

Crikey! makes me shiver just looking at it, we had our first hard frost last night, but yes turned out to be a really bright crisp sunny morning brrrrrrrr lovely!

I am surprised to hear you speak about winter tyres, Donna. We used them in Canada but everyone I speak to in the UK doesn't seem to know what I'm talking about. Maybe it's only in high elevations (Scotland) where you are usually faced with harsher winters is who I should have asked! lol

Looks like you got a dusting of snow....maybe more will be on the way to make the children happy on their school hols.

Careful on the slippy roads then.

I think the tyres are normally referred to as 'cold weather' tyres these days. They're a softer compound to normal summer tyres - resulting in more grip - and they tend to have v patterned tread which provide good snow grip.
Here in the North East we often get the snow coming off the artic before anyone else. I'd never not have my winter tyres on in the winter, seeing all these people stuck or sliding about and I just keep on ploughing past :)
I usually put off changing them over until mid/end Nov and keep them on 'til Easter.

Brrrrrrrr! looks chilly Donna! Mind you its freezing here this morning even Rocky (the dog) doesn't want to go out lol, he is laid on the carpet in the sunny spot, looks lovely out of the window but been out this morning and its really cold!

I had to de-ice my car this morning, first time this year. I wanted to go back in the warm and forget about going to work :-((((

It didn't snow here on the Moray coast, Donna, but it is damned cold.

Hubby has just mentioned he had to scrape the windscreen this morning so I guess we had some frost overnight too but at the moment it's glorious sunshine and it looks so pretty shining on the golden and rust leaves on local trees.

Very cold here in London too - frost overnight, but beautiful bright sun all day, so it disappeared real quick. I do know about winter tyres, but no one has them down here - if we get more winters like last year on a regular basis, it'll be worth investigating though - currently, as soon as it snows and freezes, the car remains in firmly in the garage...

Is this early for the snow there, Donnaj ?
I heard another forum friend saying how she'd had a lot of snow last night too - seems ever so early :-/

I did hear is going to be cold all week but then warm up a bit to normal october temps, its the north wind that does it here!-- or the easterlies ( I wouldn't mind winter if it wasn't soo cold...)

I wouldn't mind winter if it wasn't so dark...

Oh now that is early :o(( I hope it clears soon, and doesn't get down here lol I hate it !

No snow here in Gemany at the moment, but don´t worry...it will come !. About winter tyres...as from the 1st of January 2011 they are making it a law (in Germany) so that you must have winter tyres..snow tyres..call them what you like, although I drive a small SUV..permanent 4 WD...no not a Chelsea Tractor...a lot smaller, I will also have to have them, so yesterday I ordered 4 tyres from the local garage and will get them put on on saturday, just to keep on the right side of the law. The area where I live is very hilly so they will be helpful when going to work, sorry if this is a bit off topic.

It is a good law that Germany have adopted, Rogi. The snow tyres do really help. I suppose in England the winter snow is minimal compared to a lot of locations and this is why not many use the snow tyres.

In parts of Canada where there is a lot of snow/ice on the roads people carry chains as well to attach to their tyres when the weather is really bad.

You'll be taking out a second mortgage now Rogi to pay for your 4 new tyres....lol

That's the trouble with England - and why an inch of snow throws the whole transport system out of action. We have no contingencies for if the weather is bad because it's rare.

People might be a bit more prepared this year Bamboo. Also people will have had a lot more experience with driving in the snowy conditions. I find a lot of people just CAN'T drive in snow as they have so little experience as the stormy weather can be so sporadic. Even up here in Scotland, people panic at the hint of a flake (I must admit I relish it a bit :) )
I've been driving for 18 years and I can honestly say I've never got stuck or went off the road, never needed anyone elses help. I've given other people plenty help mind you. Drivers don't even carry sand or shovels when the roads are bad.
I drove along roads last year only to be met at the other end by tractors/snowploughs who've said the those roads hadn't been opened up.... that was obvious when the snow drifts at the side of the roads had been up to side window levels and even higher.
Yeehah, I love it.

I love the way it looks - but living in London, it's not long before it looks absolutely awful - black, grimy slush which freezes like glass over night. I'm afraid I never drive in snow, terrifies the life out of me - but I'll be out for a walk in it if it does arrive.

look at the ad in the right hand box-- snowchains--- why am I suprised ---but I wish that the didn't think I liked burgers and gave me chocolate instead!!

I don't know where your adverts come from, Pamg - I've got one for kitchens.... But I do remember question last year on how many trusses you should have on tomatoes before pinching them out - and the advert on that question was for surgical trusses...

When I lived in Rutland in te 1950´s and 60´s we lived about a mile from the Harringworth Viaduct...Northamtonshire, I owned a 1959 Austin A 55 van and I used to drive regularly to Corby via Harringworth and Gretton in winter with snow on the roads and nobody thought of having winter tyres or chains, you just took your time and you arrived safely...everybody was conciderate to everybody else on the roads....giving them a push if wanted...OK that was in the "Good old days".

ohhh Bamboo........

I've heard Rogi that people such as farmers are loathe to pull cars out of ditches etc. for fear of being sued for damaging said car!

I'm not happy to drive in icy or snow I'm afraid....snow tyres don't make me feel more confident. The only vehicle I ever drove successfully without being nervous was my very first car...a 1968 VW beetle...it could plow through snow like a steam train.

Hallo all. We seem to have gone a bit off topic now, from gardening to cars, but never mind. I had 2 VW Beetles, a 1959 1200 6 volt and a 1972 1602, they were both fantastic in snow especialy when either chains or spikes were used, here (in Germany) they stopped us using spikes in 1972, they said they were damaging the roads, but I think better to have damaged roads than loads of accidents.

Yes Roqi....the chains do damage the roads and in B.C. they do have laws about when and how they can be used. They aren't too common in cities but for people living where there is a lot of snow or in the country they are so necessary.
Glad to hear someone else likes VW beetles :)

And yes, we've gone off topic here for sure! lol I'll take some of the responsibility....:)

Off topic? Pah who cares ... it's my blog and I'm nae bothered :)

Whew....I am relieved Donna :)

So let us start a blog on VW Beetles ! hihi.

Our next door neighbour has a really old VW beetle...so old it doesn't require a current license plate. I'll have to ask him what year it is...he's always out there tinkering with it, polishing, adding replacement parts etc.

Ok....Roqi....you suggested a blog....you start....lol

nooooooo not yet :) im not ready donna lol nice pic :)

many years ago we went to Calafornia a VW there had the registration' wigglebug'-- stuck in my mind.....now when I see 'beetles' it a wigglebug

lol :