Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

The days in Calgary don't quite line up with London ones though, Sun rise here is between 7:30 and 8 am, but in Calgary it was still dark at 8. It was light until well after 5pm in Calgary, which can't be said for London at the moment. Is this a result of British daylight savings trying to make it light in the AM for children going to school ?

Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

because I work in the cold and I don't mind it for a week or so but 3 months straight really gets me down.....the winter is just one big struggle

Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

Calgary is around 51 degrees N, London is also around 51 degrees N - which means that day length is the same in both places.

What you're seeing is the effect of longitude.

London sits on the Greenwich Meridian ... Calgary is in the Mountain Standard Time zone and we're not an exact number of longitude steps from London, so our day is moved relative to London, but it's still about the same length.

Yes, we do have daylight savings time and yes, it's a pain :)

Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

I guess I can appreciate that to some extent - not done a full winter here yet - but if you go back to the UK won't you be just as off-put by the dark, damp, wet miserable winters and very 'iffy' summers.

Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

I am about 500 miles south of you and have done 20 full winters......21 is not on the cards

Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

Well I guess no one can say you aint given it a good go so all the best with your move.

Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

Please could somebody explain what an automatic car starter is and block starter? How do they work?

Sorry for the ignorance!

Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

Hi Majj,

A remote car starter is a litte do-hickey that you install in your car (or rather, have someone do it for you.) which enables you to start the engine by pointing a remote on your key chain out the window.

This way, it warms up outside while you finish your morning business and is nice and toasty by the time you're ready to go.

The saftey features include hitting buttons in your car in specific sequence once you insert the key to "unlock" the device. This is to prevent anyone from driving away with your running car.

I'm not sure about pricing anymore... it's been a long time. Maybe look it up online to get an idea?

Hope this helps. :D

Siren

Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

I find it interesting that so many Brits seem to prefer the cold as long as it is sunny, to warmer weather with rain. My guess is most Canadians would have the opposite opinion

Actually, after 6 years in Britain, I would still (ANY day) take sunshine, bright blue skies, hoarfrost and breathtaking beauty at -30 over gray dreary days at plus 10. My brothers both live on the west coast and the only thing they would change about it (having grown up in Alberta) is the weather - they hate the gray and miss snow! I could also add that I've never in my life been as cold indoors as I have been since moving to England... Who decided these poxy little radiators on the wall were a good idea???? :)

Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

Funny...I don't fancy either but I guess that's why I moved to Australia! :D

Siren

Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

Today's a brisk - 30 with wind chill in the GTA. What surprises me is that given the right clothing, the cold doesn't seem to be as much of a problem as I thought. Must be getting used to it or something.

Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

Autostarter as explained is a remote control to start your car so it can warm up without you having to brave the elements. Car will cut out though if anyone tries to drive away without the key, and usually the car will stop after 15 mins running in case its activated accidentaly or you get delayed. Typical installed cost $250 to 300, but you can pay more for a really fancy one.

Block heater is a 400W electric heater that is set in the sump of the vehicle (I think it replaces the drain plug??) that you physically plug into the mains. Mines on a timer that comes on at 6am and off at 9, it pre heats the engine oil so its actually a liquid rather than a waxy gel when you try to crank the engine over in -27°C or whatever it was this morning. I tend to use mine if its going to be below -10. Runny oil lubricates the engine immediately, saving on a lot of wear, and also reduces the workload on the starter and battery, well worth the <$100. In extreme climates some people also have battery warmers, as the performance of the battery is also badly affected by the temperature (its a chemical reaction after all).

If you are in Dubai, I wouldnt worry about it:D ;) Actually, I use the autostarter all the time in the summer to get the AC going and cool the car down!

Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

British cold is damp whereas Canadian cold is dry which makes it more bearable. The grey skies create depression whereas the sunny blue skies of the Canadian winter are just great.

Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

Thanks, wondered why it was :)

Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

Thanks for the explanation guys. The auto starter sounds good, especially in the middle of summer (45 deg C), it gets so hot that you cannot touch the wheel without burning your fingers. Its also amazing how the temperature guage never reaches the halfway point in this heat.

At the moment the temperature drops to 12 deg C at night in the winter and on the weather report this is described as chilly!