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-   -   Longing for snow... (https://britishexpats.com/forum/canada-56/longing-snow-262644/)

sandyback Oct 27th 2004 8:56 pm

Longing for snow...
 
I just watched a great programme on BBC2 about the Ukatak adventure race, which covers 500 Ks starting in Quebec, over what they described as 'frozen wilderness'. What a race!

The sight of all that beautiful snow has made me jealous, though. I wish for it at about this time every year when the weather starts to turn colder, but living near the British Edmonton, we hardly ever see any. :(

Does anyone have any recent snowy pictures they could post?

Sandy.

iaink Oct 27th 2004 9:03 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 
Not recent but here goes..

http://britishexpats.com/photopost/s...cat=500&page=2

http://britishexpats.com/photopost/s...cat=500&page=2

http://britishexpats.com/photopost/s...cat=500&page=1

Cant say i am waiting with baited breath myself.

Glaswegian Oct 28th 2004 1:58 am

Re: Longing for snow...
 

Originally Posted by sandyback
I just watched a great programme on BBC2 about the Ukatak adventure race, which covers 500 Ks starting in Quebec, over what they described as 'frozen wilderness'. What a race!

The sight of all that beautiful snow has made me jealous, though. I wish for it at about this time every year when the weather starts to turn colder, but living near the British Edmonton, we hardly ever see any. :(

Does anyone have any recent snowy pictures they could post?

Sandy.

We've had two weeks of snow and sub-zero highs so far ... personally I'd like to see a chinook.

ukjo Oct 28th 2004 2:08 am

Re: Longing for snow...
 

Originally Posted by sandyback
I just watched a great programme on BBC2 about the Ukatak adventure race, which covers 500 Ks starting in Quebec, over what they described as 'frozen wilderness'. What a race!

The sight of all that beautiful snow has made me jealous, though. I wish for it at about this time every year when the weather starts to turn colder, but living near the British Edmonton, we hardly ever see any. :(

Does anyone have any recent snowy pictures they could post?

Sandy.


I said exactly that this time last year when I was still living in the Uk. Moved over in January 2004 and by the end of April I was begging for the snow to go. As much as I love it, I don't wish for it too soon!!

hawkeye Oct 28th 2004 3:08 am

Re: Longing for snow...
 
I'm in training for the Yukon quest http://www.yukonquest.org/ This has been an ambition of mine for the last few years.

ClareBC Oct 28th 2004 3:38 am

Re: Longing for snow...
 
My lil fella was clomping around in his ski boots last weekend trying to wish the snow to fall - only 6 years old and a complete ski fiend!

But in sunny Vancouver (well, it was today!) I think it'll be another 6 weeks before the snow really hits the mountains!

Clare

Glaswegian Oct 28th 2004 3:58 am

Re: Longing for snow...
 

Originally Posted by ClareBC
My lil fella was clomping around in his ski boots last weekend trying to wish the snow to fall - only 6 years old and a complete ski fiend!

But in sunny Vancouver (well, it was today!) I think it'll be another 6 weeks before the snow really hits the mountains!

Clare

My six year old wants to move to Hawaii. My seven year old wants an away game of hockey - in Hawaii.

Mrs G

owen Oct 28th 2004 11:29 am

Re: Longing for snow...
 

Originally Posted by hawkeye
I'm in training for the Yukon quest http://www.yukonquest.org/ This has been an ambition of mine for the last few years.

Just checked the website. 1000miles of dog farts, wee and poo spraying in your face.......nutter springs to mind hawkeye!!!! :eek:

sandyback Oct 28th 2004 1:40 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 

Originally Posted by hawkeye
I'm in training for the Yukon quest http://www.yukonquest.org/ This has been an ambition of mine for the last few years.


WOW!! Well the very best of luck hawkeye, although I'm sure it's more about determination than luck! Hope you manage to do it, and it goes well for you.

Iaink, thanks for the photos, they helped ease the craving.

Maybe when we finally get to move, I'll be like ukjo and mr and mrs G, and get fed up with the snow, but I seriously doubt it... :D

Like your son, ClareBC, I've got my boots ready to stomp, but mine are pink and furry :) It's really nice that your son is looking forward to skiing, though. I'm not sure if it's a particularly British thing, but I know so many children over here whose idea of sport is sitting in front of a Playstation :confused:

Sandy.

MikeUK Oct 28th 2004 1:46 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 

Originally Posted by hawkeye
I'm in training for the Yukon quest http://www.yukonquest.org/ This has been an ambition of mine for the last few years.

Having done some dogsledding... I have no desire for 1000miles of smelly dogs arses as my primary view...

Plus as I'm sure you know.. they shit and piss on the run... so Its active arses you get to watch too... complete with splash back and when the runners hit the shite at speed its non too pleasant.... :eek:

flashman Oct 28th 2004 2:04 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 
Diary of a Snow Shoveler
Author unknown

December 8: 6:00 PM.
It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses Print. So romantic we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!

December 9:
We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the Whole World? Moving here was the best idea I've ever had. Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the snowplow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life.

December 12:
The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment. My neighbor tells me not to worry, we'll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow again. I don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man I'm glad he's our neighbor.

December 14:
Snow lovely snow! 8" last night. The temperature dropped to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. I didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish I wouldn't huff and puff so.

December 15:
20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife's car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think that's silly. We aren't in Alaska, after all.

December 16:
Ice storm this morning. Fell on my ass on the ice in the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like hell. The wife laughed for an hour, which I think was very cruel.

December 17:
Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her. God I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room.

December 20:
Electricity's back on, but had another 14" of the damn stuff last night. More shoveling. Took all day. Goddamn snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they're out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they're lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he's lying.

December 22:
Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white shit fell today, and it's so cold it probably won't melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to piss. By the time I got undressed, pissed and dressed again. I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of the winter; but he says he's too busy. I think the asshole is lying.

December 23:
Only 2" of snow today. And it warmed up to 0o. The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is she nuts!!! Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did but I think she's lying.

December 24:
6". Snow packed so hard by snowplow, l broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the son of a bitch who drives that snowplow, I'll drag him through the snow by his balls. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I've just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas Carols with her and open our presents, but I was busy watching for the goddamn snowplow.

December 25:
Merry Christmas. 20 more inches of the !=3D@x@!x!x1 slop tonight. Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. God I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she's an idiot. If I have to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" one more time, I'm going to kill her.

December 26:
Still snowed in. Why the hell did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She's really getting on my nerves.

December 27:
Temperature dropped to -30o and the pipes froze.

December 28:
Warmed up to above -50. Still snowed in. THE BITCH is driving me crazy!!!!!

December 29:
10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am?

December 30:
Roof caved in. The snow plow driver is suing me for a million dollars. The wife went home to her mother. 9" predicted.

December 31:
Set fire to what's left of the house. No more shoveling.

January 8:
I feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?

owen Oct 28th 2004 2:19 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 

Originally Posted by flashman
Diary of a Snow Shoveler

Funny funny funny :D

Corky Oct 28th 2004 2:29 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 
I guess we all look forward to that first snow fall but it sure changes after Jan31....and we wish it would go away. I still love a good snowstorm, love it when they tell us we are going to have 25cms....we just put another log in the woodstove and sit and wait for the snow to start falling. Then the days you get thoses huge snowflakes that just stick to ya!

SirTainly Oct 28th 2004 2:34 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 
:D sitting here with a silly grin, I'm sure my coworkers are wondering what I'm reading !

ksct97 Oct 28th 2004 3:37 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 

Originally Posted by flashman
Diary of a Snow Shoveler
Author unknown

excellent, very funny... looking forward to our first canadian winter with slight trepidation! :D

IckleHelen Oct 28th 2004 3:47 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 
Love the story (very funny)

prodigyking Oct 28th 2004 4:23 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 
Oh God,

Please let it NOT be Montreal the place where the diary writer lived. Please God, please! I only like snow a little bit. My mediterranean blood is not intended for such extremes. I am scared! :scared: :scared: :beer:

iaink Oct 28th 2004 4:40 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 
Live in an appartment building. They will shovel for you. There is a reason Montreal goes underground for the winter:)


Originally Posted by prodigyking
Oh God,

Please let it NOT be Montreal the place where the diary writer lived. Please God, please! I only like snow a little bit. My mediterranean blood is not intended for such extremes. I am scared! :scared: :scared: :beer:


MikeUK Oct 28th 2004 4:57 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 
Wore out my snow shovel last year...... :(

Got a second hand snow blower this year...trying to get it to start reliably...

Will buy a second shovel just in case....….


I always hated the snow plough driver at my old place….now he doesn’t come down our new street….

And you all think that tales a bit of a joke….. :D enjoy your first winter…..

Linda P Oct 28th 2004 7:29 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 

Originally Posted by flashman
Diary of a Snow Shoveler
Author unknown

December 8: 6:00 PM.
It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses Print. So romantic we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!

December 9:
We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the Whole World? Moving here was the best idea I've ever had. Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the snowplow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life.

December 12:
The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment. My neighbor tells me not to worry, we'll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow again. I don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man I'm glad he's our neighbor.

December 14:
Snow lovely snow! 8" last night. The temperature dropped to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. I didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish I wouldn't huff and puff so.

December 15:
20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife's car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think that's silly. We aren't in Alaska, after all.

December 16:
Ice storm this morning. Fell on my ass on the ice in the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like hell. The wife laughed for an hour, which I think was very cruel.

December 17:
Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her. God I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room.

December 20:
Electricity's back on, but had another 14" of the damn stuff last night. More shoveling. Took all day. Goddamn snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they're out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they're lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he's lying.

December 22:
Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white shit fell today, and it's so cold it probably won't melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to piss. By the time I got undressed, pissed and dressed again. I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of the winter; but he says he's too busy. I think the asshole is lying.

December 23:
Only 2" of snow today. And it warmed up to 0o. The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is she nuts!!! Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did but I think she's lying.

December 24:
6". Snow packed so hard by snowplow, l broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the son of a bitch who drives that snowplow, I'll drag him through the snow by his balls. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I've just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas Carols with her and open our presents, but I was busy watching for the goddamn snowplow.

December 25:
Merry Christmas. 20 more inches of the !=3D@x@!x!x1 slop tonight. Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. God I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she's an idiot. If I have to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" one more time, I'm going to kill her.

December 26:
Still snowed in. Why the hell did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She's really getting on my nerves.

December 27:
Temperature dropped to -30o and the pipes froze.

December 28:
Warmed up to above -50. Still snowed in. THE BITCH is driving me crazy!!!!!

December 29:
10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am?

December 30:
Roof caved in. The snow plow driver is suing me for a million dollars. The wife went home to her mother. 9" predicted.

December 31:
Set fire to what's left of the house. No more shoveling.

January 8:
I feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?

Love the story, (please say it is just a story) :eek:
LindaP

MikeUK Oct 28th 2004 7:36 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 
up to december 28th it's as real as it gets....

sandyback Oct 28th 2004 7:52 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 
[QUOTE=flashman]Diary of a Snow Shoveler


I can't stop grinning either. You're just plain WICKED! :D

Linda P Oct 28th 2004 8:36 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 
[QUOTE=sandyback]

Originally Posted by flashman
Diary of a Snow Shoveler


I can't stop grinning either. You're just plain WICKED! :D


Ok, how come mine quoted all the diary (new to all this)
just for future comments!

LindaP :confused:

iaink Oct 28th 2004 8:40 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 

Originally Posted by Linda P
Ok, how come mine quoted all the diary (new to all this)
just for future comments!

LindaP :confused:

Because you didnt manually delete the bits of the previous quote you didnt want. Try and have it start with "quote" in the square brackets and end with "/quote" in square brackets so it looks pretty (not like wilmores attempts:);) ) I think there is even a quote button to do it for you now in the editor. If youre not sure what it will look like use the preview.

Glaswegian Oct 30th 2004 6:29 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 

Originally Posted by Glaswegian
We've had two weeks of snow and sub-zero highs so far ... personally I'd like to see a chinook.

The chinook arrived yesterday ... we're looking at 10C and sunny today ... it could be our first Halloween in Canada without snow!!

Toontje Oct 30th 2004 6:36 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 

Originally Posted by Glaswegian
The chinook arrived yesterday ... we're looking at 10C and sunny today ... it could be our first Halloween in Canada without snow!!

This day isn't over yet..... :D

Glaswegian Oct 30th 2004 6:45 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 

Originally Posted by Toontje
This day isn't over yet..... :D

They're saying it'll cool off a bit tomorrow, by Monday we'll be back to snow.

Even when you've been here a few years watching a chinook evaporate the snow is still impressive ... sometimes it doesn't melt, it just disappears.

willmore Oct 30th 2004 7:20 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 

Originally Posted by Glaswegian
They're saying it'll cool off a bit tomorrow, by Monday we'll be back to snow.

Even when you've been here a few years watching a chinook evaporate the snow is still impressive ... sometimes it doesn't melt, it just disappears.

Even snow would be better than the wind/rain storm we're currently experiencing.....sunshine.....what's that? disappeared days ago.......forecast for the nex 5 days....rain, rain and more rain......where is that damn snow when you need it....... :D

Glaswegian Oct 30th 2004 7:28 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 

Originally Posted by willmore
Even snow would be better than the wind/rain storm we're currently experiencing.....sunshine.....what's that? disappeared days ago.......forecast for the nex 5 days....rain, rain and more rain......where is that damn snow when you need it....... :D

That's why we didn't want to live in BC ....

sandyback Oct 30th 2004 7:44 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 
Even when you've been here a few years watching a chinook evaporate the snow is still impressive ... sometimes it doesn't melt, it just disappears.[/QUOTE]

As much as I love snow, I can't wait for sights like that! :) Thanks for posting these insights, they help ease what seems like an eternal wait...

oceanMDX Oct 30th 2004 7:51 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 

Originally Posted by Glaswegian
That's why we didn't want to live in BC ....

Kelowna's climate is much better than Calgary's.

Corky Oct 30th 2004 8:10 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 
lots of sun in Dartmouth this weekend and it must be about 14c!!
Although this morning it was a real eye opener going to the hockey rink.....brrrrr!

Toontje Oct 30th 2004 8:12 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 

Originally Posted by Corky
lots of sun in Dartmouth this weekend and it must be about 14c!!
Although this morning it was a real eye opener going to the hockey rink.....brrrrr!

You had to get up early? On my last morning in Canada my cousin took his son to hockey practice at 5.30 am. :eek:

Glaswegian Oct 30th 2004 8:16 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 

Originally Posted by oceanMDX
Kelowna's climate is much better than Calgary's.

The absence of major business is a factor ... some of us haven't retired yet ;)

oceanMDX Oct 30th 2004 8:23 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 

Originally Posted by Glaswegian
The absence of major business is a factor ... some of us haven't retired yet ;)

Well that's true. In August I drove through Kelowna on the way to Calgary. It was 99 deg. F in Kelowna, but only in the mid 50's in Calgary - I nearly froze my butt off. I told you guys in Alberta that the last few years have seen warmer summers than normal because of the drought. This year the drought ended and you paid the price with much cooler weather.

Glaswegian Oct 30th 2004 9:07 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 

Originally Posted by oceanMDX
Well that's true. In August I drove through Kelowna on the way to Calgary. It was 99 deg. F in Kelowna, but only in the mid 50's in Calgary - I nearly froze my butt off. I told you guys in Alberta that the last few years have seen warmer summers than normal because of the draught. This year the draught ended and you paid the price with much cooler weather.

It was still warmer than the weather we're used to in the UK ... personally I wouldn't want to live somewhere that gets any warmer in summer than Calgary does.

retrobloke Oct 30th 2004 9:39 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 

Originally Posted by willmore
Even snow would be better than the wind/rain storm we're currently experiencing.....sunshine.....what's that? disappeared days ago.......forecast for the nex 5 days....rain, rain and more rain......where is that damn snow when you need it....... :D

Willmore,

I don't know where in Victoria you live but I have seen the live webcams in Victoria harbour area, and it has been sunny all day today. :)

Perhaps this is your cunning ploy to stop other people coming to Vancouver island.?? ;)

Cheers
Retrobloke

willmore Oct 30th 2004 10:21 pm

Re: Longing for snow...
 

Originally Posted by retrobloke
Willmore,

I don't know where in Victoria you live but I have seen the live webcams in Victoria harbour area, and it has been sunny all day today. :)

Perhaps this is your cunning ploy to stop other people coming to Vancouver island.?? ;)

Cheers
Retrobloke

heheh....maybe you need to clean those old glasses....because we had a terrible rain/wind storm and very cloudy...until about 11am....a little sun.....then very cloudy.....it has just been in the past 1/2 hour that we got sun again and been down at the beach.......still very very windy. We life in the Fairfield area of Victoria.....but the harbour can be sunny and we have clouds......who knows...... :D

But it's true....it my cunning plot to discourage people from moving here........hehehe

willmore Oct 31st 2004 8:28 am

Re: Longing for snow...
 

Originally Posted by retrobloke
Willmore,

I don't know where in Victoria you live but I have seen the live webcams in Victoria harbour area, and it has been sunny all day today. :)

Perhaps this is your cunning ploy to stop other people coming to Vancouver island.?? ;)

Cheers
Retrobloke

Are you planning on moving to Vancouver Island or Victoria? Can you give me the website for the Victoria - can't seem to find it......and don't let a little sun fool you.....we get alot of rain/wind during the fall/winter.....It fan be sunny in one part of Victoria and cloudy/rain in another area :D

willmore Oct 31st 2004 8:30 am

Re: Longing for snow...
 

Originally Posted by retrobloke
Willmore,

I don't know where in Victoria you live but I have seen the live webcams in Victoria harbour area, and it has been sunny all day today. :)

Perhaps this is your cunning ploy to stop other people coming to Vancouver island.?? ;)

Cheers
Retrobloke

Can you give me the website for the webcab? Don't let a little bit of sunshine fool you....we get terrible rain/wind storms in Victoria during the fall/winer.....are you moving to the Island or Victoria.....still Paradise....though...no matter what the weather. :D


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