A weather question.
#16
Re: A weather question.
I've tried to adopt a "do as the Nova Scotian's do" attitude but so far failed miserably. Throughout winter I'm used to seeing the natives driving around in beat-up rear-wheel drive cars with 3 bald tyres and get by without complaint, many of them wearing open-necked shirts and shorts (when it's -5 out). They all speed-slide by me on the inside lane of the highway, where the snow is still deep, obviously in a hurry to get to the outside BBQ party to drink cold beer. I've tried to acclimatise by dressing inadequately, I've considered getting by with inadequate transport but it's just not for me...
The locals seem to have a supreme hardiness that makes all others look like "whining cry-babies". I wonder if it's all that rum they drink?
Seriously though, I've been here a few years now and am pretty used it all, I don't really worry about the conditions much these days, just get on with it. But that doesn't stop winter feeling long and April is always disappointing.
The locals seem to have a supreme hardiness that makes all others look like "whining cry-babies". I wonder if it's all that rum they drink?
Seriously though, I've been here a few years now and am pretty used it all, I don't really worry about the conditions much these days, just get on with it. But that doesn't stop winter feeling long and April is always disappointing.
#17
Re: A weather question.
Our drive is pretty much open with lots of fields around it so neighbour advised us to get snow fence 50ft plastic security cost $30 and took hubby about an hour to put it up. Neighbour also has a tractor and will plough drive if it gets bad, keeping him and his wife stocked up on home made fruit loaf and cakes
#18
Re: A weather question.
Before I was able to decamp from N S to Arizona for the winter I used my trusty garden tractor with a 48" blower. It worked a treat. My driveway there is long and wide. It's brick so very easy to keep clean. My house sitter looks forward to being able to play with it so it's sitting there in the garage all ready to go. In true N S tradition she'll be wearing a tee shirt and shorts !! It could be the rum, maybe.
Our drive is pretty much open with lots of fields around it so neighbour advised us to get snow fence 50ft plastic security cost $30 and took hubby about an hour to put it up. Neighbour also has a tractor and will plough drive if it gets bad, keeping him and his wife stocked up on home made fruit loaf and cakes
#19
Banned
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 46
Re: A weather question.
we get down to -40/50 with the windchill here in sask usually lots of snow but its not the wet horrible stuff,still need a snowblower though and this to get about
#20
Re: A weather question.
It's the length that's maybe the worst thing.
The cold...you'll get used to. Dress warmly and usually you'll think it's a doddle unless you are out in it for a while. You probably won't be.
The snow? Shovels are well designed and you can often simply push the stuff out of the way. If it's deep you can sort of lift off the top layer and then push.
We've had three winters and on all but one occasion we have coped with shovels, me and some help from the kids. We paid $46 to have the driveway cleared (by tractor/snowblower) after we had three huge snowfalls (each bigger than anything before) one after the other in about a week. The build up was too much for us. The snowbanks were shoulder deep and there was really nowhere left for us to move the snow and you can only lift so much up onto such high snowbanks.
The street plows annoyingly leave a ridge across the fromt of the drive. Leave it there too long and it's harder to shift as it's more ice than snow. Apparently some plows are designed to avoid doing that.
Surpisingly, icy roads and paths seem less of a problem than in the UK. But there are exceptions.
Road clearance is excellent (aside from that bloody ridge) and I ride my bicycle throught winter.
The cold...you'll get used to. Dress warmly and usually you'll think it's a doddle unless you are out in it for a while. You probably won't be.
The snow? Shovels are well designed and you can often simply push the stuff out of the way. If it's deep you can sort of lift off the top layer and then push.
We've had three winters and on all but one occasion we have coped with shovels, me and some help from the kids. We paid $46 to have the driveway cleared (by tractor/snowblower) after we had three huge snowfalls (each bigger than anything before) one after the other in about a week. The build up was too much for us. The snowbanks were shoulder deep and there was really nowhere left for us to move the snow and you can only lift so much up onto such high snowbanks.
The street plows annoyingly leave a ridge across the fromt of the drive. Leave it there too long and it's harder to shift as it's more ice than snow. Apparently some plows are designed to avoid doing that.
Surpisingly, icy roads and paths seem less of a problem than in the UK. But there are exceptions.
Road clearance is excellent (aside from that bloody ridge) and I ride my bicycle throught winter.
#21
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 95
Re: A weather question.
Thanks for your replies but one more thing. My hubby is a carpenter and he would like to know what effect the weather has on working outdoors. Does everyone just get on with, Im assuming they cant take 4 months off???
#22
Re: A weather question.
A house up the road from us was built over the winter months The wooden parts were going up when it was 20 below.
#23
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 2,484
Re: A weather question.
We are advised that in alberta that builders are still owrking during the winter months, sue to the warm winds etc
Got to a high of 17 today, no jackets and kids outside loving the sun
I have been advised that sometimes it can get real cold, but doesnt last long
We are around 2/3 hrs outside calgary
Got to a high of 17 today, no jackets and kids outside loving the sun
I have been advised that sometimes it can get real cold, but doesnt last long
We are around 2/3 hrs outside calgary
#24
Re: A weather question.
When you say Canadian winter you are thinking 10 feet of snow, snowed in for weeks at a time that kind of thing, well so we thought.
But to be honest in the area that we live (GTA), really didn’t live up to these expectations, yes we had to shovel snow every time it snowed, great exercise and fun playing snow balls with the kids, great way of saying hi to your neighbours depending on what type of street you live on, In fact can’t wait for it again. Would we leave because of the snow.. Hell NO
I know it’s sad, but snow I just love it. So do the kids and hubby, in fact let it snow let it snow…..LOL
But to be honest in the area that we live (GTA), really didn’t live up to these expectations, yes we had to shovel snow every time it snowed, great exercise and fun playing snow balls with the kids, great way of saying hi to your neighbours depending on what type of street you live on, In fact can’t wait for it again. Would we leave because of the snow.. Hell NO
I know it’s sad, but snow I just love it. So do the kids and hubby, in fact let it snow let it snow…..LOL
#25
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 2,484
Re: A weather question.
When you say Canadian winter you are thinking 10 feet of snow, snowed in for weeks at a time that kind of thing, well so we thought.
But to be honest in the area that we live (GTA), really didn’t live up to these expectations, yes we had to shovel snow every time it snowed, great exercise and fun playing snow balls with the kids, great way of saying hi to your neighbours depending on what type of street you live on, In fact can’t wait for it again. Would we leave because of the snow.. Hell NO
I know it’s sad, but snow I just love it. So do the kids and hubby, in fact let it snow let it snow…..LOL
But to be honest in the area that we live (GTA), really didn’t live up to these expectations, yes we had to shovel snow every time it snowed, great exercise and fun playing snow balls with the kids, great way of saying hi to your neighbours depending on what type of street you live on, In fact can’t wait for it again. Would we leave because of the snow.. Hell NO
I know it’s sad, but snow I just love it. So do the kids and hubby, in fact let it snow let it snow…..LOL
When it snowed last week, we played snowball fights all the way to school and then on the way home...haha
#26
Re: A weather question.
My OH is a carpenter too and it seems that some of the construction firms that he approached for a job turn to snow ploughing in the winter!
#27
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 9,606
Re: A weather question.
The attached garage is useful. I get can halfway to the street before going outside. Despite that, a shovel doesn't really suffice in these parts.
Last edited by Souvenir; Nov 10th 2008 at 12:55 pm.
#30
Re: A weather question.
There was a half inch or so on the ground this morning and it's been falling on and off since so, yes, I think there will be enough to need moving.