How has your winter been?
Mar 12th 2009 | 2:21 am
#17
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 228
From: Toronto, ON
Re: How has your winter been?
Well here in Southampton we had a bit of snow, the country ground to a halt and my wife laughed at me and my countrymen for a week.
Mar 12th 2009 | 2:22 am
#18
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,883
Re: How has your winter been?
Bored now !
Not had tons of snow - but enough to keep the ground covered almost completely since the beginning of December. Which I think is unusual for this area? There have been a distinct lack of the chinooks this winter - so for me, it's not necessarily the temperatures that are the problem (but there have been long stretches of damn cold) - but it's the fact that it hasn't really let up. Thats not what I signed up for
I think the state of the roads in Calgary itself has been bad - with very poor levels of snow clearance. December was terrible and the city should be embarrassed! Not something I particularly noticed last year, for example, as I think the constant freeze-thaw cycles that are normal for here did occur and they did half the road clearing job for the city anyway.
I also think I have noticed the low temps even more this year as I am now the owner of two dogs who need daily walks. Some days, at -26 with a bit of a wind, they get about 10 mins around the block if they are lucky!
So, apparently it is the first day of Spring soon. Somehow that doesn't mean a whole lot here. Add another 6-8 weeks onto that really.
The bright sunshine and blue skies keep me sane. It sure looks pretty, staring out of my window, while standing with my feet over the heating vent
Not had tons of snow - but enough to keep the ground covered almost completely since the beginning of December. Which I think is unusual for this area? There have been a distinct lack of the chinooks this winter - so for me, it's not necessarily the temperatures that are the problem (but there have been long stretches of damn cold) - but it's the fact that it hasn't really let up. Thats not what I signed up for
I think the state of the roads in Calgary itself has been bad - with very poor levels of snow clearance. December was terrible and the city should be embarrassed! Not something I particularly noticed last year, for example, as I think the constant freeze-thaw cycles that are normal for here did occur and they did half the road clearing job for the city anyway.
I also think I have noticed the low temps even more this year as I am now the owner of two dogs who need daily walks. Some days, at -26 with a bit of a wind, they get about 10 mins around the block if they are lucky!
So, apparently it is the first day of Spring soon. Somehow that doesn't mean a whole lot here. Add another 6-8 weeks onto that really.
The bright sunshine and blue skies keep me sane. It sure looks pretty, staring out of my window, while standing with my feet over the heating vent
The City of Calgary very much depends on Chinooks to do its residential street snow clearing and most years it works, but not this year.
Not so strangely residents have bitched and complained loudly this year about the lack of snow removal but when asked if they are willing to pay a few dollars more on their taxes to pay for said snow removal the answer is an emphatic NO.
Unfortunately we can't have it both ways but that's what they want.
Mar 12th 2009 | 2:32 am
#19
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,866
From: Cochrane, Alberta
Re: How has your winter been?
I just know that I invested in hundreds of new tulip bulbs last year, and, if they come up, I'm not going to actually see them till the end of May, beginning of June. I think there's one week about that time that is "Spring" - blink and you'll miss it
Is the UK covered in daffodils and bulbs at the moment ?
Mar 12th 2009 | 2:57 am
#21
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,402
From: South of Calgary
Re: How has your winter been?
This winter has been ace
But then this is our first season of skiing and so we are the only ones doing a snow dance every Friday.
The whole snow clearing thing in Calgary really is a joke. What do the drivers do once they have cleared the main thoroughfares? Are they dual roled? If so, what happens to their roles when they are snow clearing? Are the taxes really that much higher in Okotoks etc?
But then this is our first season of skiing and so we are the only ones doing a snow dance every Friday.
The whole snow clearing thing in Calgary really is a joke. What do the drivers do once they have cleared the main thoroughfares? Are they dual roled? If so, what happens to their roles when they are snow clearing? Are the taxes really that much higher in Okotoks etc?
Mar 12th 2009 | 2:58 am
#22
RETIRED Realtor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,087
From: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Re: How has your winter been?
Here I hate the dirty side of spring, wet dirty roads for 2/3 weeks, its very hard to your clothes clean during this period. 
Its only bearable because summers on the way......
Its only bearable because summers on the way......
Mar 12th 2009 | 3:07 am
#23
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,175
Re: How has your winter been?
[QUOTE=ann m;7372133]They nearly always want to go out - but yes, we do get the three-legged bit too occasionally. Those ridiculous looking booties do the job
I tried those with my big dog but he seemed traumatised or was it the fact that I was trying to run him on the treadmill(with no success)to tire him out?!
I just let my big guard dog out for a diddle, he barked at something and came running inside, I looked out the window but could not see anything, takes a lot to spook him so am worried about what the milder weather has brought out?!
I tried those with my big dog but he seemed traumatised or was it the fact that I was trying to run him on the treadmill(with no success)to tire him out?!
I just let my big guard dog out for a diddle, he barked at something and came running inside, I looked out the window but could not see anything, takes a lot to spook him so am worried about what the milder weather has brought out?!
Mar 12th 2009 | 3:17 am
#24
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 6,842
From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Re: How has your winter been?
Love it, Love it, Love it!
Today it's -15, still snow on the ground. I am not really looking forward to the Summer to be honest.
Mar 12th 2009 | 3:48 am
#25
Bon Vivant
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,956
From: Nova Scotia
Re: How has your winter been?
I've had a super winter. It's 21C here in S W Arizona at 8.45 a.m. MT. I have to head back to N S in a couple of weeks. Hopefully summer will be a good one there. I enjoy that too.
Mar 12th 2009 | 4:03 am
#28
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 418
From: Sidney, BC
Re: How has your winter been?
It's been just fine thanks, a little bit of snow (just enough to make it pretty without really affecting daily life), a little bit of rain, but mostly bright sunshine and temps above freezing
Mar 12th 2009 | 4:06 am
#29
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,175
Re: How has your winter been?
Mar 12th 2009 | 4:51 am
#30
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 10,630
From: Red Deer, Alberta
Re: How has your winter been?
Blinking cold this year - and it's still winter, apparently it will get to plus temps this weekend.
But the sun has still shone most days and for me that is a huge bonus over the persistant rain that England deals with.
One thing to consider, if your thinking of getting a dog when you move over and you don't want to be out in all temps then forget a CHOW CHOW - Henry has not missed a single one of his twice daily walks - even yesterday when the wind chill was -44 or something. When it's that cold he does move a little faster but he still wants out
I suppose it'll start warming up soon, then we'll get rain - then I'll get a stubborn dog not wanting to go out
But the sun has still shone most days and for me that is a huge bonus over the persistant rain that England deals with.
One thing to consider, if your thinking of getting a dog when you move over and you don't want to be out in all temps then forget a CHOW CHOW - Henry has not missed a single one of his twice daily walks - even yesterday when the wind chill was -44 or something. When it's that cold he does move a little faster but he still wants out
I suppose it'll start warming up soon, then we'll get rain - then I'll get a stubborn dog not wanting to go out
