Re: Isn't anyone else fed up with this weather?
 

The air-con we had in OZ was noisy so it kept you awake all night. So we tried using fans and they were pretty useless too. I found the air-con to be humid too.
I just prefer good old fashioned central heating on a cold night. Wrapped up in 15 tog;)
No snow where i am now, just patches of it here and there. Supposed to warm up abit so maybe we have the end of it...

Re: Isn't anyone else fed up with this weather?
 

I wasnt aiming my comments at you personally Bev

People SHOULD have the clothes for this weather. British winters are always cold! I accept the cars are a different matter. My point is, that considering to move back to the likes of Australia, or indeed Canada now i think of it, with all its extreme weather conditions, is somewhat daft when you consider the far milder and less extreme conditions in UK compared to these other places.
As i said before. This winter is EXTREMELY rare in UK. Thats why people are struggling.
That said, the media has talked about nothing else since it started, so poeple have no excuse not to be prepared. I have a cupboard stocked up with food in case it gets REALLY bad. Even before the winter came i bought boots, hats scarves and thick coat.
Nobody needs to go without heating in UK. My friends daughter is a single parent with 2 kids on income support. She has just received a cold weather heating payment of £265 towards the extra cost.
What i am NOT happy about is the social service care of the elderly in some communities.
The media has given big coverage of the pensioner couple who froze to death in their house because even though the neighbours reported they had problems nobody turned up at the house until they had been dead 5 days!!!
Help is there for the vulnerable people but for some strange reason its not getting through in places.

Re: Isn't anyone else fed up with this weather?
 

Forgot to mention the aircon issue in Aus.

It is only the newer properties that seem to have aircon in Aus, but even then, as Nu Shooz said, it is noisy AND extremely expensive there. In fact it is more expensive than the heating costs in UK if the heat drags on, which it invariably does for weeks on end.

Re: Isn't anyone else fed up with this weather?
 

Well I think my old Dad is fed up with it, he cant go out too far as he is scared of slipping. My sister is fed up with it, she had a bad fall and hurt her leg and arm - even wearing boots with a good tread.

The weather is fine if you dont fall over, have enough money to heat your house - some pensioners dont have enough to heat their homes and I feel so sorry for them.

Dad sounded so fed up when he called me - he has stocked up on supplies and although he has good boots, he is still scared of slipping.:huh:

This is not an Australia Vs Uk post, I am just saying that my family are fed up with it - thats all.

Re: Isn't anyone else fed up with this weather?
 

An elderly couple froze to death in their own home. Have no idea how it got to that stage, but it was on my local news. OAP always suffer the most and hate this weather.
Luckily it hasn't affected me too much, but i hope the winters after this one are not as bad. Saying that the kids love it, time off school, sledging and all that lol...

Re: Isn't anyone else fed up with this weather?
 

See I don't understand this, I know elderly people get a winter payment for their heating. Dependent on age it is at least £200.00 and more as you get older. I don't know though it if is automatic or if you have to apply for it.

I was only reading in a booklet today put out by the Government that there is all kinds of help with home repairs (insulation maybe?) and carers, etc., so really nobody needs to suffer like this couple obviously did.

Re: Isn't anyone else fed up with this weather?
 

I agree with you...they are looked after so why they had no heating on at all is bizarre!

Re: Isn't anyone else fed up with this weather?
 

I agree this latest news is appalling. I remember a few years ago a story about an old couple in Cheshire (my home county) who were found dead. The wife suffered from dementia & the husband was found to have died of a heart attack & she starved to death. He had refused all help from the local social services & they therefore received no support. You can take a horse to water..........

My own Mother will not allow a health worker into her home. She was given it but, as the carer came at 7.30 in the morning, she refused it. Fortunately, my brother & SIL live with her & provide enough support, for the moment.

Knowing how intransigent some (not all) old people can be, I'll await an investigation before passing judgment on this latest sensational reporting.

Valerie

Re: Isn't anyone else fed up with this weather?
 

hi no your be right, moterways are so far and it is thawing, rain in next two days, so unless we get any more snow it should be okay

Re: Isn't anyone else fed up with this weather?
 

Hi Valerie

Of course you are right. It is up to the person concerned and how much help they will take. I know lots of elderly people are very proud and don't want "charity" as they see it. Seems such a shame when help was just at hand........it maked Britain looks like it is a terrible place to live, old people freezing to death and all, but I have to say my mother who is 81 lives a great old age on the state pension and is in Spain on holiday as we speak.

I don't remember her mother or any of my elderly relatives doing that in times past.

So help is there if you need it, but as you so rightly say, you can take a horse to water.......

Barb

p.s. Cheshire is where all my family live too

Re: Isn't anyone else fed up with this weather?
 

Him, from another Cheshire girl, as one of my friends here calls me!. My Mum's almost 90 & can be really frustrating. My brother copes, just, but his wife is terminally ill so I don't know how long he will be able to cope. I do worry.

Valerie

Re: Isn't anyone else fed up with this weather?
 

Bevm - If it's any consolation, had you been here then you'd be in danger of getting trench-foot. It basically hasn't stopped raining in a month. I'd even trade it for cold & snow, it's that depressing.

It could be an el-nino thing this year, but you're right a continued weakened gulf stream will result in colder UK winters. Personally I prefer hot/cold, snow/sun than endless grey and rain !!

Re: Isn't anyone else fed up with this weather?
 

To answer the original question, yes I am really fed up with this weather. And am dreading more to come, it is only mid January after all.
This is my first winter back, after 6 years in US midwest. And I was looking forward to our usual mildish winter. I actually found myself wishing I was back in US last week, mainly because at least over there the roads are plowed and gritted and life doesn't come to a standstill when it snows. Then even worse this morning as I drove my kids to school we had black ice on even the main roads. No gritting anywhere in sight. And forecast the same for tomorrow in my area....

Re: Isn't anyone else fed up with this weather?
 

I will probably be fed up by Monday.
It's heavy rains for us supposed to start saturday night and good gracious more than an inch around here means all the flippin roads are flooded, little cones and signs everywhere. They can cope with a day of rain but not much more round here :lol:
Weather out of the ordinary in most countries seems throw everything into chaos.
We had snow in December, it even came with a snow day off school, it was a tiny little sprinkle. I was surprised they closed the school, but I really should know better, they also keep the kids inside for playtime if it sprinkles rain, they make them get out of the pool for light showers when it's near 38C and I've even seen them call off a baseball game for the little kids cause of a slight sprinkle and clouds :rofl: Sissy's the lot of them.

Re: Isn't anyone else fed up with this weather?
 

Yes definetely, I would much prefer to feel the crisp coldness than the sweltering heat, looking at returning to UK, but finding it hard to get husbands visa ( he is OZ ) :D