To start a winter misery thread.

[derxa]

In December we had burst pipes in our farmhouse and three ceilings came down. (We were away at our SE England house for Christmas at the time) Now there is no heating and hot water. We are in the middle of the Red snow alert zone. The snow drifts are massive. Our poor sheep are suffering and we've brought some in but not all. Even the quad bike got stuck today. Also battling to keep pipes from bursting again. DS left a tap running and the outside waste pipe was frozen so a bathroom was flooded and soaked through. Then dripped below through the light fitting. I took out a fuse for that but it means we're sitting with no overhead light in the living room. It's been one disaster after another. We're exhausted. Just wanted to vent. Bring on spring.

Oh no, derxa, what a nightmare.

Yes it's one stupid mistake after another. I try to laugh but fail.
How are you Somerville ? Your latest arrival must be getting big now

He's big and bonny which is lovely. And very, very mobile, which is a bit less so. He's obsessed with our dog and tries to follow her everywhere. Thankfully the dog is disinterested in him, but I feel like I need eyes in the back of my head just in case.

We have about 1 cm of snow right now but it's falling thick and fast so schools all cancelled tomorrow.
Go ahead and laugh at softy Southerners. I know I do.

Is there anything you can do to help make yourselves (or sheep) more comfortable until this is over? Or is it a grit teeth and bear it situation?

The sheep in the sheds are fine but the snow is blowing in over them as well. DS and my right hand woman G. have to trudge through the drifts and feed the outside ones cake (sheep feed) and silage. Hopefully the temp will rise over the weekend.
Your DS sounds lovely S
I feel like an utter bore now. Obviously lots have had worse happen to them during this hellish spell of weather.

Reconstruction starts next week so things will look up after that.

Are you lambing as well, Derxa? I hope not, mind you, with everything else going on in your post - never rains but it pours etc

God that sounds bloody awful op. really admire you farmers it’s harf graft. Hope gets better soon snd yes roll on the spring warmth

lambing in a fortnight

Your run of bad luck sounds really full on derxa, and I think that sometimes all that can help is a little while of allowing ourselves to feel sorry for oneself. (That grammar is appalling sorry!)

derxa Christ, is all I can say. I'm in awe.

Is the snow where you are this weird dry powdery stuff that just blows around like sand? We've got that (Wales)

Yes Jesus but it's all calmed down now. What's it like where you are?

Fingers crossed for a warm front in a fortnight, then- plus, you've had enough disasters for a good while: may you only have straightforward twins

We've got 18 triplet ewes We decided to lamb earlier this year so have more triplets and twins coming as a result.

18? Blimey, rather you than me! (I don't know if it's a thing, but with ours, triplets always spell trouble one way or another )

triplets always spell trouble one way or another grin Yes indeed

I was going to add that my hands are chapped and I'm tired of being so cold when I go out but I think I'll slink away quietly instead

The thought of new lambs is cheery - I really hope you have better weather for it, and things improve for you.

No need for slinking Amethyst Regale me with your winter misery stories! We're all in the same boat really.

Well I broke my leg just before Christmas leaving me with 30 for Christmas Eve and a house full with one leg and no sleep. No help with dc and snow everywhere. Then developed complications and needed emergency surgery which was horrendous. Then needed an investigation for cancer.
Still can’t walk In the meantime it is absolutely Baltic, I can’t drive and I am truly at my wits end 11 weeks on. I can’t manage in the snow on crutches.
Will I be happy when the spring comes? It really can’t come soon enough,
And this is not my worst winter by a long chalk

That's awful user

Things looking any brighter (figuratively, if not literally ) this morning, all?
My teenagers are disgusted with this snow. 'It's skiing snow, not snowman snow,' they keep saying plaintively.

I'm in Cardiff derxa so we were on red alert yesterday. Boiler has started leaking ominously, but on the plus side there's a Waitrose within an hour's trudge that's selling off a load of stock. DH and I are sitting here with snowdrifts piled up at the door, eating 19p superfood salads.

Snow's drifting everywhere and even main roads are blocked. The poor ewes have a giant snowdrift in their shed. Panic bread and milk buying. Just as well we have a giant bag of rice.
eating 19p superfood salads. That sounds a bit miserable tbh

they were surprisingly nice. Also tiny tub of chopped fruit (would just fill the palm of your hand), £2 down to 19p. Who pays full price for this stuff? Till the snow clears, we'll be living like kings.

Nowhere near the misery others are having but feel like a little moan. Work (supermarket) are expecting us to walk in, which isn't helped by the fact some people have walked in so people who don't are 'weakv. I'm not in until Monday but worrying about being in on Monday

I have ear infections in both ears. One is clearing up a bit but the other is agony, and strong painkillers are only just taking the edge off. I've stayed in bed all day which isn't like me, miserable and sore. And I fancy crap food, am on a diet, but just want comfort food out of self pity

Till the snow clears, we'll be living like kings.