My neighbours are scraping ice at 10.30PM

[Tuvala]

light hearted - ish 😆

It’s frozen solid here, road is an ice rink. Neighbours are 60’s and both retired, nice couple but probably retired too soon as both seem frequently bored!
For the past 45 mins they have both been outside in -3 scraping ice off the steps, the car and god knows what else.
I was a bit concerned they had somewhere they needed to get to so popped out to ask if they needed help with anything but no, they aren’t going anywhere!
I’ve since gone to bed and the loud scraping noises are driving me potty.
What on earth are they doing it for?!
Do they want to fall on the ice or get hypothermia? Or are they just trying new ways to drive me round the bend .
Aaaarghhh!!

@MrsAvocet what wonderful car is that? I want it!
and @StringersBell will save me in the meantime with her cleverness

60s isn’t elderly 🤣 the retirement age in this country is 68!

We have a similar neighbour, spent ages yesterday thoroughly defrosting two cars, for them to sit on the drive!!

😂

Agree if it's very cold it just freezes but as clear ice. The first thing to do is get the car heating up. Set the heat/air circulation to internal. Set air circ to windscreen setting to get more direct warmth to it. Put rear window heater on.

Make sure water is barely warm - don't use hot water - risk thermal shock to the screen.

And pour some water over front and rear lights as well to maximise your visibility from the off.

Screen cover is the best time saving choice.

Can you give some other examples of age-related cultural differences that might spring from things people may have done ‘back in the day’?

Here’s one to start you off.

’Back in the day’ when people were completely making up shit just to be able to say something, other people would say ‘you’re completely making up shit just to be able to say something’. I’m told that no one does this anymore, but it’s a cultural difference I have on account of being ‘people of that age’.

Um. Didn't you once cry because you didn't get ID'd in a shop?

Warm water is the best de-icer. The de-over sprays eventually damage your window seals.
I recently started using our “big” car when DS passed his test and adopted my car. The “big “ car has remote start and heated everything.
On Tuesday I smugly tried to demonstrate it to DS, he took the mick relentlessly when the app needed updating and then wouldn’t connect to the car. Total IT failure.
I suspect the server was overloaded by everyone using it simultaneously.

Well they are quite clearly idiots.

I should have clarified that I was referring to my own personal circumstances and that of my neighbours who don't have that issue.

That better for you?

So you have more understanding about the “scraper brigade” now? Oh good, my job is done

Yep, same here, been doing that for 40 years. Much quicker and easier than scraping or using de-icer cans.

Cultural differences? They're in their sixties not from the Victorian era.

Im always fascinated by people huffing and puffing with scrapers when there's such a quick and easy alternative.

That was my preferred method until I nearly broke my neck on the sheet of ice formed when the lukewarm water dripped on to the ground and froze. I stick a fan heater in the car now and turn it on from inside 15 minutes before I need to go out. Warm car and all windows clear, inside and out.

DH doesn't like to use deicer as it's not good for the environment.

Reckon I won't be the popular one as I leave for work tomorrow before 7am. I do normally run the car as there's mist on the inside and need to see where I'm going - a quick wipe doesn't cut it. Also, scraping will be needed. Mind you I'm out tonight, so maybe DH and I could scrape the ice off our step and windscreen around 11pm so it's not so bad for the morning😂- totally joking, I'll need my beauty sleep.

It’s hardly like you’re saving much time. It takes either me or DP all of 30 seconds while the other is strapping DD into the cat seat yesterday to scrape? Time that against finding/retrieving a bottle big enough, waiting for the warm water to come through and filling it up, making sure it’s not hot enough not to crack the glass. The time it’s taken to fill I’ve already scraped half the car? Plus I’m short it would just end up all over me if I tried to pour it anyway. Then you’ve got an empty manky plastic bottle to deal with or have rattling around the car. Plus, unless you’re doing this on your own drive (and are certain the water run off won’t go onto the pavement or road) then its just inconsiderate as it will just turn to ice and cause a hazard.

It sounds like a “hack” but you’re not really doing anything to make it easier, to accommodate your laziness maybe but who is huffing and puffing scraping ice unless you’ve not done exercise since 1994 maybe.

Good for you 👏👏👏

Say what now?
Back in the day when life was sepia?

You’re risking cracking your windshield doing this. I hope you know that. If it’s hot enough to melt the ice = danger of cracking. If it’s not hot enough to melt the ice= danger re freezing resulting in more ice.

Well I’ve been doing it all my adult life (despite random men telling me this in the street) and I’ve never had a cracked windscreen yet.

Car glass really isn’t that thin.

Just don’t make the water too hot.

@MavisMcMinty I want a like button for your poor traumatized mum. 🤩

If you do that if will freeze again and the ice will be even thicker, or if it’s really cold the glass might break. I live in a cold country (currently -15) and noone would do that here.

If you don’t want the ice to build up it’s better to scrape it off. Especially if it’s not very cold, only a couple of minus, and it might be plus degrees soon so it melts, then minus again, then the ice will build up. Where I live they remove snow in our street late at night or early morning, and once during the day-it’s much easier to shovel the wall of snow from your driveway as soon as possible before the snow hardens. So most neighbours often out 11 pm to shovel.. and we do the elderly neighbour’s driveway too.

Its got nothing to do with the thinness or thickness of the glass.
The “random men” are correct, you are running this risk.
But crack on if you think your luck will never run out.

Um. Didn't you once cry because you didn't get ID'd in a shop?

😂😂😂😂

This. Get a life!