Are any of you Mumsnetters suffering 'hardship' due to the extreme weather?

[santabringmeababy]

Just wondering really, as have just heard alady on radio 2 saying how she is nearly out of fuel (coal and logs etc) and her food stockpiles are nearly gone. She has young kids and is very worried, understandably!

I havent been able to get into work today, which is causing me stress (as work in the public sector and hate letting clients down) but not hardship, as yet!

Only local Shop has zeero bread and milk, either they have very low reserves generally or people have been panic buying!

I am a bit colder than I would like.

I am, I work part time and have to pay for my childcare, even though, if I don't work I don't get paid!

My childminder gets paid more per hour than I do

The only thing keeping me afloat at the moment is working tax credits, otherwise I would be in serious trouble.

Bloody snow! grrrrr

I had cold fingers this morning.

passmyglass - I sympathise. DH was self-employed for many years and not being able to work was a major blow to his income.

I think the people who suffer most during this weather are our senior residents, especially as a lot of families do not live in the same areas anymore and when the transports off road they can not visit the elderly and make sure they have enough of what they need. Not to mention the ones who don't have family.

Least we forget that meals on wheels are also usually cancelled during these times and helpers are unable to visit.

I think the community needs to rally around in times like these and make sure people who are literally trapped in their homes and can not get out are taken care of.

I'd say 'knock up a neighbour' but it's not the best slogan.

I've visited 2 elderly neighbours to make sure they're OK. They were so grateful I had a lump in my throat.

atlantis I agree. My granny lives round the corner. We moved her down here from Lancashire and so we are the only people she knows.

She has no gas, only electric and when it all went off this morning she had no way of cooking or keeping warm. And then it dawned on us she couldnt call either as has no fixed landline, only a handsfree landline that needs power. And being 80 no mobile.

And we couldnt get out of the drive to get to her to see if she is okay.

Thankfully power came back on and she called us.

But yes "knocking up a neighbour" is a great idea.

And there will be a lot of people suffering hardship. I am sure with schools closed and children being home people will have their heating on more etc.

It is all very worrying for alot of people living pay cheque to pay cheque.

I live in a rural bit of Scotland and although I have a Subaru (4x4) I am still stuck on the days that DH can't clear the driveway to the track road, which is thankfully ploughed by the farmer at least. We haven't had post delivered since 2 weeks before Christmas, no deliveries of anything in fact, and my oil for heating the house is running out as the delivery lorry can't get to us.

I'm due to give birth in 2 weeks (eek) and there's no sign of the snow vanishing. God knows what I'm going to do with DD when I'm in labour as none of my relatives can get to my house and I don't fancy the 80 minute round trip to drop her off before going to the hospital!

Anyone fancy a house exchange?!

DH (who has a so-called sprained ankle) sent me tramping on foot 1/2 a mile uphill through deep snow to order some logs as we are running out of firewood.

Mission successful however - farmer has promised to bring some round in his tractor tonight.

Plenty of food in house, although running very short of fresh veg.

Feel very sorry for the elderly and people on their own when it's like this. Am lucky to be part of a small rural community where neighbours all look out for one another.

Definitely harder for elderly people than kids. Kids have someone to work for them (usually) who will make sure that they are fed etc. I keep worrying about the homeless people on the streets.

My school run was a bit slippery and my centre of gravity is off but this is nothing.

Does falling on the snow, breaking my ankle count as hardship?

And as if it wasn't hard enough, I'm also 32 weeks pg.....