Whats your worst fear during cold weather and why?

[Madmog]

Mine is ours and my Mum's boiler breaking down and the implications. Our old boiler broke down 10 times in 10 years, so got paranoid about it. My Mum's boiler packed up on the coldest day in the winter of 2010/11, my husband came home early to get our heaters down to her - there was a snow blizzard at the time, some cars had been abandoned and he doesn't know how he got home safely.

Anyway, our old boiler could not be repaired last November so had a new condensing boiler but am sure I'll be out with the neighbours defrosting the condensing pipe - the two opposite are out 2/3 times a year. What fun.

I hate driving in it. Especially after last year when I got stuck on ice on a steep hill :-(

I hate walking on ice due to fear of falling over. Every year I mean to buy shoe grips and don't!

That it won't snow

or that it will snow and not stick

or worst of all, that it will snow, stick and then melt really quickly

Skidding - either me falling over on ice as I have dodgy spine; or in car and crashing.

A few years back I got stranded in the snow and had to abandon the car and walk to a hotel for the night at 8 months pregnant, so I hate driving in it.

I fell last year, banged head on ice, concussion, vomiting, 3 day headache, the works. I am now very anxious about Ds (fearless 6 year old) doing the same. Our walk to school the last couple of days (no car, no public transport as it is cutting across a rural hilly village on untreated paths) has been horribly stressful with me trying to hold his hand to keep us balanced and him wanting to run off and chuck snow/ice around.

Also worry about boiler/pipes/elec/gas but have good friends and neighbours who would look after us if that happened.

skyeblue I bought boot grips this year after my fall last year, and I tell you, they are fab. Really grip well and I've not slid in the icy paths yet with them on. Give me a lot of confidence when I'm trying to hang onto Ds with one hand and dog with the other! Best £10 I've spent this year, got them in my local independent hardware store, can't remember brand but they have about 6 "spikes" at the front and 2/3 over the heel. Well worth it for anyone worried about falling.

My husband also bought snowgrips this week and he says they make a real difference. My daughter and I both have snowboots now as we hate getting cold feet and these are much better than wellies and trainers for grip