Afternoon All,
Did I say that I hate January and that I hate snow!
I was lucky enough to be able to work from home on Friday and haven't been out anywhere since Thursday night - but this damn white stuff is forecast for the rest of the week, so it's a case of head down and battle through till it improves - with arthritic knees I'm frightened of tumbling and making them worse! I just wish it would go away - I can cope with any other weather conditions , but snow just makes doing anything twice as hard.
OK groan about the weather is over - now a groan about work!
The review has been undertaken and I've been lucky, I wasn't called in to have a 'chat' - I think that I'm safe for another 3 years, but I will, with no doubt be working harder and longer to achieve whats expected of my team, but like I say I'm lucky, I have friends who haven't fared so well and the only real option open to them is to take the redundancy that's offered. Such a great shame - expertise and knowledge will be lost without a doubt.
Well I managed to get my sewing finished over the last 2 days so that's another UFO finished - I seem to have 4 ripple blankets on the go so that's my next goal to start and get them finished off.
Whilst I was sewing yesterday my hubby watched a programme about the big freeze of 1963 - for some reason he can't remember that winter. I can - that was the winter that I was 7 years old and I can remember skating (slipping and sliding really) across the big lake at our local arboretum holding onto my Granddad's hand. I also remember the ice on the inside of the bedroom windows every morning. My Mom and Dad were living in a two up, two down cottage with only one coal fire for warmth - I remember the paraffin heater burning away in the outside toilet trying to stop the pipes from freezing and there was one in the kitchen (scullery really) too.
But those were the days when you wore plenty of layers to keep warm - I remember wearing a liberty bodice (my Nan used to pin a piece of flannelet to the back of it,on the shoulders to keep my back warm, then there be a vest, a jumper and a cardigan, (all hand knitted by my Nan) then there was the thick woolly tights and when I went out I always wore a balaclava, mittens, a good thick coat and a scarf along with the little fur lined bootees curled over at the ankles (very much like they wear in the programme Call the Midwife) and there was always 2 hot water bottles in the bed when you went up.
The heating here has been on 18 degrees constantly since this cold snap started - I'd rather pay the bill and be warm than be cold and risk burst pipes.
Oh well good luck to everyone for getting to and from work this week
Byeee xxx
P.S. I'm not old enough to remember the winter of '47! that was another bad one I'm reliably told!
About Me
- Trudie
- I'm 57 years old, working full time, wife, mother and grand mother, wishing that I wasn't working full time! I love and enjoy our children and grandchildren, our dogs and cat, our garden and allotment. I love crafts - knitting, sewing, crocheting, patchwork and restoring old furniture. I love to go to country auctions and love thinking that I've got my self a bargain!
I would have been 5, my brother had just born that June and I had started school. My mum knitted me a balaclava, when my brother was older, he wore one too.
ReplyDeleteSo you remember it too then Kath - the schools never closed in those days though did they/ xx
DeleteHi Kath
ReplyDeleteYou never see balaclava's on little ones nowadays do you? mind that's probably a good thing - put it on backwards by mistake and you thought some one had turned the lights out! Ahh those were the days! xxx
I was only 1yr old in 63 so I dont remember it but we where watching a program on telly only yesterday about it.I do remember my dad getting snowed in at work for a few days when I was a child because I missed him so much,he worked at Fylingdales Early Warning Station on the North Yorkshire moors and they where well cut off for about 4 days if I think.I remember my brothers having balaclavas to keep them warm in the winter.Love Jill xx
ReplyDeleteJill
ReplyDeleteI can think of nothing worse than being snowed in at work that must of been terrible for your Dad and I'm glad that someone else can remember those balaclavas too - Take care xxx
I was born in Feb. 1964, so can`t remember that winter. But, my mum gave birth to me at home. Dad had to wade through deep snow to fetch the midwife, and both were late coming home. That winter was a late one and with loads of snow in Germany. Dad had to dig his way out the house as the snow was drifting against the doors. I only ever remember another heavy winter like it when I was about 4. I love the snow, and I`m glad we finally had some falling over the last few days. It`s a magical winter wondeland in my garden, but warmer weather with rain is now forcast for tomorrow. Can`t say I`m looking forward to that at all.
ReplyDeleteKids in Germany also wore balaclavas for some years, as I recall. My cousin wore one as a small boy.
Gosh that must have been worrying for your Mom - in labour and waiting for your Dad to get back with the midwife xxx
DeleteI was 13 in '63 but I can't remember a thing! I watched the programme too and I was thing, "where was I when all this was happening?"
ReplyDeleteI'm going to ask Mam when I see her to see what she remembers. It was a really good programme!
I live in a town, so snow doesn't look the same as in the countryside, to me it's an inconvenience more than anything else!
Anne
DeleteIt's strange how we can remember some events and others we don't - I'm terrible remembering peoples names xxx
I was a year old so don't remember it,but my Grandma was snowed out of her cottage and didn't return for a month.
ReplyDeleteJane x
So you're only a youngster than Jane? xxx
DeleteI was 17yrs but lived and worked in Leicester, so the news reports just didn't register as it didn't really affect us to the same degree. I do remember the snow drifting up over the door and window - it was very dark in our living room and hall! Thick ice on the inside of my bedroom window, icy cold lino on the floor, it was certainly c c c c c old!!! But we did have hot summers as compensation!
ReplyDeleteYes we did have what I call a proper summer in those days didn't we? - lets hope we get one this year for a change (a summer, that is!) xxx
DeleteI remember my dad digging tunnels through the snow and it towering above me. I suspect if we had a winter like that now the country would come to a total standstill. What am I saing it comes to a standstill with the bit we have had!
ReplyDeleteSo true Jane xxx
DeleteI was 9 months old x
ReplyDeleteAnother youngster!! xxx
DeleteHi Trudie just had to pop in and say that Im so pleased for you that you will be going to see Fleetwood Mac as well.Im sure you are as excited as I am. Happy Days,love Jill xx
ReplyDeleteHi Jill,
DeleteAren't we so lucky?! we'll have to catch up with each other after we've been and compare concerts and venues - they started selling the tickets at 9am and I got mine at 9.07am and that was the last one in that block - they must have sold out so quickly - Certainly Happy Days!! xxx