Do you enjoy UK Winters?

Speaking of winter, about the forecast for the next few days..... BRRRR!

Speaking of winter, about the forecast for the next few days..... BRRRR!

Our cars are iced over this morning. Proper chilly. I've been thankful that this is only really the second or third time this year that things have frosted over.

Frickin freezing today. Yet another day where the temp didn't get above 0C today.  Frost has been so thick it looks like snow. 

Frickin freezing today. Yet another day where the temp didn't get above 0C today.  Frost has been so thick it looks like snow.

Brrr! How are your hens coping?

Brrr! How are your hens coping?

They're such babies. They give this kind of low squawky moan whenever it's cold or snowy.  I tell them 'Suck it up!! You're Highland chickens!! Act like it!!'  But they ignore me. HAHA. 

Frickin freezing today. Yet another day where the temp didn't get above 0C today.  Frost has been so thick it looks like snow.

It's this time of year that I am thankful I live further down south. I love Scotland, but it's actually quite mild here today (although it was awful here yesterday as well...husband was late to work as he didn't realise he'd be defrosting his car when he woke up LOL).

A friend had burst pipes yesterday! 

A friend had burst pipes yesterday! 

oh noooo!

I am from Wisconsin and I would take a bitter cold winter with snow over rain and damp any day. Does anyone else seem to get sick a lot from the dampness? I have had so many cold and coughs in the two years I have been here. Any remedies to adjust would be appreciated!! 

Hi Bal77

I have found it to be extremely challenging to feel comfortable in damp cold environments. I have lived in various regions of the United States in cold and hot climates without any major difficulty. But guarding against the damp is far tougher in my opinion. And mostly because damp moist air seem to carry more risk of bronchial exposure to infection. I went through all of this while living in the seattle area. That experience taught me to load up on Mega Vitimans, the daily recommended usage of Vitiman C and smarter decision making when exposing myself when outdoors in the elements. Those simple steps made living in damp cold cities a little bit easier. I have also found hot tea and hot chicken soup to be two very good friends.


Are you also using multi-vitmans and similar measures to fight off illness during winter?

They're such babies. They give this kind of low squawky moan whenever it's cold or snowy.  I tell them 'Suck it up!! You're Highland chickens!! Act like it!!'  But they ignore me. HAHA.

Awww! Poor babies! 

I lived in cold and damp, and also spent 20 years in the desert southwest of the USA. I prefer the damp, actually. The dry used to play havoc with my sinuses and skin - I was almost perpetually in some sort of infection, allergy, or generic bleeding-nose pain from the dry. The damp I can adjust for - lots of warm fluids throughout the day, and, fortunately, our home has some sort of anti-damp system installed that functions quite well. So it's pleasant indoors, where I spend most of my time.  I have more trouble when it gets brutally cold outside, as I have residual lung damage so I have to be sure to have a good scarf over my mouth and nose to breath through or I end up gasping on the ground.

I lived in cold and damp, and also spent 20 years in the desert southwest of the USA. I prefer the damp, actually. The dry used to play havoc with my sinuses and skin - I was almost perpetually in some sort of infection, allergy, or generic bleeding-nose pain from the dry. The damp I can adjust for - lots of warm fluids throughout the day, and, fortunately, our home has some sort of anti-damp system installed that functions quite well. So it's pleasant indoors, where I spend most of my time.  I have more trouble when it gets brutally cold outside, as I have residual lung damage so I have to be sure to have a good scarf over my mouth and nose to breath through or I end up gasping on the ground.

I have no doubt there are several people that can relate to how certain climates affect their over-all quality of life. It's interesting how cold or hot conditions play a role in our micro and macro planning of our schedules. People have moved to and from countries based on how well their body react to temperature. I have family members that must keep the temperature inside their home at a crisp 50 degrees because they are hot natured people. For some reason they always feel warm unless the air tempt is cold. A 65 degrees air tempt to most people is pleasant but to those family members 65 feels more like 85. Which goes to show suitability and comfort level are very specific to each individual. Your story is very relatable.

A friend had burst pipes yesterday! 

This was a concern I had last year.  When we went on vacation during Thanksgiving time last year I asked my husband if we had to drain the outside pipes or do any type of winterizing, he said this is not a thing the do here...so maybe it’s just because he’s never left the property empty before for long periods of time.  I remember my dad always drained pipes back home for the front and backyard taps before winter bc we had our pipes burst once.  We have yet to do that here....is there winterizing that my husband is just unaware of?

Winters are milder here I think but it has been cold this week.  I am a little sad that now that I don’t need to drive for work or go out and shovel...it doesn’t snow much.  And since I work on US time, by the time I end my day and decompress it’s like past 3am when I go to bed...so it’s dark, and when I wake up it’s dark...so it’s like we are living vampire lives right now and I feel I get nothing done bc the “morning” is gone.

This was a concern I had last year.  When we went on vacation during Thanksgiving time last year I asked my husband if we had to drain the outside pipes or do any type of winterizing, he said this is not a thing the do here...so maybe it’s just because he’s never left the property empty before for long periods of time.  I remember my dad always drained pipes back home for the front and backyard taps before winter bc we had our pipes burst once.  We have yet to do that here....is there winterizing that my husband is just unaware of?

Winters are milder here I think but it has been cold this week.  I am a little sad that now that I don’t need to drive for work or go out and shovel...it doesn’t snow much.  And since I work on US time, by the time I end my day and decompress it’s like past 3am when I go to bed...so it’s dark, and when I wake up it’s dark...so it’s like we are living vampire lives right now and I feel I get nothing done bc the “morning” is gone.

When we go away I turn off the water using the stop tap under the sink and drain the outside pipe by opening the outside tap for a few seconds.

Back home I lived in one rented house where if the temps dropped into the single digits you needed to keep the cold tap on a drip to prevent the pipes from freezing. In my own house I just put an insulated cover on the outdoor tap and it never froze. Down here (Thames Valley) I don't think it gets cold enough for that to be a concern.

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