Snowed in!

[selenay]

I'm going right off snow right now.

Today was my big trip up north to visit historyterry. I've been looking forward to it ever since I decided to come to England for Christmas. I'd treated myself to a First Class return (it wasn't that much of a splurge, only an extra 15 quid, but it was going to be lovely) and we had plans for exploring and eating and generally making merry.

Then it snowed.

As I recounted yesterday, it snowed rather more than expected. I was watching the local news last night and apparently my little corner of the county was the worst hit. Yay? The town lies in a valley so the only way to get in or out is over some very big, steep hills. My village is on top of one of those hills. Our bus last night made it up the hill, just about, but it looks like it was one of the last. All the roads out of town were impassable by 5pm and they had to set up emergency shelters for all the people stranded.

Undeterred, I still planned to go up to Manchester. Dad and I made plans for me to catch a nice, early train. We decided to set out with more than enough time for even the worst roads. I got up bright and early, pressie for Terry packed and my knitting sorted.

Dad checked the trains and discovered that the train we were aiming for had been cancelled. Never fear! We were ready so blisteringly early that we could hop out and be there for the earlier train.

Er.

Six inches. No shovels (apart from a garden spade). A dustpan. A broom. Three adults.

Yes, we really have been reduced to using a dustpan to dig out.

Despite all that and our best attempts, we could not get enough of the big drift behind the car carved away to allow us out. At one point, Dad and I were in the car with the wheels spinning, half way into the road and unable to get forwards or backwards. Getting six miles down the road to the train station? Not happening.

My train to Manchester is probably running. I just can't get to it. And it's a non-refundable ticket.

I'm feeling pretty disappointed and upset right now :-(

At least I'm not stranded in London?

Mum and Dad are out there right now trying to get some of the worst of it cleared. They sent me in because there are simply not enough implements for three people to be clearing. We really need snow shovels! We're starting to run low on a lot of things food-wise and Mum is hoping to be able to get to a store later. Dad and I just laughed at that idea. She's starting to worry that Christmas lunch might be a bit lacking in the, er, lunch department.

I think the best we'll manage to today is a trek up to the petrol station to buy some milk. I can't believe that we've had over a foot of snow in less than a week!

Comments

[tejas.livejournal.com]

Check and see if there's something they can do about your ticket due to the weather. It might not be something they're announcing, but if passengers ask, who knows what might happen. Can you go tomorrow, maybe?

[selenay]

I've sent them an email to see whether anything can be done. The ticket is non-transferable so I'd have to buy another ticket to get there tomorrow - very expensive to do at this stage :-(

I'll see what can be done, if anything. The weather is really unbelievable - it's usually 10C and raining here at this time of year! An inch of snow in a year is unusual, over a foot in a week is unheard of.

[gaspodia.livejournal.com]

I think my local train service usually announces that tickets are valid on any train for a few days after travel disruption, so you may be in luck.

[tejas.livejournal.com]

Maybe they'll let you just use your ticket, even if it's on a "space available" thing. Or maybe give you a discount on a new one. Did you check their website to see if there's any kind of announcement?

[selenay]

The train company that I was travelling with doesn't say anything. I think my train is running without issues. It's my ability to get to a train station (or even leave my village) that's the issue right now! So I've emailed the website that I bought the tickets through and I'll see what they say.

[tejas.livejournal.com]

Here's hoping they can do something to help you out. Maybe since your county was the hardest hit, it might make a difference.

[selenay]

I can hope. The postman has just been, which is impressive. This is the first time we've had a delivery since Thursday, though. I'm guessing that the Post Office has decided that they have to try to get things out! Our depot is just down the road so they haven't had to walk far. Presumably what he delivered is what got to the depot yesterday.

We've run out of milk for making tea. Oh noes!

Looks like I'll have to make the Arctic trek down the road to see whether the petrol station has any.

[tejas.livejournal.com]

I keep sweetened condensed milk in my pantry for when I run out of Half & Half for my coffee. :-) Not the best, but beats nothing. It's good in tea, too. ;-)

[selenay]

I make no comment.

Blech. Ick. Bleck.

We're going to make an attempt on the shops down the road for milk later. We may be some time.

[tejas.livejournal.com]

LOL!!! Yeah, it's not as good as the real thing but it beats having nothing. :-)

[gaspodia.livejournal.com]

Fill in a compensation claim anyway, even if you think they managed to provide a suitable train for you to travel on, you may get a partial refund for having a delayed service. I think you can normally claim if a train is more than half an hour late or something.

[selenay]

The major problem is that the train in Euston is probably fine. I simply cannot get to a train station to get to London. Grrr.

So I've emailed thetrainline, who I bought from, to see what can be done.

[gmul.livejournal.com]

That's such a shame. It's OK here, a bit slushy but most things running.

[selenay]

I figured that things in London would be OK. My dad hiked up to the main road and things are moving slowly out there. It took them two hours to get things dug out enough to free the car up and get a path from the house to the car.

Not much movement in our neighbourhood so far. I think most people are staying home.

[wimble.livejournal.com]

After reading everybody else's comments, they seem to have dealt with the train side of things.

As for getting to the station: taxi? At least they'll have a good idea of the current state of drivability, and don't have to deal with getting your family car moving.

[selenay]

*facepalm* I didn't even think of calling a taxi! Whether one would have actually come out, I don't know, but I might at least have made it to a train station if one had been willing to meet me somewhere clearer within walking distance.

As it is, my train from London left a long time ago and I'm not on it :-( We're hoping to at least get out for milk later and we're trying to figure out when we'll be able to get out there for proper shopping to buy veggies and other essentials.

[elenopa.livejournal.com]

I've got a friend going up north, so the parents have just left to drive him to Milton Keynes to get the train.

Here's hoping the roads aren't too bad.

I can't remember the last time we had this much snow before Christmas.

My Mum always has powdered milk in the house. It's not perfect, but passable for tea if you mix it up in some cold water first.

Hope you can trek somewhere for essentials.

[selenay]

This weather is ludicrous. I can remember odd bits of snow as a child, but nothing like this.

Hope your friend gets there safely. The roads here are pretty bad, but it's so patchy. Oxford yesterday had nothing.

Getting some essentials would be good. There are some shops about half a mile away that we're going to try for shortly. Of course, the other part will be - has the shop had any deliveries?

[paranoidangel]

Oxford yesterday had nothing.

Oh, it did about 4/4.30pm ish.

[historyterry.livejournal.com]

Nothing else to add to my previous post, really, other than thank you so much for trying, and your dad is wonderful.

I'm going to be on AIM on and off all day, I think, in case there's a few people about.

Blast it! I may end up working now!

And guess what - it appears that my freezer has now broken, with the food for Christmas in it.

xxx

[selenay]

{{{{hugs}}}} Today totally sucks piggy wonks.

I'll probably pop onto AIM later. Think we're setting out for the great Arctic trek to find milk shortly.

[historyterry.livejournal.com]

I'm currently thinking I'll try walking to the next town after lunch - that way I can get some snowy pics for you and treat myself by spending my last birthday voucher in HMV or WHS. With any luck, it'll have stopped snowing by then, too. I'm sure I'll catch you later. You may even get a text message during Holby :-) x.