It started Monday a week ago, awoke to a light covering of snow. It soon melted away.
In Lincoln, bitterly cold, light flurries of snow, few people about, those that were were stocking up with food.
I had intended to leave early, instead left late, after lunch at County Restaurant the afternoon in Madame Waffle.
Tuesday the snow had arrived. Before breakfast a path cleared of snow.
A day of dark clouds, bright sunshine, heavy snowfalls.
Heavy snowfall, blizzard, and something I had never experienced before, whiteout. This would alternate with clear blue sky and sun shining.
Subzero outside, and yet, was able to sit and relax in the conservatory, heated by the sun.
Solar power though of no use. Looking out, I see solar panels covered in snow.
Nothing moving, everyone snowed in.
Wednesday, as Tuesday, heavy snow, several inches deep, before breakfast clearing the snow. No soonest cleared, within half an hour, at least an inch deep. Before lunch, once again clear the snow, now a couple of inches deep.
As Tuesday, heavy snow, dark clouds, sunshine. Again possible to sit in the conservatory, minus three degrees outside, drops to minus seven.
As Tuesday, heavy snowfall, blizzard, whiteout, which would alternate with clear blue sky and sun shining.
Impossible to go out, sink into the snow.
Farnborough two days in a row, record for colddest place, minus 11.9C.
Warning, we are running out of gas. People should drop their temperature by a degree, will not notice, saves money, saves gas. If going out, turn down the thermostat by at least five degrees, then turn back up on return.
We need large gas storage facilities. We had but was closed last year. That is what happens when privatise energy supply, lose energy security, no resilience in the system.
Not possible to import from Europe, as pipes lack capacity, and even if possible, Europe colder than UK, thus need the gas.
UK was powered by North Sea Gas. It was sold of on the cheap, now UK imports roughly half the gas it needs.
Wind is providing as much energy as gas, but different usage.
Industrial users of gas cannot be cut off, crash cool a kiln and cause tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage to the kiln.
In Lincolnshire, at least 45 roads are closed, idiots who should not be out, are out in their cars no idea how to handle a car in the snow, get stuck then block the roads.
Police call in the military they cannot cope.
Thursday I managed to get out. To my surprise, many people are walking in the snow in Washingborough. I guess house bound and an opportunity to get out the house.
I ask one man, is it worth walking to the local Coop? He says no, no bread, he has taken the last milk.
As I thought, no deliveries and more people placing demand on local Coop.
Slowly running out of food.
Walking around the village, very cold, Arctic conditions, sub-zero with a gale blowing.
There has been no snow all day.
Friday again no snow. Manage to get out and walk to the local Coop. As I thought, very little stock, no bread, little in the way of vegetables, a small amount of milk.
Again very cold with strong winds blowing.
Saturday a little snow overnight, light covering of snow.
One degree Celsius. It actually feels warm.
Hop on the bus to Heighington. The Spar shop reasonably well stocked, actually able to get some bread, the butcher well stocked.
Stock up with provisions. At least will not starve.
In the afternoon a trip into Lincoln. One kind person has even cleared the bus stop.
Walking to the bus stop and waiting for the bus, cold and damp, a breeze blowing, misty.
Very bleak journey into Lincoln.
The State of the Art Lincoln Central Bus Station colder than outside.
Outside the entrance a couple of inches of slush, Lincoln City Council cannot be arsed to clear the snow.
Sincil Street and High Street the same, slush covered streets. Traders pay enough in businesses rates, the least they can expect is the streets to be cleared of slush.
More people out than I expected. Maybe Saturday, maybe first opportunity to get out of the house and into Lincoln.
Stokes on High Bridge as always, empty, same for Cafe W at Waterstone’s. On the other hand Coffee Aroma busy and at Madame Waffle packed queuing at the door to get in. That is th difference good coffee makes.
I take the opportunity to stock up with more provisions.
Walking back to the bus station, I notice the slush melting, water gathers at the lowest point and flows, the newly installed drains not at the lowest point. Yet another design flaw for the newly opened Lincoln Central Bus Station that only opened last month.
Sunday a few degrees above freezing, the snow starting to melt, very misty.
It snows, and the country grinds to a halt, the trains do not run, those that do run, break down leaving people stranded for several hours, foolish people go out in the cars, clueless driving on snow.
For the last decade winters have been mild. Temperatures of 10C, maybe drops to 5C, occasionally below zero.
These mild winters have lulled the country into a false sense of security.
The Arctic, zero degrees, at least twenty degrees warmer than it should be , strong winds circling the North Pole driving the cold air southward into Europe.
What is a heat wave in the Arctic has panicked climate scientists, as what has been observed is way beyond their worst case scenarios for climate change.
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