Cold Winter, much worse than last year......

[TicTac]

..........yeah right! I was in a T shirt this morning mucking out. I can't believe how mild it has been with the odd few days of chilly weather thrown in so far. Looks like the weather men made a big boo boo with their long range winter forecast so far.

Not exactly complaining though as hopefully if it stays like this I will be able to have my horses out 24/7 by the beginning of march again. Nature in general also seems a little confused also as I have trees in blossom and daffodils almost ready to burst forth.

Anyway here's to a lovely summer in this Olympic year. Warm and sunny please

 

[Foxhunter49]

I agree with you - as for Daffodils nearly out - I still have some non hardy fuchsias in bloom outside, geraniums and some self seeded lobelia has decided to blossom!
Picked about 8 roses last week.
We have broody ducks and hens.

Clipped horses are standing inside with a cotton sheet and top medium rigs on. I am also mucking out in a short sleeve T-shirt.

It wasn't so long ago that I was saying how we needed rain - wish it would stop, doesn't take me long to get fed up with MUD!

 

[Herts05]

Found a live ladybird in my garden on Boxing Day!
However I'm very grateful that we have not had a repeat of last December's weather -snow, yuk!

 

[Twinkle Twinkle]

We seen a bumble bee at the yard the other day

 

[aintgotnohay]

bloody great big spider in my flat this morning.dont see them from november to march usually.not bloody happy!!

 

[monkeybum13]

Daffodils were out on christmas morning!

 

[BlairandAzria]

No no no no no no.....you have all just jinxed it.......it's blinking going to snow tomorrow now you've said that!

 

[sakura]

my fully clipped horse is out in a lw combo, she was sweating under an exercise sheet yesterday! and we had daff's trying to come out before christmas

 

[JenTaz]

taz is fully clipped and is out with just a rain sheet on, was tempted to go for no rug its that warm up here but the ground is wet and dont want a bay horse when i go back to the yard to bring in, loving the weather at the moment that it doesnt actually feel real!

 

[hessy12]

Well, beat my experience - I got stung by a wasp in mid December! Once also in November. I agree, it's so mild, I have to keep clipping horse every three weeks...what is worse tho? Mild or freezing?

 

[Waffles]

I know people were saying there would be another cold winter, but I'm pretty sure that wasn't issued by the met office. The MO says it's pretty damned impossible to forecast accurately more than a week ahead. Maybe we'll have a dry summer this year - that would be nice!

 

[bumblelion]

The weather is unbelievable! I went out and bought pallets of grit, sledge and snow shovel to be prepared! Not even had frozen taps yet! Not complaining though! My unclipped tbs not even worn his hw turnout yet! He feels the cold too! He's been in a fleece the past few days stabled at night! I find myself staring at the rugs each night, double checking how warm he is and what rugs most suitable, if any!! Just can't get my head around it being jan and this mild! Hopefully it will stay like this and they will be out 24/7 from early march again and the cold won't hit us until then!! It is a bit freaky though, they said 2012 would be the year the world ends!

 

[Feathered]

Funnily enough my Nan used to say "when you can't tell the difference between summer and winter, that'll be the end of the world" ...

 

[BlairandAzria]

The end is nigh

 

[Ranyhyn]

Im hoping we don't have a late cold snap as we have lambs due. I didn't enjoy the snow and ice last year one bit - easier now my horses can live out at home but still not fun at all! Rain and mildness can stay for me!

 

[blood_magik]

snow tomorrow

 

[domane]

We're still getting WASPS in our lounge (wish I knew where the boogers were coming from!!)

And I've just poo-picked my field and there were FLIES on it!!! On the 1st of January!

 

[Enfys]

Two days ago it was in the minus double figures and like this:

Today it is 5C, hissing down with rain and we have high wind alerts out, highs of 5C and lows of -14C forecast in the next week, with 15cm of snow expected...I'll stick to looking at the thermometer and out of the window for my forecasts I think.

Back to this today, oh whooppee flaming doo, I HATE Mud!

 

[BlairandAzria]

Just gorgeous enfys!

 

[Noodlebug]

So warm here my clipped horse was sweating under his medium weight rug this morning out with a lightweight on today. Also when tacked up found a bloody great wasp on my saddle

Trouble is you just don't know what rugs to put on as it is getting colder now!

 

[wattamus]

I want it to be cold! I bought a new h/w stable rug for winter and as of yet haven't used it!

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

It is so mild, its very strange indeed. I hope we do have a decent year of weather ahead. I have seen lots of bugs that should not be about and some buds and plants trying to flower!

 

[Clava]

I want it to freeze and even snow, to kill the bugs off.

 

[LeneHorse]

Well we're getting snow showers tomorrow and not a spring bloom to be seen! Come to Scotland for real weather.

Met office forecast - A cold day with bright or sunny spells but showers for many too, these being frequently of snow and accompanied by strong winds. More persistent rain is expected towards midnight. Maximum temperature 5 °C.

 

[indie999]

When I poo picked to day blooming flies all over the poos like its spring!! Seen plenty of lady birds. When I got back took heavy coat off and went for dog walk in single layer sweatshirt.............I thought it was the hot flushes I have but boiling hot!

I have tons of hay in too and he is still eating away at last summers grass!

Keep thinking will come back to bite us this mild spell!

Happy New Year

 

[Waffles]

There are a few flies about which is pretty unusual for december/january. however, I've often seen things coming into flower the day after boxing day - just a few shoots coming up here and there. Spring begins after the solstice

 

[BonneMaman]

Do I really have to remind you lot that it is only just January! I certainly won't be throwing my thermals away yet!

 

[Waffles]

There was one winter about 16 years ago when it didn't snow at all, then it did at the beginning of March (but nothing serious and not enough to disrupt traffic but it was, obviously, having snowed, pretty cold!).

It often snows in the middle of February.

 

[fidleyspromise]

Agree with BonneMaman and Waffles.

Must be thinking of the same year Wafles (1998) there was snow in March and April - Only remember this due to it snowing on my parents wedding day.

Previous years it was January/February the snow started and the past couple of years have been unusual. (For here anyway).

 

[Abbeygale]

It very often snows / cold weather down here end of feb / beginning of march. My birthday is first of march and we've pretty much had snow of some sort on my birthday nearly every year . There's still time yet, and I always think the worst of the weather is in jan / feb