So you think it's cold do you?

[RSJK]

If you think it is cold now here are a couple of old photos from the winter we had in 1963, it started freezing on boxing day and froze every day until the end of March
The photos are of my Father, two Uncles and a non relative, getting parsnips up if you look closly at the picture of the four of them standing you can see the bottom of the parsnips just about sticking out of the up turned soil.  In the other picture you can see one of the men with a sledge hammer in his hands swinging it to break the soil from around the parsnip.
All that trouble to get about 5 shilling  (25p) for a net containing 28lbs of parsnips.
Sorry about the quality of the black and white pictures.
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[RSJK]

[lorna]

Richard In January of that year we bought our first greengrocery business. You may not believe it I actually got frost bite in one hand. The shop was in Norbury and we were paying over £2 for bag of cabbage (a lot of money in those days). To cap it all the "old dears" would say to us "Are the cabbages frozen" I sometimes felt like saying "Try standing in a field for six weeks" but being the polite person I am I didn't!!!! ;D Yes I remember that Boxing Day we were going to Ma-in-laws (Chislehurst) and couldn't get the vehicle up her road.

[rosebud]

Yes 1963 remember it only to well, it dosent seem that cold when you look back then.  Do you also remember December 1961, how deep the snow was and how very cold it was??,untill March 1962  Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

[Carol]

Remember 1962/63 quite well, I was just a young un but the snow started on Xmas Eve and that was it through to March.  Days before Central heating as well so it was a real cold spell.  Below is a picture taken only a few years back, 2001  I think.  We were cut off completly from the outside world and my village is on the main road from Edinburgh to Newcastle on Tyne  A697.  It was wonderful how we all pulled together for the few days we were cut off.  Great community spirit and helping one another.

[tim]

Thanks, Richard - no, I missed it.  You saw my 1947 one? Can't compete with that - or Carol's - we're not in Scotland!
But here's my contribution. The sledder is No1 son - now 56!! Love your axeman!!

[Lily]

Wow, those milk bottles  :o  :o  :o

Lily

[RSJK]

Nice photos Tim,  Dread to think what will happen if we get snow drifts that deep, grind to an halt nowadays when we get an inch of the stuff.

                              ;D ;D

[Derekthefox]

Basically, we've never had it so good, have we !!!

Derekthefox :D

[undercarriage plan]

Just showed my kids these pics!! And their jaws hit the ground!!! I'd so love them to see snow like that! Me too come to think of it.....
Lottie

[lorna]

Lottie. Lovely to look at but I know where the car will be if we get anything like that. I think I will stock food cupboard up... just in case!!!!!

[Derekthefox]

True Lorna, I remember Coventry being hit by blizzards during February 1990 I think, possibly 91, arrived Friday, all weekend was no go, vehicles abandoned everywhere ... I arrived at work on Monday to find we couldn't get into the factory because the drive was blocked with snow. We had to stop in the road for two hours while they got a tractor to clear a path. They sent us home at lunchtime ...

Derekthefox :D

[Robert_Brenchley]

I remember that one, I was on a theology course that Saturday. I got ip, dashed out, jumped on a bus, got straight off it and onto another, and only really realised how bad it was when I was walking up the road to the place the course was held at. Only one other student made it, a Rasra guy who'd walked eight mIles to get there, and was absolutely disgusted to find that the others hadn't got there. He said it confirmed all his prejudices about orthodox Christians. We sat about and chatted with the course director (an RC bishop from Malawi who was run out of the country in the 70's when he upset both the government and the Vatican) and the chaplain, who'd also arrived, then went home. I must have got on about the last bus into town, everywhere was closing and everyone trying to get home. There were no buses, I had about a mile to walk, straight into the wind, and by the time I got there I was frozen. I lived on the 15th floor over a dual carriageway and a roundabout, and spent the afternoon watching the traffic trying to move, even the fire engine got well and truly stuck.

[Mrs Ava]

Fabulous photos!  The only time I have ever seen snow like that is on my skiing holidays before I met my darling and had sproggles.  Was snowed in whilst skiing in Italy and had so console ourselves by drinking vast quantites of grappa....in France we guzzled hot spicy red wine and in Canada jugs of cold beer!  I am preying for blizzards and snow drifts and Essex being completely snowed in so me, Ava and the kids can build snowmen, have snowball fights, make snow angels...................and get cold and wet!  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Derekthefox]

Yes I remember getting snowed in at our halls of residence at the Polytechnic in Stafford. We were not amused, it was the weekend, and the nearest pub was a mile away !!!
I remember we all built this 14ft high snowman in the college grounds, then added two large snowballs so it resembled a phallus ... typical student humour ...  ;D

Derekthefox :D