peckerwoo

In all due respects the met office were amongst the first to identify this possible cold period so the post earlier by Bob will be a good marker in all theory so maybe the Met are turning a corner in terms of accuracy? Will try to pinpoint high areas of expected accumulations which although sounds peculiar for November the air will be straight from North Siberian regions (Yakutia already -20°!) so eventually even the air modified by the relatively warm North sea will be so cold that snow MAY well fall right on the coast and as the difference of temperature between the 2 is wide (-10° uppers to +8 or 9° sea surface temps) then a phenomenon known as "lake effect" snow may occur where very heavy falls occur brought in off moisture laden area, our very own North sea in this case MTF

amazin cold uppers for late November!

Well, Seems all the models are now agreeing on quite a substantial cold period! Everything East roughly from 5° to 40° longitude and between 60° to 70° latitude is beginning to flow east TO west with an incredible height rise (atlantic influence block in laymens terms) setting in over Greenland. I`m not too long in the tooth but any old fogy will struggle to match a particular year in late November where patterns are similar to this coming weeks! furthermore, any milder breakdown possible is appearing to look like one from the days of the 70`s and 80`s where heavy snow preceded rain from the SW often staying as snow in the far northern reaches? It`s not possible with specific details just yet but Monday and Tuesday could see cold raw light rain and drizzle affecting many areas from the NE but as the week goes by this will start to turn more and more of a wintry flavour with temperatures averaging below both day and night with Air frosts becoming severe under cloud free areas Scottish Western isles etc. Prepare for a big shock peeps?

I 2nd that woodpicker I try not to get upbeat over a few charts predicting what now seems possible for very rare conditions for mid-late November but its becoming more and more real that this is just about approaching an "on the cusp" moment for snow and ice? Need the first phase to occur where the current low centred just NW off N,Ire/Ulster to track North and fill before being absorbed by the High block whilst a spin-off shortwave heads SW into France allowing a certain corridor for the cold air mass to flood over the UK. Tuesdays the Key day next week! Going on I know but its more likely than unlikely that a real early blast of winter is nearly here, particularly for those higher up but not exlusively so! Ive had a tin or 4 so its beebo time

Thats an interesting forecast Bob, Is it from the Highways Agency or something or other??? The "gritting procedures" text suggests some form of Local Council highways source but,,,?? In all due respects beyond the 168hr (7 day) timeframe the probability rate of any DETAILED forecast falls to around 10%, disrespectful of many of todays advancements in satellite and mobile data technology etc. etc. postnote: As its November the relatively warm seas will modify any cold air advecting west and south so wintry falls would normally be over 800ft initially,,,,MTF

LOL, yes TW, just about the only thing ive got many years experience in other than "pleasures of the pallet" I`ll try updating stuff with a high degree of accuracy for us outdoor types before anything severe hits us ,,,Gonna be an interesting few month coming up I believe if the long range data is anything to go by?

Well I`m sure most of us are feeling a slightly cooler than average feel to things today? Without wishing to bore you all? the AO-arctic oscillation track is going through the floor which "basically" stands for High pressure blocking to our north giving us a flow of arctic air and/or scandinavian flow with, for this time of year, cold continental winds. Their! I have bored you all Expect a very raw feel to things for the next 7 days or so with air frosts becoming steadily more frequent across the UK, -5 isotherm air into north and eastern regions from late saturday with prospects of snow on high ground increasing into next week! A lot hinges on a possible polar low tracking south through Scandinavia midweek but the current low to our west will fill and a shortwave will run of SE into France enforcing the block (centred amongst western Greenland, Iceland and Scandinavia) leaving us as the "sandwich" in the middle with cold raw North to North Easterlies. Bored again?,,,,, but your still reading! Very good ingredients for another cold winter and as Europes set to get very cold too next week then that also will be a close cold pool just on our doorstep? if this current spell does not quite affect everywhere in the UK? "wrap up warm" in a nutshell

whereabouts in sheff is it gerbutt? I can help you with whatever you decide to do on Friday? Personally I`d try a "a-la Fred Dibnah style" and make a fire around the root upheave then retire at no risk leaving the shed and greenhouse to fate whilst munching on tea and scones as the weather gonna be ok friday lol

100% with the Scandi views! Iv`e trawled through everything from Aarow to Yeoman and besides the named Jotul, morso (squirrel) and Stovax ranges my clear (literally) choice is the Handol woodburners by Nibe. Only problem now is finding the moolah to get it in with all the plates, liner and fixings and start to work on the last 2 years supply of logs thats everywhere from in the airing cupboard and under the front room void to the back garden and down lying around the familys building yard???

Funnily enough we used it by getting a quote for building work from a "firm" who amazingly turned up on TV`s "cowboy builders" after he quoted what turned out to be a crazily high price for totally sub standard work! Therefore I/We have zero confidence in using "ratedpeople.com" as any cowboy can join no matter what their standard of "work" is. (1st Call Conversions Ltd was? based @ Unit 3,Beeston Royd Ind. Est.,Geldard Road Leeds - AVOID AT ALL COSTS should you require ABSOLUTELY ANY building work done!)

Tony`s highlighted a primary driver for the winter ahead in naming La Nina, Chosen by some forecasters as a major factor in determining what lies ahead and seeing as its on course for the record going back 60 yrs then its gonna be very interesting for whats in store for us in the UK. Very little in the way of hurricanes pumping heat into the N Atlantic again this year also opens the door for a cooler atlantic with polar maritime westerlies possibly giving heavy falls anywhere above 600-800 ft. One thing certain in my eye is that the continent will be very cold at some stage and its a case weather the UK can tap into this air or if it only affects the far SE Kent etc. as sometimes a strong La Nina can also leave us in a Bartlett or euro high condition which can last over a month at the height off winter and short daylight/weak sun in January. A colder but drier winter on average is my punt

From pot-washers to neuro-surgeons, the job market today and the future will stay T.O.U.G.H.! I worked hard in a voluntary capacity for 16 month and landed a 6 month temp contract in "habitat management" and I`m still chuffed to bits as iv`e acquired the tickets (30,31,38 &39) at no cost to myself which hopefully will give me a good chance of paid work when my temp finishes but as said, NO degree compares to solid experience in whatever chosen field,,,"Msc" waffle and "Hons" blah blahs are 10 a penny these days and account for next to nowt aside solid graft and common sense!

confirming the above - the better the work position the easier the cuts! >90% of times spent getting into WP and moving around compared to the minimal time the saws working. and the more chainbrake the more safer your work ethic looks! I had a near 0 degree vertical main rope (on a cambium saver), strop/lanyard on right side D and a tiestrap as a left foothold and was cutting nowhere near any of `em. utilise the slack main rope too if it aids getting into a good work position? I`m a rookie sure but its still fresh in my mind

Be fun when/if all us legit registered qualified tradesmen are forced into using all terrain MEWPS, imagine the shocks when we quote then??? Why oh why is this trade fround upon and looked at as though its numpty work for an absolute rock bottom price? as quoted above, we ALL know her final bill for sorting everything out to a sufficient standard will be far more than £300! shes asking for trouble and i`d be amazed if she gets it sorted 1st off for 140 with bodgit & scarper sons inc.

Get yourself a copy of Dreamweaver (this wouldn`t cost you a penny if you know where to go ) and create your own site with the flashiest of tools currently available, then just fork out around £20 a year for the hosting (1&1 etc.?) The only cost would be your time building it but that can also be a fun thing? If only building a website was as easy as passing my 38&39 next week then life would be kinda ok

Seen the esse 125 SE first hand and although its a very good looking contemporary stove the handle looked very lightweight and flimsy? Obvious that Franco Belge offer a more traditional line but if I had to pick i`d go for the Savoy Mk II with improved burning features over the 1st model,,, Franco belge Savoy Elegance - MKII DEFRA approved too but then again most are going down this road now? Nice sized glass door taboot but i like it best over the others, Monaco , Montfort etc. because it does away with the frontal air dials and minimises the grills etc.

,,,Got me thinking that giant hogweed will be knocking on the door very soon and those spores can look far worse, as some of us sad volunteer strimmers know?

lol, I`m "the newb of newbs" with neither a tester nor even a stove!!! In fact you could say i dont know where wood comes from :?

,,,majority appear to go with a Dunsley Yorkshire Boiler stove? If your recess is big enough as its a monster? (730mm Height to spigot top, 535mm Width & 415mm Depth plus front ledge?) DEFRA approved for smoke cnntrol areas too but not Contempory looking, then again a stove for rads shouldnt be modern looking as its all about having the power/KW to run to the rads! Hazarding a guess here but many say as long as its dry it gonna burn with varying success/heat/time etc.? If you find your gonna be burning all sorts of stuff i`d opt for a higher grade flue liner 904 over the 316 standard grade! I`d grab a moisture tester from Ebay for <£10 too and if its under 25% your good to burn? two penneth over

,,,Spotted something identically looking in my local small wood today on a diseased old beech?, about the size of a bar of soap, felt quite soft,,, will try take pic tomoz and post here! very intriguing I must admit but I`d guess some form of Fungi at 1st view? Best judgement "Monkey-D"

Dunno but maybe "the 3 second rule" could help you in future? I was a "hinge zipper" but implementing the rule (last thing before starting any action is to concentrate for 3 seconds on what your are going to do before you stop at a safe point) helped me become efficient in terms of stopping before going through the hinge in this case? Maybe you were thinking too many steps ahead like i initially was or too eager to please etc.? Don`t stress or dwell on it, easy for a novice like me to say I know but look how many people fail their 1`st driving test for eg.?

Oh dear, thanks for the heads up their sheph, I had a bad vibe as the "job" never got filled as hes been repeatedly posting for over a year, interspersed every few month? Please PM me a reputable business in the city/area as they appear to be few and far between and I`m gonna be offering what ive got after hopeful 38&39 certs come springtime end? thanks again

Try Silverdale garden services> Mr Bingham, he`s looking, or was recently, for a tree surgeon holding 30,31,38 & 39 with plenty of climbing experience, I`m at the bottom of the ladder and he wasnt interested unless ticketed fully and experienced:( google the above should get you a contact number? It was listed on jobcentre site for quite a while and offered good money considering! good luck

I`m in a similar situation to you ConW and although i`m yet to find paid work in my area (Sth Yorks, Derbys, Peak district) voluntary work, which i participate in, keeps me in contact in the sector and soon as Spring comes i`m hoping for either some part time work or embarking on CS38 & 39 or both so go down the voluntary route as well as simply looking for FT work? Anythings better than staying static and not improving on your recent assesment pass?

Just knew it was gonna be local,,,, Booby trapping is certainly the way forward as opposed to staking out the stockpiles, I`m lucky enough to have a makeshift cellar with plenty of air grills but demand is surely paving way for conflict and when mr plod isn`t involved then I see arbtalk members organising some form of coalition a vital step forward? (Off topic but I passed my 30/31 over crimbo so ya`ll be seeing a lot more of me )