Manky Monkey Motors

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/757222/basingstoke-hospital-snow-cars-abandoned-uk-weather-forecast

First day of snow this Winter & Basingstoke grinds to a halt again. I'm safely at home, but apparently it's a repeat of the infamous 2010 snow day, with cars abandoned everywhere, ambulances having to be pushed & commuters taking hours to travel a few hundred yards.
I'm on holiday this week, but my fellow Posties were sent home without pay today.
Basingstoke sits in a dip, so we always seem to struggle when the weather's bad.
Hurry up Spring!

Just watching the reports about Basingstoke on TV - apparently there was a big dump this afternoon!   Wasn't you was it?

 ;D

 ;D ;D ;D
The local One-Stop has been virtually stripped by folk panic buying. Happens every time it snows.
Woke up to about 3" of snow and it didn't really stop in Oakley all day.  Now it's between 6" and 8" deep.

We do seem to get badly hit every time.

A snow plough passing the end of my road about 10 minutes ago.

And a few comments on Big Darren's FaceBook page:

Took me three hours from Houndmills to Chineham, (about 2 miles). Take it steady

I got stuck at Dialysis in Edison Road along with 30 odd other patients...patient transport were royally f*cked all day having to go between Southampton and London. 1 Patient is still stuck there poor f*cker since 1pm 😒

Mate, it took me 4 hours from the M3 slip road to Chineham -2 lorries had jack-knifed

There’s a video on "Spotted" where a group of people ended up getting out of their cars etc to push an ambulance through and over Brighton Hill roundabout after being stuck for over half an hour while answering an emergency call...it’s crazy

It took Darren 5 1/2 hours to get home across town.

This is the B/stoke War Memorial Park this morning -where the transport festival's held. It's about 8" deep in snow.

.

Jane Austen, (she was a B/stoke lass), in the town centre, wishing she'd worn an extra pair of socks.

It's big coat weather for us softie Southerners.

You know, I hate to show my age! but back in the day when I was a very young tradesman, working a 3 shift pattern, if it snowed....it snowed! and it was very much my problem, as, if I couldn't get into work, a) I didn't get paid, & b) the guy I was relieving had to stay and cover, so, I carried a spade, chains, old carpet etc. etc. in my boot, at the first sign of the white stuff, I have even ridden my trials bike in on one occasion, cross the fields, really :o.. but you got there, now......alright, put the bloody violins away, I'm off.... :P :P :P :P :P

Know what you mean Morrag - when I worked on a farm I can remember setting out to walk 2½ miles in the snow to get to work on the farm cos the cows had to be milked whatever the weather did, and my boss had arthritis and couldn't do it.  Was I glad when I met him coming to get me on the tractor!

I hadn't realised it had been that deep with you Andy. About 2"-3" here and that had pretty gone by Friday. I find it annoying that parents get told off for not sending their children to school but as soon as there is a snow flurry the schools get closed and sod the children's education. Twas not like that in my school days. The more snow the more fun.  :D

Totally agree with you JJ, back in the day we had snow that was deep and lasted days or longer and we still got sent to school regardless.

The view from my bedroom window this morning.

Some of us still work outside in it :))
I've been on holiday for a week, but will be back out there, walking 10 miles, delivering the Mail in it tomorrow -no deliveries for 2 days, so I'll be going back to 3 days worth of Mail.

Weather report -for those who said we're all wimps in Basingstoke & there was barely any snow & it melted the same day:
Still around 8" laying in the parks & open spaces around here, (measured in the middle of the fields, not in snow drifts). A few abandoned cars still around, but it's been a bright, almost warm day today with rain forecast tonight, so hopefully it'll start to clear now.
The main roads are O.K, but most of the side roads are still impassable.
I cleared about 5" of snow off my car on Friday afternoon & another 5 or 6 the next morning. I'll be walking to work in the morning cos I can't get the car out of the street.
Now back to the News :)

.

Is that your windswept and interesting look? 8) 8)..............

It's my cold & clueless look.

Lucky you. ;)

I still can't get over what you said about posties being sent home but not getting paid. ???

Regarding the weather, it's the wind that's howling around outside at the minute and earlier a thick sea mist came in. I was going to a post office right on the cliff top and I could only just make out the turn to it. Could have been nasty, especially the way the cliff keeps eroding!  :o  :D