Blowing

Another load overnight and it snowed all day. Kept putting off getting to work but as we weren't driving on the surface was quite content to wait..

However after lunch had to bite on the bullet and start clearing. Probably another 5-10cm so now have around 15-20cm in total. All the walking and driving areas are pretty much clear. The worst part is the entrance from the road where the snow plough goes by at top speed sending a mass of salty slush on to the entrance. This slush is so heavy that the blower has little chance but luckily today it worked and I didn't need to put on the plough  attachment  my former colleague Tom and Î built a few years ago. It works well but makes the whole contraption very heavy when one has small curvy areas.

Some may ask why I don't use the tractor. The small old style front loader bucket is hopeless. Clogs straight away and the weight in the bucket means one needs a large weight or attachment on the rear to give traction. This then makes the whole thing so long that the chances of demolishing house walls or similar is high. Best attachment would be a rear plough but you then need room to push the snow piles to. Best bet would be a 150,000 Euro 4WD tractor! Would need to win the lottery in a week when there was a big jackpot.

I am still very impressed by my cheap & cheerful chinese built blower. bought about 6 years ago. Didn't get used at all last year and still started after just a minute or two. There is an electric start but that is the only thing that has failed. Somewhere there is a wire loose. 

Snow has stopped this evening, stars now coming out and the mercury is falling rapidly - apparently -15°C tonight. Waterpipe heating switched on in the stables and even the chickens have a thermostat controlled electric heater to keep the coop frost free. Although they can cope with cold, the combs & wattles can freeze and this is apparently very painful and stressful.

An evening feeding the fire. Angie has to work Monday & Tuesday so it will be an early night.