Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: When the Weather is the News

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  • Craig Ranapia,

    And how is it today?

    1) Put on long pants to re-peg washing I took in yesterday.

    2) On her way to work, upstairs neighbour returned missing undies that ended up on her balcony. Not even sexy pants, but elderly pappy panties with elastic on life support.

    3) Come to conclusion today can’t get any more socially awkward.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    It was so cold and miserable in Mangere yesterday morning that we had 18 kids turn up out of 45, and then in the afternoon, 17 little people came. Round here, there is a general belief that cold=sickness, so yes, I guess all those kids were at home, trying to keep warm in their mostly uninsulated houses, when they could have been here, toasty and warm. Let's see what today brings.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    Coming from Hawke's Bay I've yet to see a proper cracking frost in Auckland, so I am still waiting for it to get REALLY cold up here.

    but i did light the fire last night.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Andre Alessi, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    3) Come to conclusion today can’t get any more socially awkward.

    It's an unchanging law of the universe that today can always get more awkward.

    I managed to survive the night without too much worry on the Shore. Underfloor insulation, a heater, and a massively overpowerd desktop PC kept my room toasty most of the night. Not so my friend in Ponsonby, who was reduced to literally sitting on her heater most of the night.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

  • Heather Gaye,

    I love how the people in that that cuba mall video run the gamut from full 5-layer wraps to t-shirts. Wellingtonians are amazing.

    Today I'm not changing out of my pyjamas.

    Morningside • Since Nov 2006 • 533 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    It's been cold a few times this year. What made yesterday different was the reckless humidity and torturous wind. It was a bonesoaking day.

    Nevertheless, I do find it amusing that the slightest flurry sends great parts of the country into apoplexy, and people start acting as if a disaster is befalling the nation. It's NZ, people. It snows, occasionally.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Andre Alessi,

    Hmm, come to think of it, I remember exactly when the last time it snowed in Wellington was, because I was there. 1995, July or August at the latest. I was in Weir House and everybody rushed outside to throw snowballs at each other.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Just because, my girl Miss Janelle Monae warms up a Gap ad... Swoon...

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Mahal,

    Email from my (UK ex-pat) husband yesterday (we're in Auckland) - "Snow. In Symonds St. What the...? I thought I left this kind of weather behind!"

    Pleasantly warm night owing to oil heater turned up a notch, sheepskin moved from floor to bed, and deeply appreciative cat nestled somewhere in the middle of the duvet.

    Auckland • Since Apr 2007 • 31 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Tom Semmens,

    Coming from Hawke's Bay

    Ah, a visitor..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to George Darroch,

    Nevertheless, I do find it amusing that the slightest flurry sends great parts of the country into apoplexy, and people start acting as if a disaster is befalling the nation. It's NZ, people. It snows, occasionally.

    Things did actually look pretty dicey in Wellington last night though. People stranded, buses off the road, the electricity flickering on and off. Brrr.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    -1 celcius in the roof of my house this morning. First time the HRV has shown a negative reading. Inside, 16. No heating was on. We had the place insulated this year. It really works. Big power saver.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    We are stranded at home today in Wellington. Can't drive or walk outside on our mildy hilly street. Several 4 wheel drives have skidded outside trying to get up or down the road.The driveway, footpath and much of the road were covered in snow yesterday but it has thickened overnight and turned icy. Last night it was a struggle walking half a kilometre up a hill from the bus stop - very very slippery. The street lights went out. The electricity flickered off several times. Occasionally in winter there are biggish slips around here, but I'm a long time Wellingtonian and the last time we were really isolated like this was the 1968 Wahine Storm when we couldn't get out for three days.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    I do love the fluttery white stuff that falls from the sky, I should say.

    Things did actually look pretty dicey in Wellington last night though. People stranded, buses off the road, the electricity flickering on and off. Brrr.

    Is this simply a result of building systems around temperate weather assumptions? I don't begrudge Wellington this once, since it literally happens a few times in a century. But other parts of the country seem to fall into helplessness, despite snow being an occasional occurrence.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    -1 celcius in the roof of my house this morning. First time the HRV has shown a negative reading. Inside, 16. No heating was on. We had the place insulated this year. It really works. Big power saver.

    As soon as we get every house in the country insulated, we'll all be toasty and warm, save on power, avoid new generation needs, and cut greenhouse gases significantly. What's not to like?

    The wheels of progress turn slowly.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • David Haywood,

    Currently pouring 20 kW into our house and can’t get the temperature above 15 deg C. Spent more than $30 yesterday alone on heating. Heating bill could be close to $1000 for this month (not including water heating).

    In its pre-earthquake state, the house was insulated above code, so I guess the polystyrene that I duct-taped over the place where the house has broken in two isn’t helping much.

    The four-year-old is sick, and the seven-month-old fractious (possibly getting sick). The road is 30 cm deep in snow and quite undrivable.

    I’m extremely worried that the electricity might cut out – or that we might have another big quake.

    In other circumstances I would be loving this snow; not so these days of living in post-apocalypse Avonside.

    In other news, I’m spending about six hours per day working on an insurance settlement. It appears that the news is much worse than I originally thought. We lose something like $140,000 on our purchase price (of a couple of years ago); and have to find around another $150,000 on top of that to move elsewhere in Christchurch. I can’t see the banks lending us another $290,000 on top of our existing mortgage (and I wouldn’t want to borrow this much in any case).

    So, unless CERA can do a deal on our special circumstances, it looks like we won’t be able to stay in Christchurch.

    Apparently, I can still find it in myself to complain after all.

    Dunsandel • Since Nov 2006 • 1156 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso, in reply to David Haywood,

    So, unless CERA can do a deal on our special circumstances, it looks like we won’t be able to stay on Christchurch.

    Oh, David. Christ.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to David Haywood,

    So, unless CERA can do a deal on our special circumstances, it looks like we won’t be able to stay in Christchurch.

    Damn. Damn, damn, damn.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    Sigh - Auckland has it tough - we giggled at the excited Aucklanders on TV last night - if we're lucky, and the current rain/melt doesn't refreeze like it did last time, we'll be able to get our car out tomorrow ....

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to BenWilson,

    -1 celcius in the roof of my house this morning. First time the HRV has shown a negative reading. Inside, 16. No heating was on. We had the place insulated this year. It really works. Big power saver.

    It's very noticeable in the extension we added last year -- double glazing (that's the rules now) and insulation top and bottom. It does work. In the old lounge, I amused myself by seeing how much ti-tree and old rimu framing from the house I could get going in the Jetmaster at one time.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch, in reply to David Haywood,

    The four-year-old is sick, and the seven-month-old fractious (possibly getting sick). The road is 30 cm deep in snow and quite undrivable.

    I’m extremely worried that the electricity might cut out – or that we might have another big quake.

    In other circumstances I would be loving this snow; not so these days of living in post-apocalypse Avonside.

    Like Giovanni said, intense. Hope you're as okay as you can be.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    We are stranded at home today in Wellington. Can't drive or walk outside on our mildy hilly street.

    There have to quite a lot of Wellingtonians in similar situations. I hope they're all okay (especially those with particular needs, and the less robust).

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Grant McDougall,

    It's still cold as a bastard here in Dunedin. There is still thick snow everywhere, but this morning it started raining heavily, too. The snow is melting slightly, but also getting icey.
    While the main roads are open there's not a lot of traffic. I had to make an emergency dash to the supermarket around the corner and was pleasantly surprised to see there was some bread and milk there. (I thought either I'd been beaten by others stocking up or the trucks not getting through; the Kilmog is closed according to the radio).

    It's amusing seeing Aucklanders getting excited over a smattering, if that, of snow. Yesterday I had an e-mail from a friend gushing about how snow had fallen in Manuwera which, granted, must've been a somewhat novel and surreal occurence there.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

  • JLM,

    For people who need to walk, slit an old pair of woolly socks or grab a pair of stretchy airline socks inside out, and but them on top of your shoes. Works a treat for packed snow or frost. (Even been scientifically proven in good old Dunedin if I can find the reference)

    Judy Martin's southern sl… • Since Apr 2007 • 241 posts Report Reply

  • noizyboy,

    Ran home from the CBD to Island Bay last night, down Adelaide Road, directly into the southerly. Much as I felt like bit of a martyr for running, hats off to the many more souls I saw cycling home into the storm. Still, it was a magic sight, and when the new flood-lit Wakefield Park came into view (or, at least, became partly visible through the brilliantly illuminated snowflakes), I thought to myself that here's a sight I'll probably never see again.

    But wish I'd worn some gloves -- couldn't feel my hands at the end.

    wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 171 posts Report Reply

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