ALL Lothian buses are cancelled. No way to get home, no news except a stupid message on their site. It would take me at least an hour and a half to walk home in optimal conditions, so probably around 3 hours in the snow. This was supposed to be my last week at work, I was meaning to get so much done and leave a good impression of how efficient I can be. Now I’ll probably need to go home in the next hour and abandon everything, just so I can get home.
I still love snow, but I hate how unprepared we are in Scotland for it. I love this country, I moved here from the other side of the world and decided to stay, and it isn’t often I whinge and moan about it. But this is taking the biscuit. We have had extreme snow for the past few years, and still no one will admit it’s coming…and actually prepare for it. What’s wrong with sticking snow tyres on buses and providing adequate snowplough services? We used to get far more snow than this in Toronto when I was a wee kid, and the city never ground to a complete halt like this.
One year at Hogmanay, there was a blizzard – this was a white-out, the kind never seen in Scotland. I was in Toronto; me and my friend Pete had gone to a warehouse party downtown and we were pretty much stuck – you couldn’t see a foot in front of your face it was that bad. We still managed tog et a taxi, and there were night buses running (though not to where we wanted to go).
Why the hell is it so difficult to make provisions for snow in this country???
Showing posts with label snow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label snow. Show all posts
Monday, 6 December 2010
Review: Yaktrax Ice Grips (for shoes)
I love snow. I love playing in the snow, although sometimes my idea of “play” is an 8 hour ski day, finishing with me crawling knackered out of my ski boots and into a pair of fluffy sheepskin boots. I do love my outdoor sports in the winter; ice skating on a real frozen pond, long walks on crunchy fresh snow, barrelling down a hillside on an old wooden toboggan (my early Christmas present from my boyfriend).
What I don’t love is trying to walk on ice, which is what we have now. My street is just covered in sheet ice, and it’s a nightmare to walk on it. That is, until I found these. I’d heard about them before as it was mentioned in the latest e-newsletter from Energia Athletics in Toronto (164 Danforth Ave, Toronto M4K 1N1). Energia is one of my favourite gyms in the world, and I wish it were here. They do my favourite classes – kettlebell and yoga – and the teachers are great.
As much as folk try to deny it in this country, snow has been coming in thick and fast the past couple winters, and we are repeatedly unprepared for it. I remember about 9 or 10 years ago, a good friend of mine from uni was planning to come visit me in Toronto over the Christmas holidays. He nearly didn’t make it over as Glasgow was experiencing 2 inches of snow, and Glasgow airport had lent their only snowplough to Aberdeen. Only snowplough? That’s madness!
Yaktrax are designed for the kind of conditions expected in Canada and the Eastern US states (NYC and Boston are pretty snow-covered this time of year, if I remember correctly). They are like snow tyres for your feet; they look like something a Spiderman impersonator may wear (complete with rubber webbing) to try to scale tall buildings. My boyfriend says they are slip-on crampons, which climbers use. These can be used everyday in the snow, and they’re reasonably affordable in comparison to the technical gear ice climbers use. You can slip them over any footwear, although I think a sturdier shoe is probably best and would be comfier to wear. I haven’t tried them on my Celtic Uggs yet, but once I do I think I may just be unstoppable – sheepskin goodness with a non-slip, failsafe sole? Oh yes!
It was snowing when I left for work this morning, as it has done for the past week. I’m pretty used to it now, and I’ve been one of the sensible folk trekking through town in a pair of hiking boots or wellies rather than more “traditional” work shoes. Now I know many people do not have the luxury I do of being able to wear whatever I damn well please to work, but still there is no excuse for the wee high heeled footprints I’ve seen more than once on my travels!
I don’t have a problem walking in snow, as I am Canadian and spent my winters buried in the stuff as a child. However ice is still a hazard for me, and as I am a person who has enough problems walking on dry ground in the summer without tripping over my own feet, ice is a particular problem. I am spectacularly uncoordinated, and even in hiking boots I skid a little with every step.
Aha, well not with these! I almost didn’t believe my boyfriend last night when he waxed lyrical about their amazingness after taking the dog for a walk at midnight. We’d both bought a pair at Tiso, but it was late when we got home so I never tried mine out until today. Now I can safely say these are the best things for winter since they invented the woolly socks and Gore-tex. I was already out the door this morning when I remembered we’d bought these, so I ran back in to put them on. I was wearing wellies with a pair of skinnies, so there was no problem getting them over my shoes. I stepped out onto the pavement outside my flat and didn’t skid at all, not even a millimetre. It was like walking on fresh snow, only with snow tyres on. I knew there was sheet ice under the layer of snow, as I could feel the crunch – didn’t slide or slip, and if I hadn’t known it was slippy by the people skidding around all over the place walking their dogs and crossing the street, I would have been blissfully oblivious.
It felt a little weird once I got in to work, as the chains made a clinking noise reminiscent of Jacob Marley’s ghost in A Christmas Carol. On bare pavement where there is no snow, the Yaktrax felt a little strange as well, but it’s a small price to pay for not falling on one’s bum on black ice.
I have had at least 3 comments since I got in today, all from people impressed with this ingenious invention.
I love these, and I shall be wearing them every day until the snow melts.
What I don’t love is trying to walk on ice, which is what we have now. My street is just covered in sheet ice, and it’s a nightmare to walk on it. That is, until I found these. I’d heard about them before as it was mentioned in the latest e-newsletter from Energia Athletics in Toronto (164 Danforth Ave, Toronto M4K 1N1). Energia is one of my favourite gyms in the world, and I wish it were here. They do my favourite classes – kettlebell and yoga – and the teachers are great.
As much as folk try to deny it in this country, snow has been coming in thick and fast the past couple winters, and we are repeatedly unprepared for it. I remember about 9 or 10 years ago, a good friend of mine from uni was planning to come visit me in Toronto over the Christmas holidays. He nearly didn’t make it over as Glasgow was experiencing 2 inches of snow, and Glasgow airport had lent their only snowplough to Aberdeen. Only snowplough? That’s madness!
Yaktrax are designed for the kind of conditions expected in Canada and the Eastern US states (NYC and Boston are pretty snow-covered this time of year, if I remember correctly). They are like snow tyres for your feet; they look like something a Spiderman impersonator may wear (complete with rubber webbing) to try to scale tall buildings. My boyfriend says they are slip-on crampons, which climbers use. These can be used everyday in the snow, and they’re reasonably affordable in comparison to the technical gear ice climbers use. You can slip them over any footwear, although I think a sturdier shoe is probably best and would be comfier to wear. I haven’t tried them on my Celtic Uggs yet, but once I do I think I may just be unstoppable – sheepskin goodness with a non-slip, failsafe sole? Oh yes!
It was snowing when I left for work this morning, as it has done for the past week. I’m pretty used to it now, and I’ve been one of the sensible folk trekking through town in a pair of hiking boots or wellies rather than more “traditional” work shoes. Now I know many people do not have the luxury I do of being able to wear whatever I damn well please to work, but still there is no excuse for the wee high heeled footprints I’ve seen more than once on my travels!
I don’t have a problem walking in snow, as I am Canadian and spent my winters buried in the stuff as a child. However ice is still a hazard for me, and as I am a person who has enough problems walking on dry ground in the summer without tripping over my own feet, ice is a particular problem. I am spectacularly uncoordinated, and even in hiking boots I skid a little with every step.
Aha, well not with these! I almost didn’t believe my boyfriend last night when he waxed lyrical about their amazingness after taking the dog for a walk at midnight. We’d both bought a pair at Tiso, but it was late when we got home so I never tried mine out until today. Now I can safely say these are the best things for winter since they invented the woolly socks and Gore-tex. I was already out the door this morning when I remembered we’d bought these, so I ran back in to put them on. I was wearing wellies with a pair of skinnies, so there was no problem getting them over my shoes. I stepped out onto the pavement outside my flat and didn’t skid at all, not even a millimetre. It was like walking on fresh snow, only with snow tyres on. I knew there was sheet ice under the layer of snow, as I could feel the crunch – didn’t slide or slip, and if I hadn’t known it was slippy by the people skidding around all over the place walking their dogs and crossing the street, I would have been blissfully oblivious.
It felt a little weird once I got in to work, as the chains made a clinking noise reminiscent of Jacob Marley’s ghost in A Christmas Carol. On bare pavement where there is no snow, the Yaktrax felt a little strange as well, but it’s a small price to pay for not falling on one’s bum on black ice.
I have had at least 3 comments since I got in today, all from people impressed with this ingenious invention.
I love these, and I shall be wearing them every day until the snow melts.
Thursday, 2 December 2010
Motivation low, fading fast...
Winter is a terrible time for me as far as motivation goes. All summer I was going to the gym 3 days a week, and even when I was on holiday I was at the gym doing kettlebell classes 6 days a week and yoga straight afterwards as well. I really worked my butt off in Toronto this summer; shame it was only for a couple weeks!
Well, now winter has well and truly arrived I haven’t done one tiny smidgen of exercise. I definitely feel unfit, and I’m quite tired – I’ve found it harder and harder to wake up at 6:00 am for work now. Especially since we got our new curtains which block out the outside world brilliantly. Can’t blame the curtains though, as even when they’re open at that time in the morning it is totally dark outside. This morning, it was still dark when I got off the bus at work.
Depressing.
I can’t be bothered to go to the gym, as it would involve traipsing through the snow to get there from the bus stop, and then back up the hill again to get the bus home. It’s already pitch black by the time I leave work anyways.
I need some bloody motivation!!
I think now uni has finished for the term, I’ll start going back to yoga. I need to do something or I’ll go stir crazy, and it’s not helping that my boyfriend wakes up waaay later than I do (yes I know 6:00 am is antisocial) and is perky at midnight, when I’m barely able to prop my eyelids open.
I need to do something soon.
I’ve ordered Insanity from Amazon, so am hoping it will arrive over the weekend. I’ve heard good things about it, and I think it will definitely help being able to do a workout at home that will kick my butt. That was what I loved about kettlebells – totally takes it out of you and you definitely feel like you’ve done a hard workout. My trainer at my gym always makes sure I don’t go away feeling I’ve had an easy time!
I want to get more days in skiing this winter as well. Last year I wasn’t even working or going to uni, but I only managed to go twice (thrice if you count the dry slope, which I don’t). I miss getting in a full 2 weeks of skiing in Whistler every winter, plus whatever random ski days I could muster up. I think if I had to live in Canada again, Whistler would be the place. I would be happy being a ski bum!
I’d probably also be skinny. The last time I can remember being able to eat anything I wanted and still fit into a size small trouser was when I was doing 8 hours on the slopes every day and stuffing my face every night. I could eat anything I wanted and just burned it off the next day.
I miss those days…
Well, now winter has well and truly arrived I haven’t done one tiny smidgen of exercise. I definitely feel unfit, and I’m quite tired – I’ve found it harder and harder to wake up at 6:00 am for work now. Especially since we got our new curtains which block out the outside world brilliantly. Can’t blame the curtains though, as even when they’re open at that time in the morning it is totally dark outside. This morning, it was still dark when I got off the bus at work.
Depressing.
I can’t be bothered to go to the gym, as it would involve traipsing through the snow to get there from the bus stop, and then back up the hill again to get the bus home. It’s already pitch black by the time I leave work anyways.
I need some bloody motivation!!
I think now uni has finished for the term, I’ll start going back to yoga. I need to do something or I’ll go stir crazy, and it’s not helping that my boyfriend wakes up waaay later than I do (yes I know 6:00 am is antisocial) and is perky at midnight, when I’m barely able to prop my eyelids open.
I need to do something soon.
I’ve ordered Insanity from Amazon, so am hoping it will arrive over the weekend. I’ve heard good things about it, and I think it will definitely help being able to do a workout at home that will kick my butt. That was what I loved about kettlebells – totally takes it out of you and you definitely feel like you’ve done a hard workout. My trainer at my gym always makes sure I don’t go away feeling I’ve had an easy time!
I want to get more days in skiing this winter as well. Last year I wasn’t even working or going to uni, but I only managed to go twice (thrice if you count the dry slope, which I don’t). I miss getting in a full 2 weeks of skiing in Whistler every winter, plus whatever random ski days I could muster up. I think if I had to live in Canada again, Whistler would be the place. I would be happy being a ski bum!
I’d probably also be skinny. The last time I can remember being able to eat anything I wanted and still fit into a size small trouser was when I was doing 8 hours on the slopes every day and stuffing my face every night. I could eat anything I wanted and just burned it off the next day.
I miss those days…
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
Snow Day
It took me from 7 am this morning til 10:30 to get to work. How depressing. The bus would not stop in Bruntsfield for about 3 hours, just sped on past – there were 3 other folk waiting as well, though we were sat in the juice bar in front of the stop…all came running out when we saw the bus approaching and just looked so demoralised when yet another bus went by without stopping. MEAN, MEAN BUS DRIVERS!!! Though it was probably comedy gold from the POV of the girl working behind the counter at the juice bar.
Edinburgh is strangely unprepared for snow. As my street is a dead end, no one has shovelled – my boyfriend spent the past two days scraping our steps and the steps of the next door neighbours (the family we actually like), but other than our 3 sets of steps the others seem remarkably undisturbed. Maybe they have retreated underground and have decided to join the mole people? I’m not sure, but there is about 2 feet of snow on top of most of the cars.
Edinburgh is strangely unprepared for snow. As my street is a dead end, no one has shovelled – my boyfriend spent the past two days scraping our steps and the steps of the next door neighbours (the family we actually like), but other than our 3 sets of steps the others seem remarkably undisturbed. Maybe they have retreated underground and have decided to join the mole people? I’m not sure, but there is about 2 feet of snow on top of most of the cars.
Random thoughts
1. I saw baby Uggs the other day, so very cute but I wasn’t sure whether they said “practical and cosy in winter” or “I also carry my dog around in a handbag”. Mind you, our puppy has a pair of hiking boots, so I’m probably not the right person to judge.
2. My boyfriend was offered a chocolate lab/collie cross pup and so “Princess” (our cat) has been living in fear ever since. Ever since she heard the words “new puppy” she’s been throwing things into a suitcase (her spare fat suit, a travel sized bag of cat treats, a bandana) and stomping around the flat in a huff.
3. Boyfriend tried to take the puppy for a walk yesterday but Baby Boy decided to do his business about 3 inches from our front step…don’t think he fancied his chances in the Links, the snow on our front step came up past his belly.
4. “Princess” went outside and slid down our neighbour’s tin shed room (heh, cat on a cold tin roof) – came back more white and very unimpressed. Maybe more unimpressed as I was stood at the window taking photos. Is that considered animal cruelty?
5. The boyfriend was thinking up ways to retrieve her – the most sensible suggestion was asking the neighbours to let us into their garden, but the one we should have gone for was a large spoon attached to a long poking device made of disposable chopsticks. Used ones of course, as we are trying to be environmentally friendly. I suggested we poke her with the pointy end to get her attention, and then retract the poking device quickly into the flat and try to scoop her up with the spoon end. Could you imagine her happy little face when she realised she was getting prodded in the side with a dirty chopstick?
2. My boyfriend was offered a chocolate lab/collie cross pup and so “Princess” (our cat) has been living in fear ever since. Ever since she heard the words “new puppy” she’s been throwing things into a suitcase (her spare fat suit, a travel sized bag of cat treats, a bandana) and stomping around the flat in a huff.
3. Boyfriend tried to take the puppy for a walk yesterday but Baby Boy decided to do his business about 3 inches from our front step…don’t think he fancied his chances in the Links, the snow on our front step came up past his belly.
4. “Princess” went outside and slid down our neighbour’s tin shed room (heh, cat on a cold tin roof) – came back more white and very unimpressed. Maybe more unimpressed as I was stood at the window taking photos. Is that considered animal cruelty?
5. The boyfriend was thinking up ways to retrieve her – the most sensible suggestion was asking the neighbours to let us into their garden, but the one we should have gone for was a large spoon attached to a long poking device made of disposable chopsticks. Used ones of course, as we are trying to be environmentally friendly. I suggested we poke her with the pointy end to get her attention, and then retract the poking device quickly into the flat and try to scoop her up with the spoon end. Could you imagine her happy little face when she realised she was getting prodded in the side with a dirty chopstick?
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