As the winter approaches and indeed has hit the UK quite badly by all accounts I'm wondering how other people cope with being snowed in? - either in the UK or here in BG.

We've managed quite well in our part of BG the last few years and not had any major problems but it's not unusual for us to be snowed in for a few weeks. By snowed in I mean unable to get the car out, we can still walk out and at least get to the local shops to buy basics.

So what do you do, how do you cope?

hi suzee, we are in bulgaria and this will be our 4th winter. we accept that we will be housebound for a good month when the snow arrives. we are completley blocked by the snow, I make sure we are well stocked up with supplies and a variety of heating so we are well prepared. it can get boring at times, so we often decorate at this time of year.
the roads are too dangerous to even consider going out and just not worth it.
I like the winters here and so do my dogs.
my only concern is if we had an emergency, we could not get out and no one would be able to get to us either.
:C: :Snow window:

We're pretty much the same Starlite and expect to be snowed in at some point. It's not worth digging the car out because as you say the roads are quite hazardous so we don't plan on going anywhere.

I'll be stocking up on essentials soon and restocking the freezer and animal feed stores to help us get through those few weeks. To be honest I quite like the calmness and enjoy the chance to chill out, read a few books, watch films and get round to some of the jobs we've been putting off inside the house while the weather has been good and we've been able to work outside.

I'm looking forward to firing the central heating up again too, not that I'm feeling cold yet.

The kids are the ones who don't cope as easily with being snowed in. This year they won't be going to school if the weather is bad as they've moved into a school in town (22km's away) and if the bus doesn't get here it can't be helped. Although they have plenty of DVD's to keep them amused and sledges if they want to have fun outside. Although now that they're both teenagers they'll probably decide they're too old for all of that and hibernate instead!

We find that winter time gives us the chance to socialise more with neighbours and Bulgarian friends as they aren't busy working in their gardens, so I'm sure at some point there'll be a few drinks and a get together or 3.

We were snowed in once in the UK and twice so far in BG.

In the UK we lived half way up a hill and it was completely comical to watch people trying to drive up the hill :C:Talk about one step forward two back. Then they would give up and look around for someone to help them push the cars to one side. I always went out every year and put rock salt down, but never a thank you, then one year I said s*d it and didn't bother. Some cheeky so and so only came and asked why I had not done it that time. :LMHO:You don't want to know the answer he got

Here it is a different story. Everybody helps everybody-else out. Real community spirit We stock up as does everyone and find the little jobs that need doing. But here I just rock salt my paths as the road is cleared by the local farmer but only if he needs to get the tractor out :Snow window:

have you tried making a snowball in bulgaria, you cant, its so soft it wont stick together, then after 2 days the snow becomes solid ice, so again you cant make a snowball. its to do with the temperature, the colder it is, the softer the snow. bit of trivia but true.

Nice piece of trivia Starlite. Must admit I don't try and make snowballs now - I'm usually too busy trying to remove the snow from one of our dogs who loves it but always comes home looking like a yeti!

Tonyb60 great story and you're right, here people muck in together, clear what needs cleared and get on with life. tractors usually clear most of the village roads and as long as you've got firewood and food everything is good.

Last year we ran out of pig food and dog food due to being snowed in for 3 weeks and not having huge amounts of storage space for animal feed. The dogs were happy on leftovers, pasta, rice etc and I had huge pans of barley boiled every day to feed the pigs which they loved. It does get a bit tedious being stuck at home for weeks but I'd still rather be here than back in the UK stuck in traffic etc.

we havent got snow yet? in fact i still sit out in middle of day reading my BG language book, after popping washing out, still in T shirts some days, so it must be warmer here as im more south i think? in Izvorovo near Chirpan, Stara Zagora, last yr was my first winter my daughter who's been here 3 yrs said prepare for a bad time mum, which i did stocking up with everything, &
then it wasent to bad at all, just about 6 weeks in all &
2 seperate weeks i was stuck in as snow plough dident clear my bit, dont know why he must have had to reverse as my house is last on the lane what a meany, the village shop stocks most of what you need &
milkman lives on next street so you manage dont you? the dog loves it &
she stays clean in snow which is a bonus, lol sandra

sandra6 wrote:

we havent got snow yet? in fact i still sit out in middle of day reading my BG language book, after popping washing out, still in T shirts some days, so it must be warmer here as im more south i think? in Izvorovo near Chirpan, Stara Zagora, last yr was my first winter my daughter who's been here 3 yrs said prepare for a bad time mum, which i did stocking up with everything, &
then it wasent to bad at all, just about 6 weeks in all &
2 seperate weeks i was stuck in as snow plough dident clear my bit, dont know why he must have had to reverse as my house is last on the lane what a meany, the village shop stocks most of what you need &
milkman lives on next street so you manage dont you? the dog loves it &
she stays clean in snow which is a bonus, lol sandra

Milkman? Never seen one in BG, closes thing thing we have, is a mate of mine going down to milk his cows. Often offered fresh milk straight out of the cow, but so far have said no a bit too creamy for us

Don't be fooled by the weather it will get here I promise, but even though it might get colder than the UK it does not seem so cold, now is that Greek or what

thanks to all for great welcome,
about the milkman i have to go to him for my milk on next street, i only go once a week as its fattening but i love it, just 1 cup a day (i freeze rest in little bottles cos it would go off) &
i dont like tea or coffee, but have always drunk milk, its very good here but i sieve it &
give pip the cat the creamy bit,
&
the snow yes it will come eventually, but the longer it stays away the better altho apart from not liking to drive in it its nice to have seasons, im always ready for the next 1 its so hot in summer i enjoy the autumn etc, sandra

Oh dear, it is even snowing on the forum now, what ever next
:C: Congratulations to the cleaver people on the site that can make things like this happen :Snow window:

Willowsend there's a thread here about it [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
t=3622 and have you noticed the top of the forum to