Report from Stonehaven, Scotland.

[adam2]

Latest report, the realtives who are staying with my my friends report that their home in Stonehaven town centre is badly damaged by flooding.
No significant damage at my friends property, fences blown down seems to be the limit of damage.
Cut off by roads closed due to fallen trees and washed out drains and culverts.
One of the neighbours sheep was badly hurt, and killed with a gun to prevent suffering. Butchered and to be eaten today.
Lack of hot water is a slight problem, immersion heater run from generator at night when other loads are limited. Back boiler of stove cant keep up with demand for extra baths and showers.

[adam2]

They are again suffering from bad weather, nothing truly extreme, but "earlier and colder than expected".
Plenty of food, fuel and other supplies. Visiting children dissapointed that the weather is cold, but not enough snow for sledginhg.
Local DNO staff "poised for action" and are now better equiped for extreme weather.

[BritDownUnder]

Lack of hot water is a slight problem, immersion heater run from generator at night when other loads are limited. Back boiler of stove cant keep up with demand for extra baths and showers.

I missed out on this one but have they considered heat recovery from all the warm water emptied out of the bath?

[adam2]

No heat recovery from used bathwater is installed.
Running the immersion heater from the generator when other loads are limited has now been automated, when the load is less than about 16 amps (adjustable) the immersion heater is automatically turned on by means of current sensing relay.

[adam2]

All has been well during the recent cold, and windstorms.
Power failed several times, generator worked perfectly.
Heating was just about sufficient, stove run at full output for several days.

Extra coal used, large stocks of fire wood still too damp to use.
Extra propane used as the gas lights were used in the coldest weather on account of the heat produced.
Several persons very glad of the long underwear recently purchased, and also impressed by the warmth and comfort of 100% wool blankets for beds. NOT Velux, "horrid things"
Visiting children enjoyed the weather, and tried a home made sledge powered by a sail.

The local DNO staff again used some nearby moorland as a base camp and staging area.

[BritDownUnder]

Pity about the firewood being too wet. The solution is to cut more firewood and wait. In parts of Switzerland the houses are surrounded by huge elaborately stacked piles of firewood.

I spent countless house watching the cut ends of logs that were a bit wet bubbling and exuding some kind of brown liquid.

[adam2]

Most of the firewood is damaged utility poles and trees brought down by storm Arwen, supplies are almost unlimited but still too wet to burn..
Coal is therefore the main fuel at present.

The home made wind powered sledge was enjoyed by grand children, it ran downhill like any other sledge but could also run up hill with a favourable wind.

Grand children have learnt that being cold in bed is not an unavoidable result of severe winter weather but is due to unsuitable or inadequate bedding.

Cats, dogs and children enjoyed the brief spell of severe cold weather.

Two older children enjoyed driving a Land rover in the snow, and learnt the merits of driving in low gear and keeping moving, at low speed.

[BritDownUnder]

Maybe some kind of 'log cabin' could be constructed out of these poles. It might form a shelter to allow other poles to dry enough and could always be dismantled for extra fuel when needed. I always thought the poles in Australia were soaked in creosote so they could not get wet. Termites get the poles over here.

Never underestimate how much fuel you will need. For all you know we might be back to steam power in 20 year on the energy descent trajectory.

[adam2]

Update regarding recent severe weather.
Several power cuts but only short ones. Generator worked fine.
Propane stocks now ample. Snowed in but only briefly.
Weather was cold and windy but only a bit worse than normal for this area.
No weather damage to house or outbuildings.

A flying machine made a forced landing, and the operator broke several bones. Not a proper aircraft but some type of powered parachute. Evacuated by air ambulance and expected to make a full recovery.

[adam2]

Severe weather again. Area is under an amber warning for wind, and with a second amber warning coming into force tomorrow.
Electricity cut off, some roads closed by fallen trees.
Ample stocks of food and most fuel. Petrol store now empty as only 30 litres may be stored and this has now been used for chainsaws.

The new conservatory withstood a measured wind speed of 104 MPH.

Only a brief report as via Inmarsat phone at £1 a minute, no landline or cellphone service.