Getting through the day that the diesel fuel froze in the milk tanker
SIR – I remember a day during the winter of 1981 in Oxford. My frozen ladies hardly gave any milk and a mile down the road the Milk Marketing Board tanker, after collecting my miserable contribution, ground to a halt because its diesel fuel froze.
I was told it was minus 26C at RAF Brize Norton. I had to fetch water in buckets from the river Windrush and get it to my animals before it froze.
I remember saying to myself that if I could get through this I could get through anything. Peter Ross
Ovingdean, East Sussex
SIR – Fifty years ago, after I had walked to school, I wrote in my school notebook: “Today is the first day of spring and we have nearly one foot of snow.”
I don’t think today I would write anything – the school would be closed. What happened in the years since? Dean James
Maldon, Essex
SIR – Here in East Suffolk there were no trains on Tuesday and Wednesday on two rural lines and very few buses.
The snow was about three inches deep. Greater Anglia said it did not want passengers stranded in cold trains.
The lines between Ipswich and Felixstowe and Ipswich and Lowestoft are fairly flat, and the terrain makes serious snowdrifts unlikely. The lines are served by diesel trains, so there should be no power failure.
It would appear that those responsible are not trying to maintain a public service. Peter Jones
Woodbridge, Suffolk
SIR – What is it about Royal Mail? For three days we have had no post, yet the newspapers arrive by 8.30am and we have had deliveries from Amazon. David Hodges
Canterbury, Kent
SIR – Praise for Ken, who delivered our Daily Telegraph, as usual, before 7am.
Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s rang to cancel their delivery. Peter Harrison
Norwich SIR – Anticipating Thursday night’s snow, our milk for today was delivered yesterday morning – without our needing to ask.
You don’t get that service from a supermarket. Peter Clarke
Ottery St Mary, Devon
SIR – How are we going to keep warm in electric cars? My car’s internal combustion engine heats the water and this keeps an endless flow of warm air into the car.
In an electric car, I can see I will have to choose between getting home frozen stiff and putting the electric heater on and running out of power before arriving home. It’s back to the days of keeping a blanket in the car, just in case. Philip Hall
Petersfield, Hampshire
SIR – To all the motorists who persist in driving around in the equivalent of motorised igloos, with snow on their roofs, my advice would be to remove it using a soft-bristled brush. This would stop them putting themselves and others in jeopardy. Malcolm Goldie
Hildenborough, Kent
SIR – I find it in my heart to be grateful to those ignorant motorists who advertise their selfishness by failing to clear the snow off their rear windows. We are alerted to the fact that they never use their rear-view mirrors. JM Cawthorne
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
SIR – May I ask that we all think about how we can help our feathered friends to survive?
You can feed them seeds and grains such as oats and sunflower seeds, cooked pasta or rice, boiled potatoes, cheese, uncooked unsalted bacon rind, raisins and sultanas, suet balls, apples, pears and soft fruit. Don’t forget to leave out a bowl of clean water. Juliet Pattinson
Winchester, Hampshire
SIR – A pair of elasticated grippers such as Yaktraks should solve the problem of slippery shoes (Letters, March 1). They can be quickly and easily slipped on over shoes, or walking boots, and are available from suppliers of outdoor clothing and equipment. I hope they have not all been sold. Pat Holder
Lincoln
SIR – A pair of old fishing waders with tungsten-studded soles, cut off at knee height, make excellent snow boots. Myrtle Newsom
Sissinghurst, Kent