Kiwi

Here we go! Pouring with rain here for the last 30 minutes and now 5 rumbles of thunder within the last couple of minutes.

Thanks - all seems ok - non cancerous- I just need to keep a close watch on things, which I do religiously. My uncle, who lived near Kaitaia, died a couple of years ago from skin cancer so I know the importance of covering up and keeping an eye out on what my skin is doing. Hey ... anyway the nights are starting to draw in here, it's raining and the likelihood of a scorching summer here in UK seems to be diminishing rapidly.

Yes that's exactly what it is - I've got two in my garden also flowering this year. Not sure about them dying after flowering - as these plants of mine also flowered 2 years ago, while those in my dads garden back in NZ flower most years.

Most Brits don't understand how extreme the strength of the sun can be in NZ. I had to explain to my GP the other day that the reason I was now needing to have various bits of my skin chopped/frozen off was due to my years in NZ - in particular my childhood (late 60s/early 70s) when sunscreen was unheard of and it was normal to shed a couple of layers of skin each summer due to sunburn. He was worried that I might be spending too much time under the scorching skies of a Hampshire summer (all 10 days of it!)

mmm you're right about the slow growth -- I've got a long one, about 50m -- it's a bit of a mare to cut and I was only looking at it yesterday thinking it could wait for a few more weeks as growth seems slow -- leaves looks healthy though.

Thanks JO7. Looking like it could be a good season. I'm very surprised that Whakapapa and Turoa aren't opening earlier given the conditions and the fact that Mt Taranaki is already skiable. No doubt my sis will be taking advantage at the earliest opportunity. Any avid skier reading this who has wondered about a ski trip all the way down to NZ should do it. Great skiing and the opportunity to ski on an active volcano. Turoa and Whakapapa (my favourite) are both on Mt Ruapehu -- complete with alarm system to warn you to ski out of the valleys and on to the ridges thus avoiding the lava flows during an eruption!!

Yes I recorded -11C several times in January and February. 2 Dicksonia down and two survived (those protected by other trees seem to have fared best). Cabbage trees, toi toi and flax have all survived fine. My little corner of NZ in Hampshire is damaged but will prevail!

Two of my Dicksonia Antarctica didn't appreciate the very low temps we got here. They've died having survived the previous 6 winters. On the plus side I'm hoping that the cold will have knocked a few of our summer pests on the head -- especially the wasps which I have a real phobia of.

Memories. Horrible but spectacular. I spent a good few school holidays at my Aunts place (they used to run the school at Te Hapua, close to cape Reinga) I remember some spectacular gales up there... and loved spirits bay on those blowy days.

Cool and frosty here -1.2c at the mo A light sleet shower 4pm ish but generally a nice bright day.

Suprised that the windchill is only showing 0c!!

Latest forecast on Sky seems to have the low running much further south than I'd expected with the cut-off for any precipitation being the north midlands. Should be an interesting day.

Still lots of snow lying in the fields and gardens but it has been thawing slowly. Temp 1.5c and now starting to drop . Lots of slush and water on the roads which no doubt this will freeze quickly tonight and provide a very icy base for the dump that we're expecting tomorrow morning. I'm expecting a real nightmare on the roads around here tomorrow and unfortuately we've got to get to a funeral tomorrow lunchtime.

Hi Jy it sounds as if the western fringes of the snowless triangle are getting more snow than the eastern parts! Nothing here yet, but lots of No potential.

What's the story with this rain/sleet/snow ... it just seems to die away as it comes inland. Look at the blob off the IOW at 1830 it looked pretty good, then an hour later and a few miles inland over hampshire it has virtually died away. Will this stuff ever get to me?? let alone the Midlands!

Great news Kate! especially the falling temps as I was worried about this lot turning to sleet/rain.. send it this way please. Hampshire and Dorset moving north. And Wales. Sorry ... I think you'll have to wait until the Thur/Fri event up their in Leicester.

Tipping down with snow again. The council obviously haven't noticed as even the main roads haven't been gritted. Trailor carrying hay bales has spilt its load all over the road in Sherborne-St -John and a lorry jackknifed on the main Tadley- Basingstoke rd. Daft really all for the want of a bit of salt/grit.

-3c and tipping down with snow at the moment. One of those pesky showers on the radar ... bring it on!! My boys weren't happy as their school was open, so no toboganning today. I've just negotiated some v icy country lanes to drop them off, but if these showers continue I'm half expecting a call to pick them up by lunchtime.

Light snow here in north hampshire. Roads and cars covered in a thin layer---with temp of -2.7c !!! Didn't expect anything until gone midnight!

Very poor ... I thought you folks up north lived on the stuff and.... isn't it mild and windy in your neck of the woods yet??

Went for a Hobgoblin --- I reckon I'm playing catch up!!

Temp up here over the last hour up from -6c to -4.4c. A virtual heatwave! What beer are you on Bottesford?? I've just polished off a Bishops Finger myself and am now contemplating another ... or possibly a Becks

-5.9c, rate of drop slowing somewhat. xcweather showing -6 ar RAF Odiham.

Now down to -5.2 !!!

-4.6c here already at 5pm. Didn't expect it to be so cold here today... didn't get above freezing. The trees look fantastic -- a real winter wonderland.