Early on Tuesday morning I noticed a huge fountain of water gushing from my neighbour’s outside tap. The recent sub-zero temperatures had caused a pipe to bust and parts of the yard were rapidly disappearing under the deluge. Thankfully, after a quick phone-call, a plumber arrived and soon put everything back in order. Disaster averted.

Hopefully the water will drain away before the big freeze sets in. On Wednesday night the temperature will drop to -6 in our region. This will be followed by more snow on Friday and Saturday. Roads will be icy, paths slippery and lots more pipes are certain to burst. Not much fun – especially if you’re elderly or alone. In such harsh weather conditions please spare a thought for your neighbours. It only takes a moment to avert the next disaster.