h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Stupid van doors are frozen shut. The tailgate lock has been a bit funny over the last week, and this morning had to resort to using warm water. Open. Shut. Open.

Front doors open. No problem there. So start loading up with arctic gear, snow poles, shovel, extra , blankets, etc. Get all dressed up (Beauty wears two coats), all into front garden, open sliding side door, and an abrupt halt. Damn door's frozen! Decide to shut it again. Pants. It won't move at all. It's now stuck open a tiny bit. Lock up, ring daddy, he happens to have just left his house so pops round. Door now opens before he's even out of his car. Shut it again. Test tailgate. That's refrozen. Shut sliding door to test it. Opens even less than last time, and now the button's sort of half down so we can't move it even with two of us, because it needs to be shut properly to clear the lock and we can't do it.

Dad is determined to get it sorted out, but I'm worried that if we do get the dogs in, I won't be able to get them out again. Or that I'll collect all my customer's dogs, walk for an hour, and not be able to get back into the van in the park.

If it warms up (HAHAHAHAHA) I'll risk it to get out to (I have four of them to care for and we're not 100% sure owners will be able to get back into the country the day they're meant to), otherwise I'm going to get a if I can find one - if not it'll be dad to the rescue!

I can see so many other people out and about in their cars and vans, is it just the sliding doors that are playing up in this weather, or is it because it is very cold at the front of my house? It's north facing and often my snow/frost is still hanging around when it's all gone on the other side of the road.

I don't know the temp outside, but the weather people say it's -4 in Southend and -4 in London, and I'm about halfway between them.

ooh look, sun is trying to come out, but also it's snowing, and the sun won't hit my van anyway.

I couldn't get my wheelie bin lid opened today, and because the bin men didn't turn up at the weekend like they were supposed to the lid now refuses to shut thanks to two weeks worth of rubbish

I think you win.

My brother has just given me some tips, so hopefully will be okay tomorrow. He said silicone dashboard cleaner on rubber stops it sticking. Is there rubber on a wheelie bin?

Nah, just plastic on plastic. Tempted to put some de-icer on it tonight though! Would a scoosh of de-icer maybe help on your doors I wonder?

I don't like using it as I've heard it's not good for the rubber (could be v out of date advice of course!). I didn't have any to try, although my dad said I could squirt some in the lock which would help.

Maybe I just wanted a day off.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5777773_open-frozen-car-door-deicer.html Just found that although might not work on a sliding door, and of course relies on me having access to warm water (not in the middle of a park!).

It says WD40 will do the same job as dashboard cleaner, I've got some of that.