Bulbs sprouting..

No, it is not unusual, Usernut. A lot of bulbs put up a nose at this time of year, even some leaves, and then just sit there until flowering time. The cold does not harm them. Remember, your bulbouse irises will be flowering in only three months time now (end Jan/Feb)!

Oh how cheering - only 12 weeks, sounds like no time at all and the worst of the dark days will be well over, thanks Bulbaholic (and I'm not being sarcastic, I mean it!) ;-))

Thanks, that's a relief.
not really that far off is it..

Depends how old you are, Usernut - up my end, 12 weeks is nobbut a spit, it'll feel like 6 weeks;-))

Hear Hear Bamboo;-- !!!
Some bulbs I put in only a few weeks ago are already about two inches high.

heard someone on the radio talking about this yesterday its this " indian summer" they say its happening all over, said that last year at this time was really cold ( I can't remember!)

saw that in the newspapers yesterday, it was iced up here this time last year.

It was really cold at this time last year, but that was unusual, we hadn't had that happen for some years, so this warmth is much more the sort of thing we've had in the last decade. I believe there was snow at this time last year somewhere or other (not here in London)

it actually snowed (and settled a little) in Regents Park, London on 29th October last year.

Did it? I don't remember that, oh dear, my memory's starting to go...