Spoke too soon ...

Not much can top the excitement of two Canadians far from home who wake up to discover this going on outside their flat:


We went to sleep with dry pavement, and though snow was predicted we didn't expect it to materialise. But after the disappointment of Christmas, we got a taste of winter after all! Today most people didn't make it into work. Those of us who did had cameras along and went outside at noon to marvel at the snowy trees and make snowballs. Seems like this is a real rarity here. According to the BBC one man took his young son for a ride on a sled that hadn't been used for 38 years. I've seen so many photos of children excitedly making snowmen for all they're worth, cos it's meant to be 7 degrees tomorrow so it won't last. Which seems really poignant. Don't all children deserve snow? Even the Oxford students (for I assume 'twas they) had a little fun:

The snowmen take a stand (click on photo no. 3)

And besides, this country looks so pretty under snow, just like Narnia.



I'm trying not to be an obnoxious Canadian, all 'you call THIS snow?' I do smile behind my hand when I see this sort of thing:

"The deepest snow recorded so far fell in Worcester, where 10cm (4in) is lying and overnight temperatures plummeted to -4C (25F)."

Four inches of snow! Temperatures plummeting to -4! But, in a country without snow tyres and snow removal equipment, even that can lead to this:

"It is expected that the lateness and loss of work hours caused by transport disruptions will cost the British economy up to £400 million ... All schools in Birmingham, Solihull and Dudley have been closed, as well as some in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Essex, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and East Anglia. More than 300 schools are also closed in Wales."

Though the government's unhappy about this dire loss of productivity, people here were just genuinely enjoying the weather. Like I said, these people deserve more snow! Except for the brats who hit me with snowballs on my way to work. Never hit a Canadian with snowballs, especially a Canadian who hates mornings. We know too many deadly tricks - ever heard of a gravel ball, kids? Just kidding. Grumble grumble.