Snow Days
on Dec 22 in General by Dan
It’s looking increasingly likely that we’re going to have a white Christmas this year, which is bloody typical because I’m working it. While everyone else is tucking into their Christmas diner I shall be sliding around on abandoned streets trying not to crash into parked cars.
Still, working or not, I have to admit that snow at Christmas is still pretty cool. I know the US is currently struggling with it’s own snow apocalypse, and the paltry three or four inches we’ve had over here in the last few days is pretty small fry to the REAL snow others are getting. For example Jon from Daddy Scratches‘ Twitter stream has been full of profanity tinged complaints about the weather:
daddyscratches All of you warm-climate residents who keep lamenting that you’re missing out on the snow: I just spent two hours shoveling. Fuck you.
So yes, I know that in the grand scheme of things we’ve only had a shower. But the UK doesn’t cope well with the snow – we only get it every couple of years or so, and so we haven’t the infrastructure for it. Even a light scattering can have entire roads closed and schools declaring snow days left right and centre.
And I’m not sure that’s a bad thing. The entire country grinding to a stop makes the snow more special somehow. More of an event. Mind you, I could just be saying that because I’ve not had to try and get to work the last few days. I’m going in for a late shift this afternoon so my attitude may well change.
The chickens certainly aren’t particularly impressed. I left the door of their coop open all day yesterday and judging by the lack of footprints outside it not one of them took the plunge and ventured out. All they do is sit huddled in a corner and sulk. Goodness knows how they would be coping if I hadn’t put a solid roof on the run, the wimps. They aren’t going to get very far in their quest for world domination if they can’t cope with a bit of snow.
The other residents of our household however have been having much more fun, staying out until dusk playing:
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in 15 years in Wiltshire we have never had snow like that. I guess my boys would like it, but for me, I’m a misery guts when it comes to snow.
Over in Wales our house is by the sea , so seldom snow there either.
Cool snowman though
.-= Mark´s last blog ..Diminishing returns =-.
@Mark, We haven’t had it in Yorkshire for a fair few years either. Nice to have it back – for a while anyhow.
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Snow Days =-.
Great photos of you enjoying the snow with your children. It’s so easy to forget the pure pleasure they get from the snow, while adults start cursing as soon as the first flakes start falling. My girls have spent 4 days at their Dad’s in Lancashire which has had a lot of snow and they have been ringing me daily with tales of their sledging adventures. It’s lovely that they’re getting to enjoy it so much.
I’ve been struggling to take the dog out, and have resorted to taking her for a slide around the park.
.-= notSupermum´s last blog ..My Favourite Christmas Song: O Holy Night =-.
@notSupermum, We live in a valley with tons of hills surrounding us, but I’ve yet to work out where the best sledging routes are. I really need to get that sorted this year.
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Snow Days =-.
Great photos. Love the thought of chickens attempting world domination, too funny. How insane is it that thousands were stranded in the ‘snow’ around Basingstoke last night? And, we’ve got no snow, blue skies and warmth just a few miles away. Such a strange country this…17 years here and I am still not adjusted to it’s oddities.
.-= DJ Kirkby´s last blog ..Lets play twenty questions =-.
@DJ Kirkby, oh yes, my chickens and their world domination efforts are amusing to you – but you don’t have to live with the megalomaniacs in your back garden
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Snow Days =-.
We have a fantastic hill in our backyard but unfortunately haven’t been able to find a sled to get use out of it. We don’t get snow often enough for shops to carry snow gear.
.-= Erin´s last blog ..Noah in a nuthouseshell =-.
@Erin, plastic bin bags surely?
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Snow Days =-.
I love snow even now as an adult, but then I have arrested development in certain areas. Snow and Christmas being two of them.
The school I went to when we lived in the States had a certain number of snow days built into the school year so if you didn’t use them in the winter you got extra days off round Easter. And even though Syracuse used to get snow falls measured in feet rather than inches the school buses always managed to get through.
.-= fluffypinkduck´s last blog ..Rock Band =-.
@fluffypinkduck, That sounds very cool, and very sensible too. I wonder if I can get them to implement that at work
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Snow Days =-.
gorgeous photos, it looks like you’ve all really been enjoying yourselves. It must be lovely to have so much snow at Christmas when it’s such a rare event.
.-= Heather´s last blog ..The Naked Christmas Party =-.
@Heather, yes, i imagine when it’s every day it can get a bit waring
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Snow Days =-.
Ooo, and you can tell it was nice packable snow too! It’s always frustrating to be buried by snow (or relatively, as in your case) and then have the sun come out after the storm and the snow isn’t even fun to play in because it’s too dry to pack into snowmen, or snow forts, or to make snow angels in.
@Deb, it was excellent snow – and we have gigantic snowmen to prove it.
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Snow Days =-.
Good lord how I miss the snow. I think a little roadtrip from Phoenix up to Flagstaff is in order to see some of that white stuff.
.-= Kevin Spencer´s last blog ..Albums Of 2009 =-.
@Kevin Spencer, isn’t that more than a “little” roadtrip?
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Snow Days =-.
Looks like 1) you have a lot more snow up your way than we have and 2) you’re looking positively svelte these days compared to pictures you’ve posted a while back.
.-= dadwhowrites´s last blog ..Odin and Loki and the theft of Odin’s treasure =-.
@dadwhowrites, I’m actually nearly a stone heavier than i was at my lightest. I think it may be the angle or something.
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Snow Days =-.
Whats up with skinny Dan?
That’s a great snowfall.
.-= Martin´s last blog ..Was Madonna Dutch? =-.
@Martin, As I say, i suspect that snow is slimming
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Snow Days =-.
We have loved the snow this week, but then we have not had to go anywhere, as of Wednesday when MadDad is home it can snow for a week!!
.-= TheMadHouse´s last blog ..Reindeer Food, Hearts and Friends =-.
@TheMadHouse, yup, it certainly is more pleasent when you don’t have to be anywhere
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Snow Days =-.
We’re not so far away but haven’t had half as much snow as you! We’ve got an icerink for a road instead.
The husband pranged the works van in Holmfirth on Monday and has been late home everyday as most of his round is over your neck of the woods.
:)
.-= Insomniac Mummy´s last blog ..The Golden Glow =-.
@Insomniac Mummy, it seems to have snowed a lot less in Halifax too. Huddersfield must be in some sort of pocket I guess.
I was in Holmfirth on monday – didn’t see any pranged vans though
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Snow Days =-.
I’m actually jealous. Last year at this time, we had 27 feet of snow on the ground. Well, maybe it was only 2 or 3, but it sure seemed like a lot.
This year, nothing. I’m looking out the window at bare ground. Which is probably a good thing since I had to go out this morning and dig a grave for my cat. Just let me get him into the ground and then we can have a ton of snow.
Have fun with all that white stuff.
@Idaho Dad, I’m sorry about your cat Phil. I was meaning to say so on your blog, but was not in a position to leave a comment when I read it.
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Snow Days =-.
Looks like fun to me. I always loved watching the epic clusterf*ck that snow induced in Britain. Seriously, a dusting of snow and public transport collapses.
Enjoy your holidays, or lack thereof.
.-= A Free Man´s last blog ..Soon the sleigh was flashing past, right over Marble Bar =-.
@A Free Man, yup, we are pathetic when it comes to snow. Saying that, I’m guessing they would struggle a bit if it happened in Australia too.
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Snow Days =-.
Can’t stop laughing at your response to my comment! must NOT think about it at work today or they’ll think I’ve gone mad(er).
.-= DJ Kirkby´s last blog ..Lets play twenty questions =-.
it’s the same overhere..*although it’s stopped snowing and it’s melting away at the moment* but buses stopped driving, trains took ages or didn’t go all together. We could say our infrastructure is not up to it..or just say we’re all a bunch of wussies with not enough snowshovels.
Did you finish the snowdoll?
.-= Arjan´s last blog ..Bike trouble =-.
Great photos. I have to admit we are enjoying the snow too. While a six-year-old and a one-year-old looked on this afternoon, I had an absolutely brilliant snowball fight with my sister-in-law. I won by a large margin. She was asking for it anyway.
.-= Rosie Scribble´s last blog ..Christmas cracker horror =-.
Doing some catching up, and just now found this post. Thanks for helping me spread my profanity-laced winter cheer! :)
And your comment on my latest post cracked me up. :))
.-= Daddy Scratches´s last blog ..I FINALLY got to use my passport! =-.