Snow

Snowy School Run, part 2

by Dan.

I know this is all old hat to Americans living in the north of the USA, and my constant bleating about the snow must seem very baffling – but this really is usual for us and I’d be neglecting the life documenting aspects of this blog if I were to ignore it. Especially as the pundits are all predicting this is going to be the coldest winter in the UK for 100 years.

So, it snowed again.

In fact it’s still snowing. Amy’s school is still open, but only four kids out of her class turned up and I’m guessing I’m going to get a phone call at lunchtime asking me to come get her.

We had to walk in though as our drive was impassable, and even if it was there was no way i was going to attempt driving on our road. I’ve done that once before in conditions like this and I ended up almost sliding backwards down the hill.

I’ve not bothered taking evan to nursery however, the hassle of walking him down there too just wouldn’t be worth it.

I’m not overly grumpy about the snow at the moment, but that’s probably got something to do with the fact I don’t have to go in to work until Friday. I’ll be plenty grumpy then however, so I should probably enjoy it while it lasts.

I’ve said it before, but the snow certainly makes things look very lovely. On the way to school I saw a black crow flying against a background of white fields which was almost spiritual in it’s beauty. Unfortunately I only had my notoriously crappy iPhone camera with me so had no chance at all of capturing it. Stupid iPhone.

And that’s it. That’s all I’ve got. Not very entertaining was it, but as I say one of the purposes of this blog is to document stuff too, so that’s what I’m doing. There’s also a lengthy update on the Hadrian’s Walk blog going up today – but that’s not particularly thrilling if you’re not directly involved in it either.

Come bak tomorrow when I shall be eating fire and juggling chainsaws.

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Snowy School Run

Jan 4th, 2010

by Dan.

22 comments

It’s snowed again.

I took this photo whilst walking Amy to school this morning. Well, I say walking her to school – what I actually mean is escorting her from the car to the gate. Her school may only be a ten minute walk from our house, but it’s a two minute drive and those two minutes are spent in relative warmth and comfort.

So anyway, I took the photo whilst taking Amy to school. I wish I was a better landscape photographer as it really doesn’t do the scene justice.

I’m the first to admit that I live in a beautiful part of the world. And it’s even more beautiful in weather like this. I’ve got the day to myself tomorrow so might take a walk up on the tops to see if I get any better pictures. Then again I might just fritter the day away on donkey porn on the net like I usually do. I’ll see what whim takes me in the morning.

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Snow Days

Dec 22nd, 2009

by Dan.

32 comments

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.