Snowballs and Sledging

I can't tell you how relieved I am that I made the decision to return home early yesterday. Heavy snowfall and un-gritted roads are not a good combination and many people were stuck in their cars for hours. Some managed to secure hotel rooms, while others less fortunate sought refuge in community buildings, opened specifically to provide overnight accommodation for those who were stranded. Not ideal, but at least they would have been safe and warm. The warning, which advised against all but essential travel, came much too late for some, as an unprecedented amount of snow fell on this part of the country.

My plans for today had originally included a festive visit to a nearby property and gardens. However, with the road conditions being what they were, I had no intention of driving anywhere. And in any case, like many other businesses, early this morning they announced that they would be staying closed. This was for the safety of all their staff, as well as any visitors. With nowhere to go, instead, Lily and I spent some of this morning building 'Snowy' the snowman. The snow was just right for it, not too dry and it held together well. We had a lot of fun, and I think he looks rather good. The cats were far less impressed with the white stuff and have spent much of the day fast asleep on my bed.

This afternoon we went sledging in the fields at the back of our house. There is a small hill right in the middle, which is just the right size for sledging and not too steep. It is also is a safe distance away from any fences or walls. That said, I'm sure Lily spent more time lying on the snow than she did sledging on it, but we had a great time, and I lost count of the amount of snowballs that were thrown. 

While we were out, I got a message to say that the school will be staying closed tomorrow. This came as no surprise, as many roads are still impassable and temperatures are, once again, set to drop below freezing overnight. 

J. X