The reason? It’s winter! Well I never, who’d have thought it.
I’d love to blame someone else but I can’t, not really. Individuals as well as the authorities get it wrong. In this country, every year again we are shocked that winter inevitably brings snow and ice. When it dawns on us that that is what’s happened, we talk of nothing else; earthquakes? tsunamis? fires caused by horrendous heat waves? Forget them, we are snowbound! Planes are grounded, airports iced up, the railways come to a shuddering halt because signal boxes freeze and a few inches of snow suffocate the road system, including the motorways.
Once again we are well and truly snowed in, the drive is blocked and has become invisible, the car is imprisoned in the garage and neither postman nor delivery vans can get to the house. Every year I plan to get private gritters out to clear the drive and free the courtyard round the house from snow. Then spring comes and I forget. Or how about getting winter tyres for the car, as drivers are obliged to do in Germany. Short of driving a gas guzzling, environment polluting, unnecessary SUV, that would surely solve quite a few transport problems. £500 for a set of winter tyres? That seems a bit steep when you are splashing through deep puddles the rest of the year.
So here we are again, cut off and impatiently awaiting a van load of groceries from the supermarket, a postman’s bag full of pills from the health food suppliers and several parcels of books from amazon uk and amazon de.
Millie has appointments for x-rays and a couple of small operations to remove some unexplained lumps and wartlike protuberances on Tuesday. It would take a miracle to get her to the vets and back again. I am hoping that these lumps are nothing more than common fat lumps and don’t need immediate attention.
Millie and her chums love the snow; what is it with dogs and children and extreme weather? While I trudge behind her with a very bad grace, cautiously probing the ground in front of me with aunt Josephine’s spiked walking stick for holes or icy patches, she races down the bank towards children and dogs shrieking and barking for joy, all in a tumble of sleds and arms and legs, dogs' tails wagging madly and children’s faces glowing with healthy exuberance. The din is heard in the next valley. So far nobody has landed in the river.
Talking of the river, I wonder if that could be used for transport? It’s back in its bed and running freely,
Tee here, you have to laugh. I know it can be serious for some, but it never fails to amuse me. It's not like we didn't know it was coming!
ReplyDeleteDi
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Beautiful winter pictures! We desperately need moisture - rain, snow, ice, mist, fog - anything. Middle of Kansas in the middle of the states is hurting.
ReplyDeleteEspecially like the one of the river!
Your last picture is pretty and show the wonder of winter so well. I feel for you as it must not be too easy. Here we are in sunshine and going to 62 F today, in the shade (17 C) so it’s a bit hard to imagine so much snow – I wish we had some. In winter it is a great time for reading and I hope you have several books waiting to be read on your pile. Hopefully Millie’s health is good and soon the snow will be gone.
ReplyDeleteHello:
ReplyDeleteWe have to say that as we enjoy the snow [yes, really]it is far easier to take pleasure in a winter wonderland when everything still runs perfectly around it. Sub zero here and yet all the transport is running and even the market traders find their ways in to the city to sell their wares. Wrong leaves on the line, too much ice, unprecedented levels of snow......it matters not a jot here in Budapest for it is business as usual. Happy sledging!!!
ja winter brengt heel wat te weeg een hoop ongemakken dat is waar,maar soms is het zo mooi .
ReplyDeleteAh yes, there's nothing we Brits enjoy more than moaning about the weather, and letting it take us by surprise every season gives us more to complain about! Never mind, it will soon be spring - and then it's bound to be too hot, too cold, too wet, too dry ... :)
ReplyDeleteGreat....my wee blue pills from Mexico have failed to arrive. A bit cold here for bonking so no worries.
ReplyDeleteIf we lived in a less temperate climate then it would be worth us gearing up for snow. I'mm just happy to see it...It's wonderful.
ha...we had snow here at the end of the week and by the way they talked you would have thought it was the end of the world coming...scaring everyone to the grocery store and home from school...a few inches really...i enjoyed hte day off though...sledding and boarding...
ReplyDeleteAh ha...you need a canoe and not snow tires. Of course, it does require gymnastic expertise to get in and out from a snow bank. Your yard is lovely. The brick wall is stunning. I love brick and rock work. Our weather here today is sunny and 45 reflecting global warming and while nice for the inauguration an hour to the north I miss your snow.
ReplyDeleteThe river for transport, now that is a clever thought. You are snowed in but it does look pretty.
ReplyDeleteSorry for your travails, Friko, but the beauty of that river in snow demonstrates that even the greatest of challenges brings something positive to our lives.
ReplyDeleteMother is well stocked up and just as well as her lunch delivery lady can't get through.
ReplyDeleteA group of friends and neighbours are keeping an eye on each other by 'phone, though fearful to go out in case of falls.
Not so much, it appears,as the accident itself, but all are convinced that once taken to hospital they will never emerge as they will either catch a superbug or be put on the Liverpool Care Path.
I am counting my blessings - a light snow fall keeps a pesky world from my door. The freezer is full -we still have power- The Internet takes me to wherever I may wish to go and to whoever I may wish to talk to. The log burners are warm. We have wine and whisky.
ReplyDeleteThis is a bit of a diversion.
There are snowdrops just waiting to flower - I've seen them, and primroses too. Spring will be worth the wait .
I may be visiting via a sledge again then?,
ReplyDeleteWhat a little snow to completely stop your world. That would be called a "dusting" here! PS Friko, I've said it before and I say it again - Kindle.
ReplyDeleteSnowed-in here too, Friko, but thankfully we stocked up with food and library books when the weather forecasters began to utter their predictions of doom, so we're sitting it out until the thaw comes. Despite the inconveniences it brings with it, I've always loved snow, ever since those childhood days spent sledging with the superb sledge my father built for us - a proper wooden one with metal runners, not a brightly-coloured plastic tray. Your photos are lovely and I envy you your garden walls.
ReplyDeleteWe aren't using my car now as I didn't get my snow tires put on in time. We both have two sets of tires, to be changed every six months, because it can snow at any time in Alberta. I've seen it in May and October, but not June, July, August or September. Real Albertans (I'm from the west coast of BC) tell me I "ain't seen nothin' yet" and I believe them.
ReplyDeleteDelivery vans and postal vehicles in Britain really ought to have snow tires in winter. In British Columbia, a driver can be fined for blocking traffic if the car doesn't have snow tires. Apparently there's no law like that in Alberta, probably because the authorities just assume none of us are dumb enough to forget to put them on. I would be the exception to that assumption.
Your photos are beautiful, though, Friko, and I love the thought of Millie frolicking in the snow with children and other dogs. (I sure hope her lumps don't mean anything serious.)
K
The end of civilisation - or the beginning? Without snow, the pace of life seems pretty uncivilised to me. Apart from medical emergencies aside (I hope you can get Millie to the vet), it's good to slow down.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter-in-law was born in Aschaffenburg, Germany, and I was able to travel there with her and her mother about twenty-four years ago. I absolutely loved it!
ReplyDeleteWe were traveling around Frankfurt and Bavaria.
oh !
ReplyDeleteYes, get a kayak.
ReplyDeleteI hope Millie's lumps are nothing more than fat too. Did you ever read my response to your question about fireworks?
On the good side, it all looks very pretty from here.
What a luxury to be snowbound, and yet able to get outdoors and walk around. The best of both worlds!
ReplyDeleteFriko, how well you describe varying ways to view a winter wonderland.
ReplyDeleteWe have yet to have any true snow fall here in NYC, but I did see lots and lots of beautiful little snowdrop flowers blooming their hearts out over in Central Park this afternoon. It was so warm that I did not need gloves or a hat. So odd.
Hoping Millie will be fine...do call ahead to make sure her vet actually is braving the winter wonderland to reach the office. You never know.
xo
Great photos of your snow-fest! My husband is headed right into it as we speak. In Ireland they tell the tourists they can avoid trouble by not talking about religion, politics or sex, which pretty much leaves the weather, which is a subject of intense interest to the Irish too! Of course, when they've exhausted all the conversational possibilities afforded by the weather, they launch with gusto into the other three....
ReplyDeleteWinter is winter and we should expect to see what we have always seen. We have cold winters with a few snowstorms, pleasant springs with some rain, warm and hot summers to enjoy the flowers, and lovely autumns with occasional devastating storms.. It is what it is and I am constantly surprised at how the media makes such a big deal out of it. Snow makes dogs and children happy, provides business for auto repar shops, and lets us know that somehow we will all find a way to live our life despite the inconveniences.
ReplyDeleteI'd love a little snow, or even a lot - being snowed in for several days could be an adventure - if there were enough supplies on hand.
ReplyDeleteYou have to admit that your snowy photos are gorgeous, especially those of the river flowing darkly through the white forest.
Oooof! I finally had to give up reading all the long comments so I could comment myself. I too love snow when I'm well stocked and not needing to get out and about. I have a set of cross country skis that come out when I find myself in your situation. it doesn't happen around here all that much. Colorado was another story altogether! Love the snow pictures and the description of the exuberant doggies! :-)
ReplyDeleteit's a beautiful end nontheless. but as I say, it's how I like snow...in pictures. I would be very grumpy if I had to actually deal with it.
ReplyDeleteBeasts and children know what we block out with too much 'thinking."
ReplyDeleteHappy Aloha to YOU
from Honolulu,
Comfort Spiral
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Time to snuggle in by the fire again and just wait - I wouldn't be spending on winter tires or driveway clearing. It won't last long, and if you can get the essentials delivered, then it may just be a chance for some peace and quiet.
ReplyDeletethe thing to remember is that places like Canada, where they cope well with snow, they pretty much know to the day of the month how long the snow will last for - here it's really only 2-3 weeks of the year and sometimes less, so in some ways its no wonder we dont cope
ReplyDeleteStill - i hope you and yours remain safe
Our train service has been reduced , "Just In Case" , for a week . Except on Friday .... which was , in fact , the only day it did snow , all two flakes of it .
ReplyDeleteActually , no one cares . We're all too busy peering anxiously at the skate-ability of the ice .
Forewarned is forearmed. The Met Office was yelling it from the rooftops for days.
ReplyDeleteWe've had Blitzeis Saturday night and Sunday morning. No bus service and hardly a car on the road. We didn't need the bus and simply spent Sunday snugly in the warm flat, there was plenty to eat in the fridge, and so the Blitzeis did not affect us at all. By the time RJ left on Sunday night, driving was back to normal (with Winterreifen, of course!).
ReplyDeleteThe river seems a good idea!
I knew it was coming...I knew it...and sure enough it did..and sure enough..driveways filled up with the white SH@@.....!!! Argh! I want my summer back
ReplyDeleteStay warm dear one
Hugs
SueAnn
You forgot to mention 'the wrong kind of snow' -- my all time favourite excuse from British Rail! Southport does not suffer from extreme weather, very often and often the lack of preparedness means that weather becomes 'extreme' when it should't be!
ReplyDeleteI, too, love the photo of the river between the snow banks and through the 'woods'!
If it comforts you, here it is exactly the same mess and each year the same mess ! I am locked in too ! Fortunately I don't need to go out, my cats do it alone !
ReplyDeleteAfter last October's snowstorm, in which we lost power for 5 days, my enjoyment of a snowscape is no longer unalloyed. A good person to plow our steep driveway is essential if we are not to be well and truly trapped. It's not a pleasant feeling, to say the least, and I hope you are soon freed.
ReplyDeleteFrico, I'm glad you finally have winter with snow. I remember you wanted white Christmas, didn't you? You have white January, I love these wintry photos, but I think there is no frost, the river isn't covered with ice.
ReplyDeleteAll I know is, if the snow gets me a surprise day off school, I'm all in favour. I think this is what's called a completely self-interested viewpoint, but, hey.
ReplyDeleteIf we even get snow flurries, things grind to a halt. Fortunately it doesn't happen often and it rarely lasts more than a day or two.
ReplyDeleteAs a Canadian, snow is supposed to be a part of our lives and we just learn to live with it. Except I live on the far west coast and we rarely get snow. When it shows up everyone panics and the schools close down. It is kind of embarrassing actually. But it is a great excuse to put of a fire and wrap up in a blanket with a hot chocolate and stay home!
ReplyDeleteStay warm! xo
The last picture is beautiful. Despite the winter woes of the West, I miss snow. Badly. I remember going for rambling snow walks when we were in the East Coast; it was lovely!
ReplyDeleteLoads of best wishes for Millie.
Hallo Friko,
ReplyDeletesehr schöne Impressionen im Schnee in England. Mit England verbinde ich eigentlich mildes Wetter im Winter. Ist aber wahrscheinlich so wie bei uns im Rheinland. Dass es halt überall lausig kalt ist, und so bleibt der Schnee ausnahmsweise liegen.
Gruß Dieter
Although you are probably tired of the snow, it is beautiful here in your photos. Such lovely views for you. No snow here but it is colder today in the 40s and the snow drops were prostrate on the ground earlier. I love the city, no problems with getting around in a small car.
ReplyDeleteI bought a leaf/snow blower which probably won't be used again this year. Such is life, so unfair. Dianne
Beautiful
ReplyDeleteno snow in my area
but 10 on the deck this morning.
I bundled up and headed out for errands
and drove back as quickly as possible
Stay warm...
Beautiful photos. The descriptions of the children and the dogs are idyllic and happy. I can just see you out there trudging though the snow with your stick. I admire you for doing that! It truly has been a long time since we've had snow of such magnitude in this area. I live right next to the mountain in Colorado, but it has been years since a storm stopped us in our tracks. We've been in a drought. We need the snow. We need the moisture. All I can say is, that your beautiful verdant valleys and abundant flowers grow so beautifully because you have all that snow.
ReplyDeleteI do hope you get out soon though! By the way, there is a term I do not know in this post. What do you mean when you say, private gritters out to clear the drive?" I don't know the term 'gritters.'
Oh, my dear! Well, starting with the good, your photos are lovely! Especially that beautiful one of the river! I will say snow is beautiful -- just so long as one doesn't need to be out in it!
ReplyDeleteI can so relate to your feelings. We don't have as much snow here in Michigan as one would usually expect, but there is enough with ice under it and frigid temps with no signs of melting that the experience is close to the same. The stop sign at the end of my road was like a pretzel the other night. Surely someone had trouble stopping. (I've been scouting my street for a crunched up right front bumper to little avail.) I keep thinking how nice it would be to be snowed in if prepared with food, heat, books and such. But the reality dims when confronted with the fact that once all is plowed you still have to deal with the snow for a long while before it melts.
Keep toasty. It can only last so long.
Hi Friko .. short comment - love the story line ... so so true - dogs and snow .. let alone kids ... all deliveries arrived safely I note ... thankfully ... hope the next batch doesn't swamp you ...
ReplyDeleteThen the thaw and Spring??!! .. cheers Hilary
All I can see is that moisture. We're already behind again, and the warnings for this coming spring and summer are so grim - from Texas through Oklahoma to Kansas and beyond. Rivers are barely flowing, and ponds are only a quarter full. It's so terrifying I try not to even think about it.
ReplyDeleteNow, I suspect if I'd had plenty of rain I might not be so enamoured of the snow. Or perhaps I would. I try not to grumble myself, but we've had no winter, not enough gray, not enough drizzle and rain. We will happily take all you have to spare. I'd even come pick it up!
The photos are truly beautiful. I can't get enough of looking at them.
I love your description of children and dogs in snow. Perfect. I love it for a short time but life gets much harder work up here so I am glad it has gone.
ReplyDelete