Wednesday 11 February 2009

No Business Like Snow Business

Liking the weather are we? Enjoying the deep and crisp and even?

I have to admit, I'm a dithering wreck in this weather. Despite the fact that I have walking boots which can take me up vertical frozen rock faces (not that I've ever asked them to, but still), my legs turn to petrified tree-trunks the minute I put one foot in front of the other on even a lightly snow-kissed pavement. A pig on stilts is more graceful. I'm not alone in my fear of going arse over tit - all my female colleagues feel the same, whatever their age and/or fitness level. We are, to a woman, scared to death of slipping in the snow.

Walking from the car to the office (a good twenty yards at least), bundled up like people trying to avoid the excess baggage charge on Ryanair by wearing every item of clothing they possess, we clutch each other's arms and scream like banshees if there's even the tiniest possibility that our feet will go from under us. Even indoors we are trussed up as if this is the coldest place on earth, despite the fact that we work in a building kept at tropical temperatures day and night. We take it in turns to be on "Snow Watch" and by 3.00 p.m. each day, should a few flakes of snow begin to fall, we down tools saying that we've got to get home before the weather closes in, and abandon the office. We have a developed siege mentality, filling our freezers with bread just in case we can't get out tomorrow, despite the fact that most of us live within slithering distance of Sainsbury's. Being "snowed in" has become the excuse du jour for being very, very late and going home very, very early.

With all this extra time at home, I've taken to making soups, venison sausage casseroles, even baked apples with proper home-made rice pudding - comfort food usually unheard of at my house during the working week. To increase the snuggle factor we've added another quilt to our bed and I've bought some sheepskin slippers. I am well prepared for more snow and, to be honest, I've secretly started to enjoy myself.

As long as I don't have to go out in it of course.

Hope everything is OK where you are.

22 comments:

Cath said...

Not a bit of snow. Not one bit. A few flurries but no settling. Rain is what we get. And slush. Ugh.

When I was a child I was brought up on the borders. Now THAT was where we got snow. Proper snow. It lay, it drifted, it stopped the bus taking us to school. It was good snow.

I have never been afraid of walking (or driving) on snow. It's ice that keeps me indoors. I hate ice.

Mind you, if it would get me some time off work, I am sure I could "forget" my familiarity with snow and my "courage" with it.... ;0)

Pam said...

Last week we had an ice storm on top of the constant snow we've had for 5 months. I'm becoming so hardy I could give Bear Grylls a run for his money, except when it comes to tornadoes which scare the crap out of me. We had a warning tonight and I grabbed the kids and dog and legged it to the basement, my heart pumping. I will NEVER get used to those!

Maggie May said...

I am always aware of the possibility of falling and breaking a hip and how devastating it would be to our family who are all helpless!
However I run up the main road on the tyre tracks when it snows so would be more likely to be run over by a truck!
We are lucky here as we don't get much and the rest of England would have to be under six feet of the stuff before it got to us! Its the Gulf Stream you see! It did let us down for a few days earlier on!
Personally, though its fun when it is actually falling....... I hate the stuff except on a post card cos it looks so lovely before *people* get to it.

Anonymous said...

Living in the Beacons makes for real snow, deep and crisp and very uneven.
I have a 4 wheel drive, but refuse to drive it in the snow- what are men for for gods sake.
Excuse for work , well I dont have one since I work from home, I do have to go to my "shed" though at the bottom of my garden. Its lovely.Its warm cosy , full of my things and with the most amazing views of the very snowy mountains.
There is still snow around , but I may even take my psuedo Ugg boots off and drive to Tesco's today.

sallymandy said...

Thanks SM! I've been feeling sorry for myself in Montana. Feeling so isolated under the lid of gray in my valley that I forget other people also experience winter. And even worse winter! I almost laughed out loud when I turned on the computer this morning and the little Google logo is decked out in spring decorations. Whose idea was that?

thanks for visiting my blog...stay warm and enjoy that comfort food.

Reasons said...

I like the sound of your cooking! Enjoy the snow, looks like we have more to come.

I have just set up my first blog.

All the best,

Your Brummy Neighbour

Mimi said...

Hello SM, delighted to see you back! I like the sound of your venison casserole, good comfort food. I've found a need this winter for an extra layer- bought a few little short-sleeved angora cardis, and I just wear them over everything.Am I getting old, or has it been a harsh winter? My computer is beside a radiator, and the non-radiator side of me is currently freexing! Circulation? Mimi

Mimi said...

We all need a holiday. Any plans? mimi

The Draughtsman said...

As CrazyCath said, no snow in Lancashire. But it has snowed on the mountains and the view of the Lakes on a clear day is quite something right now.

Cath's right, when we lived further oop North we had proper winters. Some days I never got to work but had to work just as hard clearing a path to the road. Then the snowplough would come by and dump all my beautifully shovelled snow back to where it was in the first place. All right for Cath. She was too small to shovel then.
Aye, but I have to say, we don't get the winters like we used to...

Mean Mom said...

We've had some decent snow. It was all very exciting on the first day. It's OK, if you're the first person to walk on it, it's when it gets slushy, or it all freezes overnight that it gets scary.

Yes, I've been slipping about all over the place and terrified of breaking myself! I don't bounce as well as I used to!

Strawberry Jam Anne said...

Well I am fortunate as I don't have to leave the house at all if I don't feel like it. We usually don't get snow but have had some this year. I got straight on the web-cam to family sweltering in Adelaide to let my grandchildren see the snow in Nanny and Grandad's garden.

Sounds like you enjoyed extra time in the kitchen. A x

Mopsa said...

Ha ha! You should have come on down to Devon and put those boots to good use. I've also been snuggling into sheepskin, between the lugging of logs, feeding of animals, and much trudging across snow laden fields to check on the sheep. And now, bar the odd mini heap, it's all gone.

The Draughtsman said...

I should have added, we had a saying up in our part of Northumberland, "The best place to have snow is on a Christmas Card."

The Draughtsman said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Cath said...

Hi Sm - Just go into my profile and you'll see my new blog. Or email me at the address in my profile. See you over there.

Cath said...

The other two blogs are closing. So come to the new one please. Ta

Working Mum said...

'a pig on stilts'? You do make me laugh. We didn't get enough to make any difference to me, although husband had two days off work, lucky beggar!

Roll on spring!

Frog in the Field said...

Swearing Mother...can't believe you! I thought you were so tough!
You know the very best thing to do is get a really big cushion and tie it onto your butt by wrapping lots of string around you (I can send you some nice blue bale twine), and then if you do fall you'll have a lovely soft landing.
You may frind your head does rub the inside of the roof of the car though, when you're driving, if you can get into the car, that is.
Any more trouble, just let me know...

Unknown said...

........so where you gone now then ?
x

The Draughtsman said...

Where are you SM? Are you OK? Speak to us, Pleeeeeeeeeze!
Even if its just to tell us you're still around.

Swearing Mother said...

Hi guys, just to say I'm still here, just run out of steam, temporarily I hope.

The only thing I seem to do at the moment is moan....see next post!

Swearing Mother said...

Hi guys, just to say I'm still here, just run out of steam, temporarily I hope.

The only thing I seem to do at the moment is moan....see next post!