Weather

Seems like at this time of year, weather is a popular topic for blogs...especially with the onset of winter in the northern Hemisphere. Diane and the team in Prince Edward Island won the "First Snowfall" award. Nicole of course gets to talk about Addy and snow...sort of her coming out winter, building the fond memories we all have of winter as children...before the realities of work, driving etc. took over. For most Canadian children winter means snow angels, snow men, Christmas coming soon, tobogganing, hockey and the possibility of snow days off school. Whats not to like?

Growing up in Ottawa we had lots of winter. Mom being Irish, did not ever really ever get to appreciate winter. For her it was cold weather, bad driving conditions, worry about everyone out in the storm. She was happiest when we were all inside and safe. Double happy if were all in our pyjamas, thereby removing the risk we were thinking of going out.  I think what bothered her the most was the closed windows. She hated seeing the storm windows going up in fall. Our house was always the first to take off the double windows and put up the screens. I can remember washing down the screens in early April, shivering to death as the water out of the hose was barely above freezing. While Mom did not like winter, she suffered mostly in silence. Daddy was different. There was little of anything he did in silence. On snowy evenings he had a habit of coming in the back door of the house, stamping the snow off his feet and bellowing out his favorite winter epitaph "BLAST, BLAST, BLAST".  While we were used to it, if we had friends or visitors in the house, it could be a bit shocking. I can recall on a few occasions getting a look from Mom as she saw Dad's car drive up that told me to get to the back door and don't let him give out his usual snowstorm greeting.

To this day, Diane and I still use "Blast Blast Blast" as an euphemism for winter storms.

After returning from the US after American Thanksgiving, I arrived home to my apartment in Cheltenham to snow. If you are following any newscasts from Europe or Great Britain these days you have read headlines such  as "BRITS STRUGGLE WITH DEVASTATING STORMS"  or "Snow causes transport disruption across England". 

Here is a link if you are interested : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11895468

This weekend I was scheduled to go to Susie's. However the forecast is for snow tonight, freezing temperatures overnight and tomorrow, and then fog tomorrow. We spoke last night, and based on the forecast, and Mike struggling with a cold, we decided to cancel.

Here is my apartment parking lot "covered in snow".

Snow at 6 Chester Court

 I had a visitor last week, a colleague and friend  from Kohler who was coming to the UK to look at some of the processes we use here. We worked together in Asia.  He is an engineer, on his way to India and Thailand. I invited him to stay with me, and, as he had not visited the UK before, I got a car and did a bit of sightseeing. My favorite place to take newcomers is Bourton on the Water, about 20 minutes away, and very pretty.



Bourton on the Water in Winter



As usual, I thought I could capture a more artistic shot, the mill, the water, the snow, the red berries.

My artistic photo

I actually do not mind winter. Genya will say that is because  for the last five years I have not really had to deal with winter. I would  always be home for Christmas, but then we would go to South Carolina after Christmas day, and then in early January I would head back to Asia. I normally do not return until April .  Perhaps, memories of winter may be more endearing that real winter..  .  But when we were in Hilton Head last month, we were on the beach, and Genya reminded me that winter was coming. So, what was my reaction?  See below.

Stephen jumping for joy at the thought of winter...