Last Friday 18 January 2013, I woke up to a white sheet of snow and knew this was the once in a year opportunity to record scenes of heavy snowfall in South England. The past two years the snow had lasted for a week or two but this year the snow begins to melt and thaw in 4 short days.
This was the scene at the park near where we live when it snowed.
I took a picture of the neighbours’ backyard. I love watching the snow settling on trees, hedges, roofs, stools and sheds….
I sent my sons to school at 8:45am and I was asked to take them home at 11:00am onwards. The school decided to close at noon. That is the scene of the school when I came to pick my boys up at 11:50am.
This weekend past however, the same park has returned its usual shade of green, albeit filled with slippery mud. The sun was out on Saturday and I took the boys out to the park and annoyingly came back with our shoes full of mud and jeans splattered with mud too!
I am pleasantly surprised that the temperature has went up to 8C this afternoon and looks like spring could come early this year.
How is it like in your part of the world now? I hope you are well, no matter where you are!
What lovely pictures! And yes, what a difference in just a week!
No snow for us here in Northern California and it’s about 13c this afternoon as I type this!
Posted by olduvai | January 28, 2013, 11:31 pmOlduvai,
13C is good. I think we are moving up to your temp soon..!
Posted by JoV | January 29, 2013, 9:22 pmMy brother lives in Kent so has sent us similarly snowy photos–it all looks so beautiful. Here in southern California we’ve had some rain (good), some cold days (well, cold for us), and some beautiful sun
Posted by Helen Murdoch | January 29, 2013, 1:50 amHelen,
I think Mild weather is good!
Posted by JoV | January 29, 2013, 9:23 pmIncredible difference! We had a day of snow which hardly settled thankfully as I left for England the same day and then experienced even more snow on a Friday in London, and set off out in it with a smile on my face, borrowing my Aunt’s snow boots, while she commented with disgust from the door, not being a lover of it clearly.
Me, I have to say, a snow visit is welcome, I too love the transformation that appears, covering winter’s bare limbs and bringing a little beauty int an otherwise harsh season – though I stop at the thought of living in such conditions where it stays around for months, that I’m not so sure about.
Posted by Claire 'Word by Word' | January 29, 2013, 2:59 amClaire,
I agree with you Claire. Snow is a beauty. I like how it’s quiet when you stand in the middle of the park and everything seems so quiet. I am not sure I like snow if it stays around for too long, it may become a nuisance when you want to be out and about. Snow is still great when seeing it from indoors!
Posted by JoV | January 29, 2013, 9:25 pmFrom my perspective in Cape Town, South Africa, it looks wonderfully white, cool and refreshing. Our temps are ion the 30s (C) and fires in the surrounding countryside, due to intense heat & dryness.
Posted by alison41 | January 29, 2013, 6:26 amAlison,
Thanks for stopping by Alison. I always wonder how it’s like to live in the South hemisphere when everything season is timed opposite from the North. It must be strange to hear about summer holidays around the world when you are freezing cold at home and hear about white Christmas when you are sweltering hot! Interesting.
Posted by JoV | January 29, 2013, 9:27 pmIt’s the same here in the Netherlands. Today at 7.30am it’s 10 degrees (Celsius) already. Isn’t that amazing?
I love warmer weather a lot more than cold and snow, so I’m happy.
Posted by Leeswammes | January 29, 2013, 6:42 amJudith,
I think we are getting the same temperature here as well. Around 10C. I am not sure what is going on tonight and tomorrow. I checked my phone and there is this wind with whirling leaves around it, seems to imply there is a huge wind blowing our way tomorrow!
Posted by JoV | January 29, 2013, 9:29 pmWell, I immediately checked my weather website, and yes, we’re also expecting heavy winds – but only for a few hours tomorrow morning.
Posted by Leeswammes | January 29, 2013, 9:32 pmYou would think any wind that is going like 35 – 44 mph (70 km/hr) may have the ability to blow me away!
p/s: I have checked too. The wind occurs much of the entire day tomorrow.
Posted by JoV | January 29, 2013, 9:38 pmyour pics are lovely!
yeah, snow all gone here too in the south-west, heavy rain and gales now…hopefully spring is waiting round the corner!
Posted by hibiscus rosa noor | January 29, 2013, 7:17 amNoor,
I hope so too Noor. There is a strong gale now and I’m just happy to be indoors! Hope Spring is near.
Posted by JoV | January 29, 2013, 9:30 pmCrazy weather swings by me as well! And yes, great pictures!
Posted by rhapsodyinbooks | January 29, 2013, 12:00 pmJill,
You keep well Jill. The weather has been crazy. I hope everyone is ok!
Posted by JoV | January 29, 2013, 9:31 pmYes. Last week I was slipping on the ice, this week I’ve washed my mud soaked dog twice already!
Posted by farmlanebooks | January 29, 2013, 12:42 pmJackie,
It’s funny really. One minute I was slipping on ice too, wearing the wrong shoes; and of all things I can do, I brought the boys to a park full of mud puddles!
LOL
Posted by JoV | January 29, 2013, 9:32 pmLike you in one day everything changed here. We had snow now we have floods! Fortunately we have plenty of flood plains here so does mean it is still easy to move about.
Posted by jessicabookworm | January 29, 2013, 2:21 pmJessica,
Oh dear, hope you stay clear of the floods. Those flash flood looks dangerous. It is great that you have flood plains around your area.
Posted by JoV | January 29, 2013, 9:34 pmI know snow can be an awful nuisance, but I am a little jealous looking at your pictures! The city has hardly had any, and while hardly any is vastly preferable to the unceasing multitudes dumped on us in Winter 2010, I wouldn’t mind a few good snowfalls. Enough for sledding once or twice!
Posted by Jenny | January 30, 2013, 1:51 amJenny,
You mean there is no snow in New York? (That’s where you live isn’t it?) I think a few good snowfalls may do you good. Keep your fingers crossed, it may happen still.
Posted by JoV | January 30, 2013, 9:55 amyes the change overnight here was amazing snow when went to bed none when I woke but happy I hate walking early in the morning when it is icy underfoot after snows been down for a few days ,all the best stu
Posted by winstonsdad | January 30, 2013, 4:35 pmStu,
I hate icy road too. all the best.
Posted by JoV | January 31, 2013, 4:24 pmI bet I can set the record for coldest temperature. Minus 16 degrees in Lithuania: http://andreasmoser.wordpress.com/2013/01/28/how-cold-is-it/
Posted by Andreas Moser | February 8, 2013, 9:51 amAndreas,
I have the fortune not to experience such weather condition you illustrated, ever!
Posted by JoV | February 18, 2013, 9:33 pm