Spring is springing!

It has been a glorious day here. Blue skies and temperatures high enough to go outside and say “Ooooh it’s lovely and warm!”.
We walked over the road to feed the ducks and then discovered that there were none where we normally feed them. Instead we threw bits of bread in for the trout that are visible in the part of the river opposite our house. We spent a long time watching them. I find it very theraputic!

We carried on walking along the river in search of ducks, we did find some but they were not hungry. I think the good weather has meant that more people are feeding them! It was lovely to see the sun shining on the water. Everyone we passed seemed to be in a good mood too.

Then we took Katie into the little park alongside the river. It is not one that is used very often so we had it to ourselves. It was great to let Katie go on the slide as many times as she liked and for her to run around as free as a bird.

Of course she cried when it was time to leave the park but after a carry on Daddys shoulders and a quick stop at the market to buy some rolls and cakes for lunch she cheered up.

Isn’t it amazing at how a bright and sunny day after a hard winter can make you feel more cheery. After school the girls played outside the front (I still long for a garden or even a little yard!) and the next door neighbour popped out for a natter. When the weather is good people seem to chat more. There is no need to put your head down and walk quickly, you can stop and chat. Of course being in England the chat is usually about the weather but that’s all good when it’s not moaning!

Yes, spring is springing and it feels very very good!

More snow

The snow just keeps on coming. We have had quite thick snow outside for 3 weeks now. I’ve never known anything like it. More is forecast so we’re just trying to get on with things.
That isn’t so easy however when the council has run out of grit. None of the main roads are now being gritted and we live down in a valley in the middle of the Pennines. Since we are relying on benefits at the moment we are entitled to a £25 cold weather payment when the average temperature is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days. Today has seen a 3rd payment of £25 be triggered. That means that for 3 consecutive weeks the temperature here has been an average of below freezing. That is a long time to be cold!

Our car broke down the day after Boxing Day anyway so we’re reliant on public transport and good old Shank’s pony. Yesterday I thought I’d stick an Asda home delivery order in to come later on this evening. I ordered all the heavy stuff on there so we wouldn’t have to lug it back from the shop ourselves.
This morning, 12 hours before our shopping was due to be delivered we got a phone call from Asda to tell us that because of the untreated roads all deliveries for our little town and the next one along have been cancelled. Next available slot is Friday. We need the stuff before that so we cancelled and tomorrow will walk down to our little supermarket and get a taxi home… if there are taxis running in the snow that is.

Katie was supposed to have an appointment at the hospital tomorrow but we have had to cancel. We were all set to get the train and then taxi to get us there but the snow has made us rethink. Public transport is being cancelled all over the place. The appointment has been cancelled and we will get a chance to rebook soon. Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long!

My sister has had no hot water or heating since her boiler broke down on Christmas day. She rents the house and it needs a new boiler. It was supposed to have been fitted yesterday but because of the snow it couldn’t be done. It was rescheduled for today but yes, you guessed it, couldn’t be done because of the snow. BT have managed to get out to install her new phone line though, it is being done at the moment. She should have internet by this evening lol.

Schools all over the country are closed. Robyns remains open thank goodness. They pride themselves on keeping open in all weathers. If we chose not to send Robyn in that wouldn’t be a problem. They stay open for the kids that want to go/have no choice. Some working parents are very glad of the school’s policy, I’m not sure all the children are lol. Robyn loves school though, she would rather be there with her friends than stuck at home.

When will things get back to normal?! It is rather good fun to play in though!

Snow Sunday

We have snow! Quite alot of snow!

We took the girls to the park earlier with the sledge. When we set off the snow was still coming down but quite gently. As we walked along I was smiling, thinking how lovely it was. Oh how things can change! When we got to the park it suddenly started coming down thicker and faster. Then the wind started! We were in the middle of the park in a snow blizzard lol.

Luckily our park has lovely shelters. We went and sat in one for a few minutes and waited for the blizzard to die down. Then we carried on walking. We threw snowballs and sledged down a big hill. I took some photographs (no surprise there!). Then Katie fell out of the sledge head first! She cried, Robyn whinged that her feet were cold and so we started to walk home again.

It looks beautiful out there. If the snow is still there tomorrow we will build a snowman in the street. I can’t stop humming “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas!”. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?!