Yay its been snowing!

 23.01.21

 

Wowzer, woke up this morning to thick fog which is still clinging to the river at 11am. As I look out of the study window there is not even a suggestion that Winter Hill exists or anything beyond South View road. Looking out of the back window is a different story, sunny blueish sky and bright. Also, it’s absolutely freezing cold although the outdoor thermometer says 4 degrees its more like minus something.

We are staying tucked indoors today and tomorrow as the weekend mud wallowers will be out churning up the walks and complaining about the mud in the countryside.

 

Our birdbox camera has been playing up, well more of the WIFI connection me thinks. For 2 weeks it has been driving me insane, I have reset, repaired, turned them off and on again many times, got really frustrated and gave up. Very upset that we won’t be able to watch any BBTs this year. Yesterday morning I was checking out the wildlife in the garden aka the bird feeder when I happened to glance down and hey presto 3 lights on. Everything working hunky dory and we were even treated to a BT in the box this morning.

 

Last night there was a briefing from Downing Street and hurrah I think, Boris is going to announce that lockdown is working and that the Rate is coming down, well he did but and it’s a big but. Evidence is suggesting that the new variant may lead to a higher risk of death and as we know it is much more contagious that the other version.

 

 

North Marlow has now entered the below average area of infection. It Is very noticeable that nearly everyone wears a mask even in the street. Ian & I stopped to don ours the other day as we were entering an area where there could possibly be more people as we feel safer all round by doing so.

 

24.01.21

 

Eight o’clock this morning not a flake of the forecast snow, an hour later 4 inches of enchanting white stuff. Huge downy goose flakes drift down from the laden sky and blankets the garden. Which is soon transformed into a beautiful place, untrodden and unblemished.

Willow is however less than impressed, he does venture out for a toilet break but is soon back in with a snow covered back and a pitiful cry. Bless.

2pm and it is showing signs of melting a little, the road however is starting to get compressed as it does up here and usually remains a skating rink for several days after everywhere else has thawed.

 

Headline news this morning is that schools are possibly not going back until April. The education secretary will make an announcement within the next few days.

 

Ray had his AstraZeneca/Oxford jab this morning.

 

BBC reports there are 77 cases of the South Africa variant in the UK.

 

25.01.21

 

We were woken this morning at 5am by Kev next door scraping the frozen snow off his car and then driving down the frozen road. It sounded like driving over a million frozen packets of crisps. Soon went back to sleep only to be woken later by Donna doing the same thing. Poor Kev, bad enough having to go to work but at that time in the morning in these conditions.

 

A large bright golden orb of light is rising over the top of Winter Hill as I write. It’s so low and so bright I can’t look at it, what a glorious thing to behold. One of the ponytail swishing, Sweaty Betty clad runners has just passed by. That’s brave, the roads are heavily rutted with frozen ice & snow and the pavements are an extreme slip hazzard, she is headed to Oak Tree road which for those of you that don’t know is a steep hill, wish I could watch how she is going to get down that. Temperature on BBC says -3 feels like -6. Brrrr.

 

What the Papers say.

 

France are contemplating having a third lockdown.

Protests in the Netherlands over the new Covid restrictions. There is to be a curfew after 9pm.

Australia suspends travel bubble with New Zealand as a case of CV19 (South African variant) has been confirmed in NZ.

Lots of people out sledging here and other snowy places yesterday. Posts on Marlow FB sites calling for kids to stay indoors.

Nearly half a million vaccinations were carried out yesterday.

One bit of worry not CV related is hidden or increased charges when buying goods from the EU. The Financial times reports that Mastercard are to introduce a fivefold  increase when a shopper uses a debit or credit card to buy from an EU based company. Also, I have read about Couriers charging fees for delivery to cover duties and extra paperwork at ports.

Take care when shopping online.

The Mail online leads with the headline Summer holidays scrapped. (No need for this at this moment in time)

Right Ian’s cooking my porridge, so I had better get downstairs pronto. Not sure what today will bring but I guess its day 3 indoors unless this beautiful sun melts the freeze.