and there is light (and snow)


Last night I wasn't woken by the wind pushing against the window, nor the rain battering the roof. I was hopeful that it might be a somewhat calmer day than yesterday. And guess what? It was. I felt almost happy on my way to work, and for the first time since before Christmas I chose to cycle through the woods. I figured that the muddy paths would be frozen over, giving me good grip, better than the road surface in fact. I was hoping that the fastest route would not be obstructed by an uprooted tree and was lucky. Even better, I am not cold. I have taken to wear a hat and wooly turtleneck inside the house because although the heating appears to be functioning fine, I was chilled to the bone from cycling and walking through the wind and rain for days and my body did not seem to be able to warm up. It is just me, the children whose feel-good thermostat must be set differently from mine are running around half naked as usual. In the house of course, not on their way to school. To my utter delight, when I emerged from a morning in the downstairs windowless lab, I noticed snow gently falling. I immediately started planning a sledging adventure for tomorrow. I do love sledging.

On my way home I saw the sun. Yes, the sun. I felt like an Antarctic explorer after a long Antarctic winter.

And better still, I noticed not one but two snowdrops in my front garden.

Unfortunately by the time I got home from dropping Sam and his friend Theo off at the indoor ski arena it was dark and the snowdrops were covered with snow, so no photo. How ironic is that, Sam skiing indoors and outside the snow is falling fast and steady. It took 15 min to get there and 75 to get back because Glasgow drivers, rush hour and snow just don't mix. We are not talking about a long distance trip here. I wish I had talked them out of after school skiing but assuming that the snow would turn into rain any minute I didn't. I was moaning about the unfairness of it all but I am not any longer. It took Richard 3.5 hours to pick the big boys up from skiing, collect James and his friend from a birthday party and get home again. That's the same distance as before. 




Snow doesn't last long in Glasgow. Not usually. So after a late dinner, Alistair, Annie, Jack and I went outside to have a bit of a snowball fight. We made snow angels, chased the dog and generally had a good laugh. I don't laugh often enough. It was very liberating. I thought it was a shame that James missed out on the fun (being stuck in the car). Riddled with guilt, I took him out for a bit when he finally got home but Alistair has a nose for fun and immediately got out of bed when he heard us laugh. He was having such a tantrum watching from the bedroom window that I worried he might break the glass and we aborted the fun. Then I thought hell, that's not fair and I allowed Annie to take James back out again for a wee while. I was expecting a house call from the local social work department (it was by that time well after 9pm and they were playing on the road) but I guess they were stuck in the snow.

Better enjoy the snow when it is fresh, it might be all gone tomorrow morning.

So today I am going to bed with a lighter heart than I did yesterday. And the day before. And the day before that. I hadn't realised quite how demoralising this stormy wet weather was.

Have a lovely weekend my friends! Cx
 
P.S. The top picture is from the archives, I did of course not have my camera today on my way back from work.

Comments

  1. Your story made my heart lighter as well. I appreciate you saying you don't laugh enough, I feel that I don't laugh enough with my children. Life is too serious and stressful in my home at the moment, and I feel it's okay to just do something out of the norm and just laugh!!! Thank you for this post, it was lovely!
    And that snow is gorgeous!
    Have a wonderful weekend,
    Tammy x

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  2. How great you got to play with the kids in the snow and have a laugh with them. Glad James didnt miss out in the end. I don't like the wet and windy weather either, it's unsettling isn't it. Have a super weekend Christina. xx

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  3. Hey Christina,
    How e long for snow in St Ives. We do get it, but very rarely. The last time I was pregnant with Olly and the hill I live on became treacherous. I love the silence of snow. I'm glad that you got the time to laugh and have fun. It does sometimes feel as if we have our noses to the grindstone. I had a huge laugh with my eldest last night. It was such a tonic, on so many levels. Have a lovely weekend, Christina.
    Leanne xx

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  4. A lovely post that brought a smile to my face, just picturing you all out in the snow having fun, but keeping a wary eye out lest social services arrive! Ugh, I remember well that Braehead traffic in the snow & rush hour - no fun at all. Have a happy weekend, take care and keep smiling,
    Hugs xx

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  5. Your post made me smile and brought back some wonderful memories of playing and fighting (snowball fighting) with my daughters years ago. Treasured memories for you. So glad those terrible winds have stopped, they are so worrying with all there destruction.

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  6. Have fun while you can indeed! Even without young children I will still go out to play in the snow. We had a few flurries this morning but they seem to have stopped.

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  7. oh I love that you got to play in the snow, I don't love the thought of the 3 1/2 in the car though xxx
    I hope you have a lovely weekend x

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  8. You've made me laugh about the social workers being stuck in the snow. It does sound fun, except the hideous traffic. We've had barely a flake here. All my fault as I bought a couple of little sledges the winter before last, so the snow has stopped completely in the south west. I'm glad you're feeling a bit happier now. I hope you all have a really lovely weekend. CJ xx

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  9. Snow brings that out in everybody I think. I love playing in the snow but I am a January baby, maybe that has something to do with it. Jo x

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  10. Glad you are feeling a little happier. We do have to make the most of any snow that falls!

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  11. Snow is so much fun, but you are right it can definitely change your travel plans into a nightmare. I love the photos of the kids, they look like they are having the best time.
    Hugs to you,
    Meredith

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  12. If you (one) can get over the cold messiness of snow, it's tremendous fun, isn't it :) not do much the traffic bit though. Well done though, not sure I'd have gone back out after tea! We've had about 6 flakes of snow, or maybe they were tiny hailstones. Have a great weekend Christina,
    Jillxo

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  13. I love the fact you went out and enjoyed the snow while it lasted! Snow is that way where we now live too. There one minute, gone the next. :-)

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  14. It's true, isn't it? It's amazing how your mood lifts with the light levels. All that reflected brightness from the snow has cheered me up no end.
    I'm glad you enjoyed the snow and fingers crossed for more to come!
    S x

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  15. It's true, laughing is so good for us, makes us younger. Snow is fun, we get none here, but when we lived in Germany we use to sled and even went skiing a couple of times.

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  16. I like the photos of the dog and kids playing in the snow. You can tell they're really having fun. Have a lovely weekend! x

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  17. I am glad to see the back of those gales too, Christina. Like you, despite the heating etc I couldn't get warm for days. We had an 80 minute journey to get home from swimming lessons last night, that usually takes us 25.... Interested by your remark that you/we don't laugh enough. I know what you mean, I think my usual 'resting' face is glum, verging on severe! When I laugh with my boys, my heart feels instantly lighter. Note to self: laugh more with children. X

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  18. If the people at the social work department can't appreciate good clean snow fun, then they shouldn't be working with children. ;) I'm glad that you are feeling better and that it was a wonder of nature - something as simple as snow and the delight of children enjoying it - that got you out of your funk.
    Indoor skiing?! I have never heard of such a thing - how does it work? Are there simulated hills inside a building?

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  19. Looks such fun, I am glad you all got a chance to play in the snow, I'm hoping we have snow here this year.

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  20. Sometimes it's more important to go out in the snow than to stay in bed. I'm all for making the most of it! xx

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  21. I hope your snow has lasted so you can have more fun? You are right that snow and cities don't mix I remember when I lived in Sheffield it snowed every winter and the chaos was always the same..........I just cycled through the queues! We have had snow on and off all week, glorious! Enjoy your weekend :)

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  22. There's a tiny covering of snow here today, but not enough for sledging. You were right to let the children play in it while it lasted even if it was 9pm. Snow days when they are kids are rare. My big girl isn't so excited about it these days, but I have great memories of a day when school was closed unexpectedly when she was about 9 and we went sledging instead.

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  23. I am so glad to hear that you went out and played in the snow with the children and that you let them play too, it is good to hear about people enjoying themselves and making the most of whatever comes their way too! Sorry for Richard getting stuck in traffic/weather for so long though! I hope that you have defrosted a bit now! I vary between freezing or boiling and so I can understand the going round in a scarf and hat, I have had two pairs of socks on quite a lot recently for my poor freezing feet! xx

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  24. We had just enough snow to exclaim "It's snowing" and then it stopped! Lucky you to go outside and play in it. Playing in the snow is very liberating.

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Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment, I love to hear from you, I really do. I sometimes reply by email but I am not all that reliable... Christina xx

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