Winter weather, snow and its not yet Christmas

There was a time when I was young in the UK when it always snowed at Christmas. Oh hang on. No, that is just my memory playing tricks with me.

However there was a time when seasonal cold weather would grip the UK before Christmas. This was often in November and accompanied by widespread frosts and fog.

For quite a few years now the winter weather has been milder. Well, with global warming what can you expect. Any snow that we have had, which has been of any substance, has been in January and beyond.

In 2008 we had heavy snowfalls in late October or early November but, much as it was deep and caused traffic chaos, it did not last long.

The last winter snow which I seem to remember lasted for a fairt while was in the 1990s and in February.

With just two days left before Christmas the weather has decided to play the game. After all each year the airwaves are abused with people dreaming of a white Christmas and for once the weather has obliged.

The UK and its citizens must be ecstatic to finally have their wishes fulfilled, I hear you say?

Oh dear me no.

How come countries such as Finland, Canada and Austria can bob along nicely with deep snow everywhere? Where I live it snowed on the 18th December 2009. The snow fall was light but as the weather has been cold the snow decided it would stick around.

Saturday evening saw heavy, rather pretty snowflakes falling. These flakes were apparently so fluffy and unusual that they caused the Euro Star trains to fail and passengers were stuck in the Channel Tunnel for hours.

Back to where I live then.

By Sunday the snow was about 3 or 4 inches but it was packed down on crunchy, slippery ice. Having already done the twirl of the century, and fallen on the Saturday, out came by purple and pink Wellies(Wellington Boots) The twirl resulted in a lump on my knee but mainly a bruised ego, as young people ran over to see if I was alright. This was so kind but made me feel so old.

So today is 22nd December 2009.

There has been no fresh snowfall since Saturday but the snow is still there. Only certain main roads have been gritted and the paths and pavements are treacherous. Many people have already finished work for Christmas and they are busy buying groceries enough to last them until next Christmas. This means that the roads are chaotic.

The temperature rose a little today but not enough to melt the snow. It looks as if it may just be a white Christmas after all. Most people are sick to death of the snow and so I wonder if these same people will clap their hands with joy if it snows at Christmas? Barking mad.

With planes, roads, trains and the like almost at a standstill chaos ensues.

I am told that some of the shops have not cleared the snow outside of their premises due to liability. Apparently if they clear the snow and you fall you can sue them. If you fall on the uncleared snow you cannot. Whatever next.

So while the scene is still Christmassy, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas whether it is snowing, a heatwave, pouring with rain or blowing a gale. Make sure you have Christmas in your heart and the rest does not really matter.