Day 23 - Thawing Out

Across the fields

I was so eager and organised yesterday, today I wasn't really sure what to do with myself.  I did make fizzy jelly, a la Sainsbury's Magazine suggestion, using strawberry jelly and sparkling wine.  I am now drinking the rest of said sparkling wine.

Boys! Not sure how zoom works.

This morning I downloaded my photos from my phone to do yesterday's blog, and remembered that I'd taken a couple of photos of the boys while walking to my friends on Tuesday.  I'd forgotten the camera, and so used my phone as it is a Sony Ericson Cybershot phone of sorts - they're supposed to be good yet, sometimes I'm not so sure of the quality.  Most of my cake photos are from the phone - but they don't move, so they usually come out okay.

Anyway, here are photos of out back - there's a footpath that runs the outside of the housing estates and is a quick way to get to some of the places without the hassle of cars, so I can let the boys run and not worry about them.

It was lovely out there, still very snowy, especially across the untouched fields.  We could hear the roar of the M5 in the distance - which is basically across those fields. 

I told them to stand still - my camera phone doesn't like movement

I also found photos I'd taken going to work on the Sunday.  It was just so picturesque but not sure if my phone really did it justice.  But this is the main road near us that I have to walk to go to work.  I wish I'd taken it Saturday morning, it was even more untouched.  But we've got new street lamps along this road and it's so much brighter, and with the snow it felt like daylight. I don't walk that way, but the park is there, and it all just looked lovely.

Today, the temperature has been slightly milder so some of the snow has started melting.  But I still think we'll have a white blanket for Christmas day, and that will be the first time in my lifetime, that I can remember, having snow on the ground Christmas Day.

Our road joining the main road Sunday 19 December

My son asked will it be a white Christmas.  Technically, I think to class as a white Christmas it has to snow on Christmas day.  But we will have snow.

So now I'm starting to stress a little. Got to remember to take the turkey out, etc. I've jobs to do tomorrow and it's going to be so exciting.

Day 17 - Jelly Bean Boots

It SNOWED! Oh, yes, not the smidgen of a layer we got a couple of weeks ago.  Oh, no, a good inch is out there now, actually maybe two!  And we have more to come (though I will believe that when I see it!).

I have nowhere to go in my car, so I'm quite happy to say bring it on! I can walk to work and the snow lights up the road with the street lamps, so it won't feel dark tomorrow morning. (It didn't feel dark walking home tonight.)  My dad said that the beach was surreal, covered in snow. I'd love to go down there, but the buses aren't running, and I'm not risking my car.  The back roads are like ice rinks.

The only thing is the panic buying - we're (the shop I work at) out of bread! Admittedly, if deliveries don't get through, then there could be a shortage of bread now... (as everyone has bought it) but I bet if they all actually checked in their cupboards, they could survive a couple of days.  It'll be gone by Monday (probably) and our shop is open EVERY DAY!  They will not shut - believe me!

This morning, Ben went to school and Kieran had his preschool Christmas party.  The school said that the kids could be collected at 1.30pm, though the school would remain open for those children that couldn't be collected.  Not sure if they did this because it was the last day of term before Christmas anyway, but I collected him then.

I was busy with Kieran's preschool's party, so haven't really got anything else done.  Kieran was in a bit of a mood while at the party.  He goes all funny when I'm there.  Luckily, he snapped out of it to join in some of the party fun .

My brand new jelly bean wellies got their first outing today. So glad I bought them now.  And I was worried they were a bit wacky, but I've seen loads of people come into the shop with funky wellyboots!

This weekend we should finally get our Christmas tree up and the rest of the decorations done.  Unfortunately I do have work this weekend, so it's going to be tough for time (might not get much writing done this weekend).  Plus the kids were supposed to be going to their Great Aunt's so hubby and I could wrap their presents, I mean, help Santa.  But with the snow that might not happen.

Watch this space.