Cold Snap
Is it just me, or is anyone else irritated by the fact that, in the context of COVID, the world is referring freely to the “British variant” or even more geographically specific, the “Kent variant”, when ex President Trump was consistently vilified for referring to the pandemic as the “Chinese disease”? It’s called “COVID” because phrases like “Asian flu” and “Spanish flu” have been outlawed by the WHO as racially divisive, so how come the “British variant” is acceptable? Maybe it’s just me.
Anyway, just as we sit here confined to quarters unable to travel, we get a little bit of the world – indeed a little bit of the Arctic circle – sent to our doorstep by way of direct weather streams. Whilst a few days of sub zero temperatures and a decent covering of snow may not be extreme by world standards, it’s a less-than-annual event in our South East corner of England, and actually a hugely welcome change from the endless rains of January.
It’s all rather attractive. There’s something very satisfying about creating the first footfalls in a field of virgin snow, something edifying about seeing birds flock to the garden feeders in their hour of need, something exhilarating about breathing in the freezing air, looking across the shining white countryside, seeing your normal surroundings in a different light. And then returning to the comfort and warmth of home.
Michaela caught these shots around our village in the last few days: note the hedgerow hung with numerous icicles, like Mother Nature’s own Christmas tree…
15 Comments
Andrew Petcher
I especially like that farm gate. Snow is in full retreat here in Lincolnshire.
Took a gamble and booked some flights today. To Sicily in October. Only £100 return so if we lose it, we lose it!
Phil & Michaela
We’ve had quite a bit more snow today too. Good move with Sicily, surely we’ll be clear to travel by then! Our plan is, we’ll travel to wherever we are allowed, and wherever is appealing, straight after vaccination.
Andrew Petcher
We just decided to take a gamble. Who knows what will happen.
Latitude Adjustment: A Tale of Two Wanderers
BRRRRRRRR!
Monkey's Tale
I hadn’t thought of it, but your right. Why can we call it the British, South African or Brazil variants? I’d love your sub-zero temps, we’re sitting at a high of -16C today and tomorrow a HIGH of -20C!
Phil & Michaela
Ha ha, yes you are much more used to cold climate than we are. I think tonight we are in for the coldest night in the South East since December 2010 … -7, add this to the snowfall and the whole region comes to a standstill 😆 The coldest we personally experienced was -27 in St Petersburg, we found that rather difficult.
Gilda Baxter
It certainly looks much prettier than soggy January. We are still snow free here in Bournemouth, although the temperature has dropped a lot. All the different variants are mind boggling, the virus is not going to make it easy for us.
Phil & Michaela
And we had another pile of snow during the night, looks magical this morning 😁
Joe
Nice photos, especially the icicles on the hedgerow. You must have had some melting and re-freezing to produce that lovely sight. Hope you are staying warm!
Phil & Michaela
Thanks Jo. We had even more snow overnight! Will venture out in it later 😁
Steven Berger
I love the winter photos, especially the ones that look black and white. So serene.
And I think you need to name the variation before we can stop using the place of origin as an identifier.
How about the “Phichaela” virus?
Phil & Michaela
Phichaela!? Unfortunately that does sound like the name of a disease! The cold spell continues too; another decent snowfall yesterday and the UK’s lowest temperatures for 26 years recorded overnight. Must be that global warming thing!! 😆
Annie Berger
Thank you for pointing out the joy and beauty in the frigid scenes around your village, Phil and Michaela, in phrase and photo. We, here in Colorado and much of the United States, are also in the grasp of a very cold snap with record-breaking temperatures so we have a sense of what you’re experiencing on the other side of the pond! Let us hope for warmer and sunnier days ahead.
Phil & Michaela
And for the chance to get globetrotting again!
Annie Berger
Of course!