So... we finally moved to our house in Wales in December 2012. It was suggested that we create a blog, so we are doing just that. Never 'done' a blog before so please bear with us.
Our blog will start with this week as we are in the midst of Winter and the snowy weather is probably still in the recent memories for many of us. We certainly had a very memorable week. Following our snowy account, we intend to send further frequent retrospective posts which will tell you of our adventures from first setting eyes on our new home up until the present when messages may decrease depending on incidents or lack of them.
LAST WEEK
Although the forecast had been for heavy snow overnight, we weren't sure what to expect.because we have our own micro-climate (as does everywhere appear to these days). Some locals had told us that because we are affected by the North Atlantic Drift we rarely have snow in this part of Wales. Other more pessimistic/optimistic souls had told us winters are severe and we were to anticipate not being able to get out due to snow or ice. I don't think anyone had predicted what was to come.
SNOW DAY 1
We woke up to snow – lots of it. It had blown in blizzards across our land, so much so that we were unable to see through our glass front door as a layer of snow had attached it self to the whole of the door. On exploring further, there was a drift about a foot deep at the door.
It snowed all day, non-stop. During the afternoon we went for a walk along the road. Here, there were 4 ft drifts across the road. We went the other way to be greeted by more of the same. We were not getting out and nobody was going to get in!
Well & truly cut off from the rest of the world, we arranged to go sledging with some neighbours the following day.
SNOW DAY 2
At 8 am we were found feeding the local farmer's cattle as he was unable to get to his farm other than by foot which would have taken at least 4 hours from his house & back, before he started his other morning job. For us, it's a 5 minute walk.
Later we met up for a
sledge. We had intended to sledge down a nearby steep road in an old
canoe we had found in our garden, but this was not possible for 2
reasons: 1) We couldn't find the canoe under the snow; and 2) the 4 ft
drifts made sledging impossible. Instead, the farmer had offered his
fields, and good slopes were too far to trudge to with a canoe. So
armed with cushions in plastic sacks that once housed sheep food we
set off for a good sledge run. Skiers had already taken ownership of
the best slopes, which wouldn't have been suitable for us as they would have taken too long to walk back up. We
found a field and set about making a run. Excellent sledging
snow, but this run stopped abruptly at a stone wall, which as the run
became faster, became potentially dangerous. So we moved along a
little to where the snow had drifted up to the wall, making a good
run to the wall and a bit of a 'ski jump' as the snow wasn't quite as
deep the other side of the wall. The faster it became, the higher we
jumped on our makeshift sledges.
Bearing in mind that us
and our neighbours have all taken early retirement in our 50s, the
farmer took great pleasure in telling his work colleagues there were
4 pensioners sledging on cushions in his field!
After a great
afternoon, back to the neighbours with the farmer, his family &
other tag-alongs, for some much needed glasses of mulled wine.
Next blog - More snowy days
