Friday 8 January 2010

Brrrrr

I know that compared to everyone else in the UK we've only had a tiny dumping of snow, but it's still been exciting to see the landscape changing and looking so pretty, although for a short while, and from the inside of a warm house.

Grumps has had a wonderful time sticking his nose into the snow, however he did get a fright when he came in and still had snow all over his back. Such a panic-pants.

My daughter, thinking she was the only one of her friends to be missing the first three days of school, wasn't thrilled to discover that the schools had been closed due to snow. "I could have stayed at home then," she said. Then when I told her we'd had approximately 2 inches - I measured by sticking my finger into the snow on the driveway - she laughed and found it hilarious that everything had ground to a halt whereas in Austria it's so different.

Anyway, today it's still mainly white - up where I live in the wilds of St Ouen - but the roads are fine and I'm off to meet friends for lunch to bid farewell to a fabulous colleague, Rachel, who is leaving our office after years of being great fun. It's also her 40th birthday tomorrow, so we're going to celebrate with bubbles and lots of scrumptious food. Work will not be the same without her though. Sigh.

39 comments:

Jayne said...

Oh just look at Grumps!!! What a gorgeous photo of him! x

Troy said...

That's a very atmospheric photo of the shed in the snow. Hope you enjoyed your bubbles and food.

DJ Kirkby said...

I like the pic of your shed in the snow and the bit about Divadog made me laugh.

Chris said...

Oh - your snow looks so pretty! Wish I was there... Ours is getting scary now - I want to go out!!! And Grumpy looks wonderful -bless him. C x

Hope and Chances said...

Aw lovely pic, pets are so funny in the snow, if only they could talk.. or perhaps not! ;-) x

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

jayne - thank you. He was fascinated by the snow.

troy - am slowly recovering from overindulgence.

dj - thanks. He is such a drama queen.

chris - thankfully we can all get out. It looks far worse over the channel where you are. I don't think we would cope well at all if it was like that here.

serendipity - he makes enough noise without talking, lol.

Chris Stovell said...

It's always hard when a colleague you get on well with leaves. it sounds as though you'll stay in touch as friends though. The shed looks a bit nippy!

Flowerpot said...

We didnt have much but it was enough to make the whole of Falmouth seize up. But I;'ve had enough now - the pavements are like sheet ice and going out with Molls we have to be VERY careful!

HelenMWalters said...

I have to say, the shed looks very romantic in the snow.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

chrish - we'll definately stay in touch and meet up out of working hours quite regularly. She's such a cheerful person that even when she's in a bad mood she's still amusing.

The shed is freezing and I've moved to the house for the past few days.

flowerpot - the pavements are horrendous here. I've had a few slippy moments recently.

helen - it does, doesn't it. Very cold though and the little heater I've got in there really isn't up to working against these temperatures.

Leigh Forbes said...

In Austria they're used to it, so we shouldn't feel stupid. I think we've all coped admirably under the circumstances. Imagine what would happen in Sydney, or Dallas!

(I notice the lack of footprints out to the shed...!)

Anna and Kate said...

Ahhh. A shed. I dream of a shed!

xxxxxxx

Nicola Morgan said...

Hi Debs - nice to "meet" you! Now, that shed: I'm interested, because I am about to move house and I have a definite hankering for a shed to write in. BUT it cannot be cold. It must be cosy and dry and sound-proofed and have a carpet. Is this possible for a shed??! Your summer picture looks lovely, but your winter picture looks, well, gorgeous but only from a distance, I think, or with thermal underwear (me, not shed).

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

leigh - if you look closely - very closely - you'll see a hint of a couple of footprints. I have to confess I spent most of the snowy time writing inside the house.

kate b - I love my shed, so does the rest of my family as it means I keep my mess out of the house.

nicola - hello there. The shed is mostly fine and I only have a small £8 heater/fan that I use for heat in the winter and to keep it cool in the summer. I have a carpet and a couple of mats covering the floor, but my husband is going to seal it properly for me this year, or so he says.

It's usually very cosy, but I think -4 was expecting a little too much. Now the snow has gone I'm back out there again.

Karen Jones Gowen said...

Visiting from Nicola's blog! I hail from the U.S. I love your shed! Reminds me of Virginia Woolf--"a woman needs a room of her own to be a writer" or something like that. That's a wonderful room of your own! (Sorry it's so cold right now.)

Karen Jones Gowen said...

P.S. Im adding myself as a follower. I love the whole writing in a shed idea. I look forward to following your blog!

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

Karen - thanks for the lovely comments and for following my blog.

I love writing in the shed and actually started an article saying something about Virginia Wolfe saying that every woman should have her own place to write, or words to that effect.

Melinda Szymanik said...

Just popped over to say hi from Nicola's party. We would be totally hopeless here (Auckland, NZ) if it snowed - Snow always looks very romantic but I'm no good in the cold. Our dog would be a fan though - he's a west highland white, so we'd probably lose him all the time.

Kaye Manro said...

I tell you, I really enjoy reading your posts, and I hate getting here late. But as I said the other day, better late than never, lol. The cold has us in its grasp here too, Debs. Grumpy looks like he's having a fab time of it. Hope you had a nice party with your friends.

Annieye said...

Dogs are so funny in the snow aren't they.

I hate it when someone leaves at work. Our modern apprentice came to the end of her two years with us at Christmas and I really miss her. Mind you, a trip into town to the bank in the snow on Friday was actually quite nice, and it was good to daydream over some mentally unchallenging envelope-sticking, too!

Amanda said...

Awh, what a lovely picture of Grumps!

Unknown said...

I just love that picture of Grumps. My dogs are really loving all our snow.

Sorry to hear your friend's leaving, but it sounds as if you'll enjoy her send off!

Carol said...

Awww, Grumpy is so funny....not that he means to be!

Hope you had a wonderful time at your friends leaving/celebration lunch.

C x

(Sorry I've not been around much...Uni has kinda taken over my life recently!)

Anonymous said...

Your shed sure looks pretty:) a real winter wonderland! Had to laugh about Grumpy in snow, both my cats have been finding it very strange and cold on the old paw pads:) Good luck with writing for this year!!

Anna Scott Graham said...

Grumps makes my day!

Hope you had a lovely lunch, and are staying snug and warm!

Faye said...

The shed looks quite atmospheric in the snow. Never asked--do you write out there when it's cold? Panic Pants gave me a giggle. I live with a Mr. Zen instead. And you're a braver woman than I Debs. I turned down the chance to meet friends for pizza and chat during our big snow last week--too lazy to clear the car off. I guess yours was a bittersweet occasion?

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

melinda - thanks for your comment. Your dog is the perfect colour if he wanted to be camouflaged in the snow.

kaye - I had a lovely time the other day/night. Finally made it home through a snow shower by 10pm. Was driven though, I didn't walk home.

annieye - it's a little surreal without Rach at the moment and will take time to get used to her not being there as she's such a bubbly person.

amanda - thanks m'dear.

shirley - he loves the snow and I'm sure he's wondering where it's all disappeared to.

The send off was great fun.

carol - lunch was fab, thanks.

I remember when my sister was doing her degree and the paperwork seemed horrendous, so I'm not surprised you're so busy.

motherx - thanks. Best of luck for your writing this year too.

anna - I certainly am.

Lunch was great fun. Wonderful lobster linguine and lots of bubbly drink. Perfect.

faye - I do write in the shed when it's cold, but not icy/snowy cold as my tiny heater can't keep the temperature up enough for me, so I revert to the house for those days.

It was bittersweet, but she's someone I see out of work, so we will be keeping in touch with each other, thankfully.

Anna and Kate said...

Just wanted to say a big thank you for your comments, and just so happy you got your family too. There are far too many of us out there, but so pleased you got your happy ending xxxx

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

kate b - many thanks. There were a couple of years when I didn't think it would all work out well, but it did in the end. Thanfully.x

Alice said...

Ahhh, how my Milla loves the snow. It's quite hilarious watching her bound about!

I have announced the SWAP over at mine and I'm going to be giving to you!!!! You will be giving to Anne (who hopefully will get in touch somehow as i have no contact)... Here's to a creative January! x

Fionnuala said...

After a lull, its snowing in London today. Wierd to see it stay on the ground! Fx

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

alice - it's so funny watching them racing around in the snow.

I shall pop over. I'm looking forward to taking part in the swap. x

fionnuala - we have none left today, thankfully, it was pretty though.

Karen said...

Snow does make everything look pretty, and Molly-dog loves it, but I'm getting a bit fed-up of it now - it's just so hard to get anywhere!

Becky said...

Hi Debs
It's funny watching our pets in the snow isn't it. My cats think they can walk on top of it, and get such a shock when their paws start to sink !
Yes it's nice to be inside watching the snow...and we forget how cold it actually is out there !

Anonymous said...

Lovely picture of the doggie looking at the snow! We've been one of those areas to have it bad, absolutely awful in fact. But, on its way out and I hope never to return. EVER!!!

CJ xx

Suzanne Ross Jones said...

Grumps looks gorgeous and the shed looks lovely.

X

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

karen - I know what you mean. We only had two days when it was a bit dodgy, but that was enough for me. I do hope you get some respite soon.

becky - they are hilarious and I've taken quite a few photos of him. I think he's wondering where it's all gone now.

crystal jigsaw - oh poor you, it must be a nightmare having it so badly and for so long. Here's hoping there's a glorious summer on its way to make up for it.

suzanne - thanks m'dear. I'm glad it's getting warmer and I can get back to my shed again.

Liane Spicer said...

I envy you your winter wonderland!

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

liane - It was very beautiful when everything was covered in snow and so quiet too, perfect when at home, but getting to work was a bit of a pain.