Snowmaggedon

In our house we listen to the radio a lot, mostly Radio 4 which is suitably middle class. We call it the wireless of course. Not really. Anyway, it means that the kids get a good selection of comedy and current affairs. So in addition to being fans of various long-running series like "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue" and "The News Quiz", they are also up to speed with all the unfortunate things happening in the world, know all about Trump, ISIS and other tragedies. And they also get the weather.

So it did not escape their attention when, with increasing urgency, the weather forecasters began talking about storm surges, travel disruption, flight cancellations, danger, amber warnings, carnage etc etc. Her eyes full of hope, my youngest daughter looked up at me on the way out of the house on Thursday morning. "Daddy, I haven't made a snowman since I was five". 

Well what can I say? This is what we woke up to on Friday morning. As you can see, chaos.

Why is it that in this country we frequently predict the end of times when nothing of the sort ever happens? It is a national past-time to obsess about no weather at all. Perhaps it is because when we do get the tiniest bit of bad weather that we experience a collective collapse, weather that most normal countries wouldn't even notice brings us to a complete standstill. Despite the intensity of the band of snow said to be crossing the country, last week was so pitiful that public transport continued to run without any problems at all, and the nice cozy day I had envisaged working from home turned into the usual schlep to Canary Wharf. And needless to say we did not get to build a snow man..... I'd estimate there was just about enough of the white stuff in our garden to build something, oooh I don't know, an inch high and about half and inch wide. Pitiful. 

Here's an old photo from a few years back instead. I haven't shown it to the kids...

My garden, circa 1852

Let it Snow!

Every news bulletin headlines concerns the dreadful impact of the snow, the implosion of the transport infrastructure, and an obligatory interview with a poor distressed person stuck at Heathrow unable to get to that nice warm place they were hoping to go to. Pah!! I've been enjoying it, the Christmas season should have snow! The fact that this country can't cope with snow is getting very boring.

Wanstead has predictably ground to a halt. As I returned from my mornings birding on the Flats and in the Park, traffic was barely moving along the main road. I expect the buses will stop soon, and once people get home, or to wherever it is that they are going, the road will become impassable. To be fair, there is quite a lot for round here. Look, here's my terrace, with an unimpressed Palm Tree. I reckon that's a good 10-15cm, and there may be more to come.

The morning's tour produced a few goodies, though nothing spectacular. Best birds on offer were a couple of Wigeon, and five Teal, all on the Roding. The ponds are largely all frozen, and I got my highest ever count of Shoveler on Alex with 27. They too looked unimpressed with the weather, wusses. We're had quite a few Wigeon and Teal during this cold spell, but are still missing the biggie (in a local context). No Goosander, no Goldeneye, no Gyr. Still, there is always tomorrow.