snow!

It began snowing quite early, though just the odd flake or two. I was walking over to Louisa's and I remember wondering if this would be a big snowfall. Three dry flakes on Old Kent Road. Matthew sent me updates on the various shakings of snowflakes that disappeared throughout the day. By 4 in the afternoon, there was still nothing. Yet, by half past a small flurry began. I was back home by then and stood in the kitchen watching sceptically. A very small layer dusted over the garden. It wasn't much but it was sticking. Sort of.

 

I ignored it. There's no point getting your hopes up about these things. I did some editing instead, with the blind down. It was only when Matthew began making dinner that he yelped excitedly. 'Look out the window!' It had snowed! Realy snow! There was a good four inches on the ground and it was still snowing! Our beans and toast were getting cold, so we quickly tucked in and settled down to an episode of The Wire.

As the credits rolled, a gust of snowflakes whirling in the street light caught my eye. There was nothing else to do but grab our snowpants. Mum scoffed when I asked for them to be shipped over, but who's laughing now? I thought. Thank goodness for Goodwill.

I think the snow is what makes Canadians so friendly, it made our neighbours so in any case. People we've passed but never acknowledged grinned wryly as we passed them, off on our tramp about the streets of south-east London. Impromtu snowball fights broke out between strangers; a few streets over the occupants of three houses clubbed in to build a snowman. We passed a group of Nigerians squatting low in the street to have their picture taken, so as to get as much of the snow in the background as possible.

When we later fell into bed, we sat up for a while watching the snow swirling about the way you might watch flames licking a fireplace. I haven't slept so well in ages. The silencing effect snow has muted the outside world but for a few distant sirens. At half 5 my alarm began to shriek and I was actually awake with it. Outside it was still snowing. Now, three and a half hours later, the snow hasn't stopped. Small, compact, dry flakes are persisting.

 

I hope it lasts.

Comments

[andrew]

This is truly fantastic! It's hitting the news here in Ottawa that you're up to your armpits in the stuff, and they can't even keep the Tube open. It must be simply delightful...

[Robynn]

Isn't it marvellous! I was up till around 3am last night and so happy to see the flakes just keep falling... today both Armin and I were at home, so we got to enjoy it to the full: walked out to Osterley park with our cameras and had a gorgeous time. Felt like a holiday. :-)

[Walter Knitty]

Does London shut down when it snows like that or do people continue to go about their business? When it last snowed here over Christmas we got about 8 inches and the whole city of Portland pratically shut down until it got warm enough to start melting.