Snowmaggdon

While the thought of snowball fights and snowmen brings joy to children around the country, snow isn't so much fun for commuters who are at the mercy of the icy conditions.  In the UK, just a light dusting is often enough to close schools, bring trains to a standstill and cause traffic jams galore.

And on Friday, 1st February the M3 was brought 'to a standstill' by snow and jack-knifed lorries.

Alun was travelling home from Gatwick to Bournemouth and as he neared our home he took the executive decision to call us and ask if he could stay the night.  So glad he did because if he had continued he probably would have been one of the drivers on the M3 who faced a night of travel misery after the snow caused chaos.  The carriageways between Winchester services and Hook were closed in both directions with lorries jack-knifing and police working until the early hours of the morning to clear stuck cars.

It was so lovely to see him, although Emmie was upset Daddy wasn't coming home and that we had snow and she didn't.  We lit the fire, poured him a beer, cooked a curry and then watched the Rugby. Wales won.  What more could Phil want?  And with the patio light on we could watch as  big beefy snowflakes came tumbling down like large white butterflies.

The next morning he was able to continue his journey but not before meeting Alistair who was on a flying visit to his parents.

Not as bad as Chicago though shivering in a deadly cold snap know as a polar vortex.  With wind chills dipping to about -30.  The polar Vortex is a circulation of cold air in the Arctic Circle about 7 to 10 miles above ground in the stratosphere.  The vortex's strong circulation usually keeps it up above the North Pole, but when it weakens little pieces of energy break off and split, and send artic air south.

 But modern winters are nothing in comparison to those of the so-called "little ice-age" which lasted from 1350 until 1850.  These arctic winters resulted in the River Thames becoming frozen solid for months on end.  The worst UK winter on record was dubbed the "Great Frost" ,way back in 1683-84.  The Thames was covered in 11 inches of thick ice resulting in the famous Frost Fair - a festival held on the frozen river involving ice-skating, gambling and bear-baiting.  The winter of 1739-40 is one of the worst on record with a severe frost, which saw temperatures plummet to -9C, starting on Christmas Day and lasting until February 17th.  AND NO CENTRAL HEATING!!!!!!!

So we mustn't grumble.  Keep warm and stay safe.