Whether the weather...

Whether the weather be fine,
Or whether the weather be not,
Whether the weather be cold,
Or whether the weather be hot,
We'll weather the weather
Whatever the weather,
Whether we like it or not!

                                    Traditional children's rhyme 

Well, it's been a strange couple of weeks weather-wise round here. Last week we had torrential rain and flooding, on Monday the snow arrived briefly, then it got warmer again.

And then on Thursday, Hurricane Bawbag hit - with a vengeance! Not only did it cause a weather storm, it's also creating an academic/geek storm over on Wikipedia as they try to decide whether to use the commonly known name or the official one for the Wiki entry. Go on, I challenge you - without looking it up - what's the official name?

As a slight digression, the whole naming of storms thing is quite interesting. Until relatively recently, storms were always given female names but that changed in 1979 - to go along with the times, apparently?? - since when names have alternated between male and female. And yes, before you ask, there has been a Hurricane Rebecca!! It does beg the question of why on earth name storms in the first place though?

Anyway, to get back to the point - in amongst all the humour, there is a serious side to this weather. We got off pretty lightly really. It could have been so much worse. As far as I know there have been no serious incidents but there are still thousands of households without power and struggling to cope in our now wintry temperatures.

But for all their current troubles, those families are still the lucky ones really. Spare a thought (again) for those without homes this winter, and maybe make one of your Christmas presents a donation to agencies that help at this happiest time of the year?

Jack Frost nipping at your nose

So, it's finally decided to get cold. Not cold like this time last year, but certainly colder than this time last week. Last night when we finally got out of work after yet another evening meeting, the ground was shiny, the sky was clear and our breath hung in the air, frozen in time and space.

It was really beautiful, but it was also incredibly slippy. After all the heavy rain we've been having, and with the temperature plummeting so suddenly, everywhere there were patches of black ice, just waiting to catch the unsuspecting evening homeward stroller.

Luckily I got home without mishap but with one or two near misses. And then again this morning, it was the same. Wet ground was actually ice, frozen leaves recently blown late from the trees adding to nature's treachery.

During the day the skies closed in that way they only do in winter, when the light turns them a shade of yellow grey you don't see at any other time of the year. It wasn't quite cold enough yet for snow, but we had a smattering of sleet instead.

Tonight it's warming up slightly again, not enough to stop the rain/sleet but enough to thaw the ice. The walk home from cocktails was wet but non slippery. To be honest I think I prefer the ice, but I'd really rather stay in one piece. My track record for health at this time of year is a bit delicate after all.

I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

This time last year

This time last year, things were very different. For a start it was a damn sight colder, snow had started falling and didn't really stop until pretty much Christmas Eve. For another thing, I caught the 'flu - not the sniffle nose, bad cough and choked up head cold kind of (man) 'flu, but the real she-bang type. Sweats, exhaustion, shivering, aches and pains, nausea, can't drag yourself out of bed, let alone out of the house kind of 'flu.

This time last year I was helped down to my flat by a very kind friend from work when I couldn't speak I was shivering so much. This time last year, my friends all rallied round, despite the snow fall, to check up I was ok, bring me food, clear the snow from my steps and just plain visit me to make sure I was still alive.

This year, the weather is much milder - it's raining like there's no tomorrow, but it's not cold and there's no chance, at least tonight, that it's turning to snow. This year, I'm feeling much healthier. I've had my 'flu jab and more to the point I'm being a bit kinder to myself - I'm taking my vitamins regularly, I'm eating a (fairly) healthy diet and I'm trying to work out how to stress less.

So far it seems to be working - *reaches to touch every nearby piece of wood simultaneously* - I don't actually think I've been ill since then. A migraine here and there, and the usual end of the week tiredness, but on the whole, I've been doing ok.

In part that is due to my healthier lifestyle. But in part it's also due to being happier. I've rediscovered a social life. I have confidence in me again. I am, for the most part, happy. And it's much longer than a year ago since I've been able to say that...

Just when you thought it was safe...

...to put away your winter boots, down comes the snow again!

Or to be more accurate here in Stirling sadly, the sleet. I wouldn't mind so much if it was snow but this is just cold wet yuk. And I've had to cancel my day trip out. Still, it's the perfect excuse now to stay in and catch up on some DVD watching.

Hope the weather is better where you are.


STOP PRESS: The snow and sleet lasted all day into the late afternoon and then turned to rain. There's still snow on the hills this morning but it's nowhere near as cold today. It often snows at this time of year here I've found and it never lasts long, even when we have a heavy fall. It's almost like this is Winter's last hurrah, a reminder that even if she's gone for a few months now, she'll be back again to chill us all once more.


As regular readers know, I don't actually mind winter - I love crisp cold mornings when the frost nips your fingers and paints with diamonds across the world. I even love the snow - silent white blankets that muffle the world and brighten the night. It's just sleet and winter rain I can't stand!!


And if you're wondering, it was Sportsnight I was watching on DVD, courtesy of a good friend for my birthday. An awesome first out for Aaron Sorkin and many of the actors who went on to be West Wing regulars.


Posted to The 52 Week Project on Flickr

Winter wonderland

So cold but so pretty. Days like these are magical!

More meetings with remarkable trees

As regular readers of my blog will know, I have a thing about this particular tree. So when it was all frosty and beautiful today, I nipped round and got this shot of it.

Pretty eh?

This morning I walked on diamonds

Oh yes, the icy weather is back. Beautiful and treacherous, but preferable to the grey damp cloud any day as far as I'm concerned.

Sometimes I just love my job!

Actually quite a lot of the time I feel lvery lucky to have the job I have. It's challenging, stretching and gives me a sense of value and achievement.

But today was a brilliant example. I got to spend my time looking at stunning views, amidst a magical winter landscape - and be paid for it. What could be better than that?

(In case you're interested, this is the view towards the Gargunnock ridge taken from Sheriffmuir Inn just above Dunblane)

Far too nice to be stuck inside...

But sadly I am.

As I sit at my desk working away, the glorious sunshine of a cold winter day tempts my attention away on a frequent basis. Too frequent!

And then I think how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful part of the world. And to have the kind of job where I can pause every now and again to enjoy the view.

Great days to be alive!

It was another beautiful clear day in Stirling today. The kind of day that lifts your heart and makes you smile. Clear blue skies, sunshine and piercing light. It was pretty cold though, and I wouldn't be suprised to see snow again anytime soon. The clouds certainly started rolling in towards the end of the afternoon.

I had intended to document my walk around this fair city with some striking photographs. Unfortunately I forgot to charge my camera battery so I just had a great walk instead and enjoyed the winter sun.

And then finished it off with a visit to my favourite coffee shop to warm up and read the Sunday paper. What a great way to spend a Sunday!

Winter sports adventures

Cypress cross country trail
Originally uploaded by bexybeads

While we haven't got any snow at the house, this was what we had up at Cypress Mountain on Boxing Day. Plenty of snow on the cross country trails, and as you can see, brilliant crisp sunlight too. Definitely my favourite kind of weather.

We were there again last night for the Jack Rabbits Lantern Night Ski. No sunshine, but plenty of atmospheric candle light from the IKEA lanterns all down the sides of a couple of trails. It was really beautiful and actually not too cold for a winter night in Canada.

Unfortunately I managed to prove that the only way I can do a black run, whether it's downhill or cross country, is on my bum - some very inelegant skiing and a sore behind this morning as proof!

Cross country skiing was winter sport number 3 for me this holiday - downhill skiing at Whistler being number 1 and skating being number 2. I'm keeping fairly active this holiday, but sadly I suspect not enough to keep the pounds from creeping on as a result of my sister's excellent cooking and baking skills.

And looking out of the window now, it looks like the rain might just be trying to turn to sleet. Hopefully anytime soon it will evolve into snow (particularly now that we don't really need to go anywhere!).

On the Sea to Sky

We're on our way back from Whistler after a quick pre Christmas ski mini break and decided to have a coffee stop in Squamish. This was the view from the car park.

I think I'll need a bit more practice on the climbing wall before I'm ready for the Chief!

Watch this space for some photos of the snow at Whistler.

Snow

But sadly only enough left now for a teeny tiny snowman. Still it's the thought that counts.

Oops!

I think I jinxed Spring!

After saying yesterday that Spring was just around the corner, today we had snow. And lots of it! Well lots by recent Stirling standards that is.

Pretty but more fun if you get to play in it instead of having to go to work.