My laptop has died! Sadly until I replace the battery I won't be able to blog properly from home which has made blogging in general infrequent. Argh! Since I last wrote (Christmas!) I have finished writing my term papers and submitted them, got my dissertation topic approved and gone back to work in a big way. I am in the process of getting a new visa which is a huge pain but will be worth it in terms of my working availability.

Snow Storm 09

Last week we had a slight snow fall that happened on and off throughout the week. As a result of this snow (totally probably no more than 6 inches in total) I missed three days of work! Everything ground to a halt of unpreparedness! There were no buses or trains running and no one seemed capable of driving. Apparently this was the worst snow in 18 years! No one here seems to understand that when there is that little of it, you can just sweep it up and it goes away from the sidewalk. Instead everyone leaves it there until it becomes a disgusting slush and then freezes again making walking even short distances treacherous. Our power was out for a bit as well. It was just ridiculous. Mel and I watched someone doing a 3 point turn in front of the flat for about 5 minutes. No one has snow tyres or that kind of thing. And of course, everyone I know kept telling me how much I must like this kind of thing and how embarrassingly poorly they all handle inclement weather. It changed everyone's mood though. People were so happy and talking to each other on the street and having a laugh. There were snowmen built everywhere and people generally enjoying this rare occurance. I saw people taking pictures everywhere. Things did look quite pretty. It felt like Christmas. Even when we had to come back to school, the kids still weren't allowed to go out into the play ground for fear they would get wet. They don't have snow pants and that kind of thing I guess. It has all basically gone away now. There are still a few lingering grass and mud covered snowmen but all most all evidence of it has gone. We are just basically left with less ambition to work than ever! When we realised we might actually have to go in for a full week, it was almost too much for most of us to deal with. Luckily though, next week is half term break. I can't wait! I think we get more holidays in the year here in exchange for a shorter summer. I don't mind that at all.

I will be coming home at Easter for about two weeks with a friend to see the sights of Ontario. I like being a tourist in my own country, it makes me appreciate the place more. If you have any good wildlife related suggestions that we should take in, pass them on!

The pictures I have included are from the net. People could post their pictures of the "storm" and it's aftermath on yahoo.co.uk and some of them are really good. The picture of the Asian Elephants is from London Zoo where Mel has recently applied to work. It would be cool if she got that. I think I would like to loiter around the zoo in my spare time. I also like the photo of the fields around Gatwick Airport. people treat snowy days here like rainy days. They wear rubber boots which cannot possibly be warm and use umbrellas. It is still damp here even when it is snowing and the flakes came down in big clumps. It made me think of The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe. A friend of Mel's is coming to visit so we are going to be doing some serious touristy stuff over the half term, starting with Stone Henge on Sunday. With any luck I will get some good pictures of that with a bit of snow on it but it has probably melted away by now. I will blog again soon with the half term update. Hope everyone, including all the new babies in the family are doing well. Drop me a line and let me know how you are all doing. I miss you all!