Snow Day

Yesterday I crossed my fingers for snow, not enough to cause destruction, but enough to cause a day off work. I wasn't completely surprised to wake this morning and find a blanket of snow covering everything, it had been forecast over a week ago; but the forecasters don't always get it right, do they?

I have a policy of not driving in these conditions if I can help it and called upon the services of The HoF who lives close to me. I was hoping that he would take my suggestion to call work and say we couldn't get in, but he insisted on picking me up and driving in. To cut a long story short, we didn't make it very far; driving at two miles per hour in thick snow seemed to help him make sense of the situation. I was back home and playing in the snow in no time. At about the same time I discovered that my school had been shut and I needn't have bothered trying to get there in the first place!

Me and my Sons had a snowball fight and built a snowman, although I was only able to stay outside for periods of ten minutes before needing to defrost myself inside. Our efforts were rewarded when we found out that our respective schools will be closed tomorrow too. Just what are we going to do!

Spring is in the air.

We've had some great weather lately, which has helped to make the first week back to work a lot easier. Why is it always so hard to go back after a break? Still, only five weeks until the next one!
This half term is going to be a pretty hectic one with several performances taking place over the next few weeks and then we have the start of the public exams. And of course JayKay leaves us soon to go on maternity leave; I am so excited for her but not sure how we'll cope without her...
I managed to fit two evenings of chilling out with friends into this week; we dined alfresco on both occasions, one of the things I love about the hot weather.
Now it's Friday evening and I am absolutely shattered; I have decided to spend the weekend in bed! Of course I won't be doing that, I'll probably just treat myself and get up at 9am.

Had my camera this time!

It snowed again today. What is going on with the weather; doesn't British Summertime start officially on Sunday?
Whilst in the car on the way to work, I tried to snap a few pics of the snow (of course these were taken whilst the car was stationary and the engine switched off); unfortunately they aren't very clear. If you squint and look at the screen upside down while singing 'Let It Snow', you might just see a flake or two.

More Snow!

The warnings for bad weather started early on this week and last night was sooooooo cold I knew that we would wake up to snow this morning. The snow was much deeper than that which we had a couple of weeks ago and it was still falling. I tried to find out if my school was going to be open; checked the website, rang the office - nothing. I had made the decision as soon as I woke up that I wouldn't be driving, not after the last time! So I got myself all wrapped up and began my walk to the tube station.

As I battled through the snow, passing children having snowball fights and cars sliding across the road, I came across a lady.
Now first I think it's important to explain what I had dressed myself in to cope with the weather:
My magic tights - they keep you warm when it's cold and cool when it's hot - they're great
The thickest pair of sports socks I own
Jeans
I layered four tops of varying thicknesses
Knee high, leather boots with a thick rubber sole
Wool coat
Hat, scarf, gloves

Wonderwoman was wearing:
Knee high, high heeled (stiletto) boots
Skirt - just above the knee
No tights
A jumper
Coat

My attention was drawn to her when she slid downhill past me and had to grab onto the railings to stop herself falling over. Had this been any other day I would have described her as being a well dressed woman on her way to work. But today, she was a disillusioned woman on her way to Accident and Emergency!

It took me about forty minutes to walk to the station and I was just about to get on the tube when my phone rang - school had been closed! So, I turned around and made the journey back home, which was far worse as it was all uphill.
The snow has caused chaos up and down the country and not long after arriving home I received another phone call telling me that school would be closed tomorrow as well. Wow - two days off school, what's a girl to do? Of course I could have found myself lots of work related things to do or I could chill out, eat homemade soup and wash my hair...

Snow!

It snowed today and I didn't get any pictures (so I've borrowed this one!). I thought about taking the camera out and snapping a few pics, but I got into a panic about having to drive in the snow, which I always find mildly traumatic. True to form my journey didn't let me down, it began with the car sliding down a hill and me having to stop it with the handbrake when the wheels locked. This was a rather dramatic moment as I was approaching a junction and I'm sure the drivers crossing my path were oblivious to my plight. Needless to say once that was over I drove very slowly whilst clutching the steering wheel tightly! I didn't bother with the shortcuts - too many hills - so I arrived at work JUST in time. The kids were sliding around and having a huge snowball fight in the playground and for a split second I was tempted to put my bags down and join in. Then I remembered the time I broke my wrist when 'ice skating' in the playground at junior school; so I decided I to take the professional stance and dodge the snowballs, head inside and make a cup of coffee!
By the time school was over, the snow had melted, which meant the journey home was less treacherous. It also means I have no pictures of me and my SL's out in the cold, yet; this is England and it is feeling rather cold tonight...

GMTV girl was right!

(see previous post)
London was indeed hit - by a tornado no less! I have just seen the news and am surprised by how close this is to where I live.

You know it's winter when...

You leave home for work and it's cold, dark and wet and then you leave work for home and it's cold, dark and wet!

An example

I leave my house this morning just after the girl on GMTV has forecast a storm, it looks like the middle of the night and feels like I'd be better off in bed. I have to put the headlights on but Johnny Vaughn causes me to smile as I listen to capital.
I arrive at school, "Good Morning", "Good Morning" and make myself a cup of coffee.
Then, I check my pigeon hole, check my e-mail, distribute the books I've marked, sort out books to be marked, check my e-mail, meet new colleague, look for keys, eat breakfast, run to form room, register form, discuss last night's footie, check e-mail, teach two lessons, have break, teach two more, lunchtime but not as you know it - rehearsing for OAP party next week so I eat soup whilst choreographing salsa routine, lunch over, last lesson, register form, check e-mail, pack bag with marking to take home, check e-mail, go down to hall - parents evening, meet parents and tell them about the progress their child is making, still meeting parents, still meeting parents, not quite the last teacher there - but nearly, walk to car - it's cold, dark and wet - have I been here before?, arrive home twelve hours after I left.

Would I change my job - nope. Would I live in another country - can't see it. Am I enjoying this blog thing - Yep!