Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

It took us one hour to drive 1,2 kilometer journey on a  busy road last Friday; the road was choc-a- block top to toe packed with cars. Lovely. Would  I have driven a car in such weather in Finland without winter tyres amongst  fellow commuters who have no experience what so ever from driving a car on slippery icy roads? Never.  Luckily Britons can consider these extremely difficult driving conditions and the pace of the traffic slows down causing of course long delays. Never mind; better to be safe than sorry.

Since Friday weather reports have offered the continuous "Weather Thriller"; The whole nation is following changing yellow, amber and red weather alerts for ice, snow, sleet, low temperature and even avalanche followed by cancellations that cause disruption  in everyday life.  This morning the list of school closures was very very long indeed.

We have had a rare opportunity to practice the traditional Finnish Penguin Walk on icy paths, admire some winter art and see how long it will take to clear our car of snow and ice.

 

Jäällä. On the Ice.

Sauvoimme 2 h 10 min. pitkin  merenrantaa, yhteensä 9,5 km, josta 4 km lumen peittämää jäätä pitkin. Nallikarissa joimme kahvit merenrannan kivillä istuen ja nautimme auringosta.

Oululla ja monella muullakin kaupungilla on kätevä karttapalvelu, jossa voi mitata hyvinkin tarkkaan kulkemansa reitin. Kuvassa meidän reittimme tänään (tuo numeroviidakko...). Tulikohan jokainen mutka varmasti mitattua... :-)









Pakko laittaa myös kuva kevään ensimmäisestä perhosesta, jonka näin kauppatorilla.











Kevät etenee ja lumet sulavat hyvää vauhtia. Upea, upea päivä tänään!

MerjaFIN





It was just a wonderful spring day today!  In the morning I drove to Ylikiiminki with my Mum and soon after I had my first picnic of the day by Koiteli rapid near Kiiminki. Ice is melting fast which means that Koiteli rapid will be free to flow after couple of weeks. Absolutely amazing sunshine made everybody happy and it was brilliat to notice how many people were enjoying the radiating bond of the sun and ice near Nallikari. After the gym I started the barbeque season; my second picnic of the day... Before sauna I again had a little ride with my Mum; I wanted to see all those  migratory  mute swans, geese and lapwings in Liminka fields.  Beautiful!  MerjaUK

Spring Miracles

The First Picnic of The Year in London was amazing as well as are the little lambs in the fields.

It is + 20 C all across the country and the Sun is shining.

Winter Miracle

Last Saturday IT Happened:  Oxford Street Selfridges looked like a majestic snow castle through  flying snow. Within a couple of hours the streets were covered with 2-3 inches of very wet  snow.

The whole nation was prepared for this latest seasonal episode of  proper winter weather. As we know the UK is the land of weather warnings. The Met Office  announces pre, peri and post warnings about severe weather conditions with such intensitity that it took some  time for me to get used to.

It is a national joy to get high on excitment when waiting for "Severe Weather" (which can be whatever - snow, rain, wind, flooding, heat wave etc).  The Air is loaded with preparational instructions and possibilities. When IT actually happens - everybody is in the same boat listening to numerous survival stories on the telly or on the radio. And after the episode the question is; If This Was All?

I had to smile silently when I noticed how Heathrow was prepared for this lastest distruption: a signifigant number of flights were cancelled before a single snowflake twirled down.

Obviously I have been here far too long when I noticed that my shoes were not "Fit for Purpose". I had almost forgotten how blinking painful it is to walk when poor little toes have been soaking in wet socks and shoes for an hour.  And how it hurts when  the blood starts to circulate again..... Ouch  - it might have been worth  listening to those blooming warnings.

Hmmm - now they are going on and on about fog, ice and colder weather....