Snowing

It’s snowing!

Yesterday we went into Lancaster & the computer shop. On Monday we’d bought the new mouse & keyboard but they just didn’t seem to be working. We went along to technical support. It seems a little piece had to be put in a USB port. The wireless mouse & keyboard communicate through that. All is well now & I’m writing on the new keyboard.

On the journey into Lancaster we were increasingly aware the torrential rain was turning sleety. By the time we’d got into Lancaster it was undeniably snowing, a positive blizzard. The ground was white. The carpet was thickening before your eyes. We weren’t there long. By then the car was white. We drove back to Morecambe. It turned back into sleet, then rain. After a while though snow did arrive.

Lancaster always gets more snow than we do. I think it’s because it is higher up, more into the Pennines. Morecambe is at sea level with plenty of naturally salty air. Needless to say the Lakeland fells were well covered with a thick white blanket.

Overnight it obviously snowed a bit more. I put some food out for the birds. They were clearly pleased to see it. The ground then was still predominantly green (lawn) or wet brown (the stone patio).

I went on to prepare today’s dinner, Chicken & Sweetcorn Pie. By the time I’d got the filling made & cooling & the potatoes peeled for the mash accompaniment, it was snowing once more. This time it was great flakes. I suspect it will stick a while longer.

We’re hoping to of the food shop later today. If the snow is too thick & icy, it may have to be abandoned. The only essential is some milk. The post office around the corner sells that so the Fox will just have to walk that short distance if necessary.

However, the forecast is for snow most of this week, so it would be useful to top up on essentials if we can. We seem to be running low on some basics e.g. tea, old potatoes, rice. Then we will be stored up for quite a while. There’s plenty in the freezer to keep us going for months if necessary.

Snow & ice don’t go well with wheelchairs. With brakes on, the wheelchair just becomes a sledge. I still shudder when I remember visiting my brother one snowy winter. We were going to walk into town. Unfortunately the drive to the road from his flat involved a steep slope. I slid down at considerable speed unable to stop or even slow down straight into the street. A car was coming along. Fortunately he was a sensible driver, going slowly, & managed to avoid hitting me. There was no way I could have avoided him. The momentum of my descent was so great the Fox had been unable to keep hold of the chair. It was a lucky escape for me!