Thursday 2 December 2010

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....

How do you know you're getting old? When the sight of snow flakes makes you groan with with fear and alarm at the thought of so many undone tasks, delayed trains, potentially twisted ankles and bruised butts rather than whooping with joy and punching the air in the certain knowledge that chaos plus cancellation equals untold fun. I'm still in the 'isn't it pretty' phase but it's early days. I remember my first winter in NY. We'd spent Christmas in Jamaica (so brilliant...but that's a whole other story) and got back on a Monday.

'Has it been snowing?' I asked the cab driver, fearful we might have missed the magic of a snowy Manhattan.

'Nope, not much.' he replied.

On Friday it started and didn't stop till April. April!! I kid you not. It was the coldest/biggest/whitest winter since the beginning of recorded time. But it was great. Well the first couple of months were. I even saw my one and only ice storm which is quite and extraordinary sight. But the thing is, everything worked. Snow ploughs cleared the city's avenues and streets, dumping tones of snow and ice in the river, everyday. The subways worked, the city schools stayed open, taxis came and went, the side walks were cleared. We'd go out in the evenings, all dressed up in full arctic kit (I still have my oh-so-horrid, green puffy coat, $25 in an Old Navy sale, glamorous it may not be but it works). We'd drink martinis and make snow angels on the way home. And the heating....oh what joy when the clank of those pipes herald the arrival of the heat, controlled from some distant boiler-room, buried deep in the bowels of the building.....

But life is very different here. A bit of rain and it floods, a couple of hot days and people are dropping in the streets, government health warnings are issued. And now it snows and everything stops. It's as if we've never seen anything like it before. Hello...was everyone on holiday last winter?

I have a friend..... waxed, plucked and packed for a quick trip to an Indian beach ....hoping to fly this weekend who's panicking big time. And were I in that enviable position I too would be cursing the weather Gods. However, I'm not. North London hasn't so far taken much of a hit, not compared to my friends in the south who assure me they're still trying to shovel a path to the tube. So I'm lucky. I'm lucky I can pay the bills again so the heating is set at Bombay, I can walk to Waitrose and the cinema, I can bake Nigella's scones for tea, my needs are few...... And the city is half empty as everywhere else is claiming a white out. It's quite nice really.

Top tip: check out this fabulous emporium of all things vintage: Detail, and from now until Christmas just enter XMAS on the checkout to receive 15% off! http://www.detail.bigcartel.com/

14 comments:

  1. You're so right if we were fixed up to cope with the snow it would be wonderful its so beautiful,but sadly the roads up here are virtually impassable.The road outside us has been ploughed regularly,but no grit!!Even 4x4's are getting stuck. The school has been closed ALL WEEK.Its like everything comes to a standstill!
    So though I like it im hoping it doesnt last throughout December otherwise we'll be well on the road to bankruptcy!!
    Glad you've managed to escape the worst BTW.

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  2. We lived in Omaha, Nebraska when the state had the coldest winter on record. Temps were MINUS 30-50F with wind chills in the negative 60-80F digits. And we had snow from November to March. But even with all that, I still hope for the *trifecta snowstorm* every January so I can stay home, bake cookies and drink hot chocolate, guilt free.

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  3. Haven't had much in Warwickshire either. Enough to look pretty. (Warwickshire, not me, unfortunately.)

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  4. It makes our little winter storm seem like a picnic. Even though we get it every year about the same time, we are still ground to a halt. It's like we go to sleep in March and have collective amnesia about the Winter, EVERY year.
    Enjoy the peace while it lasts.

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  5. Oh so so pretty, and positively boring after a week! I need my Christmas supplies so I can do the whole Nigella, Jamie thing and be a perfect Mrs Christmas. So far I've managed a couple of dozen sausage rolls and some chutney.....don't think that will go far if we get too much more of the white stuff!

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  6. I'm 46 and wondering about the whole turning 50 milestone, thanks for blogging about it!

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  7. Dear Jo, I love it when it snows but this time I'm so glad it didn't last.

    I've had a look on your link, they have some lovely vintage things. Speak soon xx

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  8. Big snow was funny the first couple of times - I've come over all housebound this time. Am just about to tackle the country roads in my punto...brrrrrrr....thanks for popping over to projectforty. It was lovely to see you. Do you mind if I link from me to you???

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  9. I remember that familiar clank of the pipes when the steam heat came up in New York, too. I lived there many years ago.

    Stay warm. I find hot baths help tremendously.

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  10. Thanks for visiting my blog and for your lovely comment. You are so right - we are always surprised by the snow and I don't know why because it was always (or seemed to be) like this in the winter when I was a child. Have been snowbound for a few days now here and wary of walking to the shops for those much needed Christmas things:)

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  11. You are so right - it's like we are surprised by the weather every year. In Scotland it's been hellish - basically the country shut!

    Ali x

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  12. just found your blog today and I just wanted to say I really love your style of writing! Entertaining and witty.. really draws you in! :)

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  13. I am terrified of the ice, I do not mind the first snow its when it freezes and when it thaws a little like today and then freezes we have such ice I am terrified if I fall .. who will cook, and look after them all??
    I have just ordered some amazing looking things that go onto the bottom of your boots I will blog about them when they come.. I think we should all get winter tyres xx

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  14. Thank you so much for your lovely comments i am so glad Tina filled you in .. I am without the energy this weekend, so much .. too much happening all at once.. will get mojo back asap xx Glad to have you aboard xx

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