Day 40: Walking on Ice

As much as I would like to be walking on sunshine, today I was walking on ice.  Everything looked fairly clear, roads free of snow, only a few bits here and there on the grass, frozen solid.  But I hadn't taken a few steps before I realised the path's treachery.  I felt like I was about to go swooping up, feet first, and land on my bum at any moment.  But once I got into my (careful) stride, I was able to move a bit more swiftly.  Never too swiftly, because any time I felt confident there would suddenly be a very slick patch of ice, and I had to look down a lot - but otherwise a normal winter's walk!  I did pass a section of pavement where there were spread out little patches of ice that looked very much like small bear-tracks.  Apparently a small bear has been walking around. 

I've decided that I am an anomaly.  Everyone else out walking has one of four purposes.  One, they're out walking the dog.  Two, they're going to the shop or some other destination.  Three, they're going for a run.  Or four (in nicer weather) they're out with a friend or partner for a catch up or a wander.  Nobody is in my category, I don't think.  (Walking simply to walk, and enjoy or at least experience the weather.)  I discovered this too when I was in Cyprus, going for walks with my camera equipment on my back.  There were couples everywhere.  People out running.  Families on holiday.  But a single person on their own with no defined destination?...Very odd.  I kind of like being an anomaly.  It's the pale version of a rebel.  Perhaps soon I will graduate to the next level.

One man shook his head as I passed.  "Terrible weather, isn't it?" he said.  I think he was shocked into almost standing still when I said, "No, I think it's all right!"  As I cheerfully walked on I heard him mutter to himself, "All right?  All RIGHT?" and probably a few epithets it was best I didn't hear.  The funny thing was, I think I passed him again on my way home, but I was concentrating so hard on my feet and not slipping on the ice that I missed my opportunity to say, "Terrible weather, isn't it?" and really give him a strange day.  I also considered, as I walked, telling him that he must have met my twin sister earlier, as she was out for a walk too.  This could become great fun.  On days when I feel positive and cheerful I can be me, and on grumpy days I can be...Phoebe.  Or Greta.  That sounds like a grumpy name.

Just as I got (carefully) back to my estate, a boy passed me running at top speeds.  I love the enthusiasm of a ten year old (or thereabouts).  Here I was being cautious and ensuring that I didn't walk too fast, and this boy was running, literally full out, to wherever he was going.  Now that's enthusiasm.  Being me today, I salute that!  (Greta would not approve.)

Walk length: 40 minutes

Day 37: Back In Scotland

As I landed yesterday, there was snow falling.  It was a perfect homecoming for me, who loves to see snow falling and to enjoy it as it has fallen.  I was pleased the country welcomed me back with my favourite winter weather.  I took two walks again today - the first one didn't really 'count' as it was a shopping walk, which as noted previously involves a lot of dandering and dawdling and pausing.  So I walked to prayer meeting at church tonight, with that strange snow/rain combination that isn't as pleasant as when big flakes of snow are gently covering the landscape.  There was nothing extraordinary about my walk tonight - the snow is still a combination of ice and brown slush, the air cold, and I've traced this path to and from the church many times.  I did have an opportunity for a lift on the way home, which I refused, but it took a bit of willpower as the combination of rain and snow had worsened and the cold wetness in my face was not as much of a pleasure as I would have liked.  But the Christmas lights are still up, so I feel like I'm still on my holidays, and that's always an enjoyable feeling.

Day 24: Boxing Day...of Rest

Today is Boxing Day.  Normally, when it doesn't fall on a Sunday, we (me and Megs) lie around in our jammies and watch films all day long.  The goal is to recuperate from the incredibly difficult work of eating a huge Christmas meal and opening so many gifts the day before.  But today being the Lord's Day, I got to go worship with the saints at God's house, and afterwards go to the minister's family for lunch and then build a gingerbread house! 

I do really enjoy a day of being refreshed in soul, and not having responsibilities to work or even walk.  I did a miniature amount of walking (from the church to the manse and back, I think, is about it), but right now it's a time to sit back and rest and meditate on the sermon, which was absolutely excellent.  The story was of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, and I have always felt that some of the most amazing (and difficult, for us) verses in the Bible are in John 11.5-6:  "Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  So, when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was."  Jesus' ways are so inscrutable at times.  But His goal is not to make us happy or please us or make all our trouble go away, right away.  His goal is the glory of God revealed in us.  And often that means that instead of nice, tidy, simple, incremental steps of growth, He uses something so powerful and so difficult and so heart-wrenching that we must grow swiftly, suddenly, shatteringly. 

And the result is more amazing that we can imagine.

Enjoy your rest and meditation on God today.

Day 23: Merry Christmas To You

"Mary gave birth to her firstborn Son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.  And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.'  And suddenly there was with the angle a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!'

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.'  And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.  And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.  And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them."                 -Luke 2.7-17

I was just thinking about this story tonight, about how the shepherds did a lot of walking on that Christmas night.  They heard good news about Jesus' birth, so they walked through their fields and to the place where He was; and then they walked on afterwards and told everyone they knew.  They went from house to house, 'making known the saying that had been told them'. 

I didn't feel like going for a walk tonight.  I felt like sitting inside watching my new DVD's that I got for Christmas and having another cup of tea.  But, I had no good reason for staying in, so I booted up and coated up and out I went.  The night was lovely - cold, but not too cold (I could breathe without it hurting).  The ice was like diamond crystals sparkling on the road; although a lot more slippery than that!  It was safer walking on the crunchy snow (it rained a little today, so everything was extra crunchy once the sun went down and it iced over).  The sky was clear, and I looked up and around to see bright, steadfastly shining stars.  There was one shining more powerfully than the others, which made me think of that one star the wise men followed.  How incredible was that, their following it for so long - months maybe - and perhaps having studied the stars for years, knowing somehow that it predicted a King's birth?  Beautiful.

So, I wish you all a very merry Christmas (as much as is left of it!) and may you continue the joy by worshiping this same Jesus in a place where His Word is proclaimed in truth.

Walk length: 20 minutes

Day 22: Happy Christmas Eve!

My walk today consisted of walking all around Carfin Grotto, in and out of the church, to take photos for a Christmas Eve wedding.  I think I did a lot of walking if you combine it - and considering I'm carrying all my camera equipment too, I'm more or less set in terms of exercise!

It was all that could be wished for in a Christmassy wedding.  The bride showed up in Ugg boots under her dress; the bridesmaid had a white furry stole around her shoulders; the snow was still lying, and frosting the trees, but the roads were clear for the wedding cars to get through; all the guests showed up in big heavy coats; the groom shivered his way through the snow photos; the sun shone, but didn't melt the snow. 

I dared a few shops, but the whole time I was muttering to myself, 'comfort and joy, comfort and joy', so that I remembered not to holler at the person or car or trolley in front of me.  I think I missed the ultimate in madness (not completely last minute, but late enough to miss those who congratulated themselves on nipping in early), but still I was thankful to get back to the wee flat. 

And now it's Christmas Eve night and after a hilarious laugh-session with the Fisher family (legend, can I just say, legend) I am ready to put on my fuzzy warm socks and pour myself a cup of tea (hot chocolate? coffee? the options are limitless) and read Harry Potter and, a little later, video-Skype with my family in the States.  Ahhhhh. 

Happy Christmas Eve to you all.

Day 21: Cookies & Cream

If walking through the icy slush a few weeks ago was like "walking in brown sugar", then today was like cookies & cream ice cream.  Not nearly so yummy, I'm sure (I didn't try it), but the walkways have become a combination of white snow, dark brown chunks of slush that have frozen into hard pieces, and little bits of grit sprinkled over everything.

My car had a spot of bother yesterday: something strange happened with the exhaust that made Otis suddenly roar like a racing car - and drive at about half the speed!.  My first port of call when 'something weird' happens with my car is to go around back and peer underneath to see if there is anything blatantly obvious.  (One time I panicked about my car breaking down only to find out that there was a huge tree branch that had lodged itself underneath the car's frame.  Kind of funny, later.)  So this time there was...something...definitely hanging at an odd angle, and I couldn't even find my exhaust pipe.  Not a good sign.

At any rate, the point of this story is that I rang up my favourite garage this morning (Brownsburn) and bless their hearts, on their last day before they finish for Christmas, they took it in and had a look at it, and are fixing it for me today.  These guys are legendary.  I can't tell you the number of times they've looked at and fixed my car before a holiday, before I leave on holiday, early in the morning, late at night...they're amazing. And they never complain or snap at me like I've had happen at other garages in the past - stuff like "There's no possible way we can take it, sorry" or "We've had your car for two days and we haven't had a chance to look at it yet".

So, after roaring my way through Airdrie at the early hours of the morning, I chose to walk back home.  The sun was just rising and pale oranges and pinks were tinting the clouds.  Everything is still completely outlined in snow, making every tree, bush, leaf, fencepost, housetop, and post office box a work of art.  I enjoyed my walk very much, even getting so warm that I didn't need my gloves and scarf.  Naturally after all that great exercise I was starving, so I went for a McDonald's breakfast.  Not exactly healthy, but it was sure good.  I think I'll go make some hot chocolate now and start packing for Cyprus!

Day 20: Handing Round Gifts

Today was the day I wandered around like Father Christmas with my trusty little red reindeer, Otis, helping me deliver parcels and good cheer to friends all over Airdrie.  We had good times.  We had slidy, whoooaaaaa, icy times.  We stuck together.  But at the end of the day Otis decided he was tired of doing all the work and...broke down.  :(  So, most of the walking I got to do today was from house to car, car to house, house to house.  It was an enjoyable day, but I'm beat, and off to bed!  Thanking God for watching over me in all the areas of my life, walking OR driving.

Day 19: A Foggy Little Christmas...

The fog comes
on little cat feet.

It sits looking
over harbour and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.
   - Carl Sandburg


Today, the fog did not come in on little, quiet, pleasant cat feet.  It came in stealthily, heavily, like tiger paws.  I glanced out my window while working to see grey skies and the usual snow and ice...and a few minutes later glanced up again to see the whole area around me surrounded in heavy fog.  I was talking to a friend on Facebook who works in the same town, and she said there was no fog at all just a few minutes' walk away.  I assured her it was coming to engulf the church she works in, and sure enough a few minutes later she said, "The fog is here!"

I like fog.  It makes me feel Christmassy, too.  Like snow, it muffles the normally harsh sounds going on all around us.  It's quiet, and not a little bit spooky at times.  I went out for my walk to the post office, fully anticipating another hour's wait so I could send off my two parcels.  I was amazed to find only four people in the queue, and I was out of there in ten minutes.  The woman at the post office said, "You do realise these are far too late to arrive by Christmas", and I was so tempted to drop my jaw and say, "What?? What in the world are you guys doing with your time, anyway??"  But after all the disruption we've had, and the reminder that at least a few times they walked several hours in the snow just to get to the post office, I thought perhaps I'd just nod and smile and say that was fine.  (It would be incredible if I sent a parcel to America on the 21st and it arrived by Christmas Day...who knows??)

The ice under the snow made an ominous creaking sound at times - like the whole foundations of the earth were going to be shaken if I kept walking on it.  On the road, my boots made a 'thomp, thomp' sound - like a muffled, dense stomping noise.  Christmas lights blink cheerfully at me; there is still goodwill in the air; and I rejoice in being able to get out and breathe the sharp cold air, even if it hurts my nose as well as my throat.

There was someone walking across the road from me with the brightest, most neon orange hat I've ever seen.  It was funny, with all the dimmed and faded colours around (grey sky, misty fog, white trees, brown sludgy ice), to suddenly see an incredibly cheerful hat bobbing along...you couldn't miss it for miles.  I wanted to take a photo, just to show how it stood out against the trees, but he sped on very quickly and I missed it.  A few minutes later I was standing in front of an icy tree, getting ready to take its photo, and Mr Orange-Hat sailed on past me!  I nearly missed him again (you can see the speed at which he is going), but I smiled again at the spot of cheer in a dim (weather-wise) day.

Walk length:  30 minutes

Day 18: Tentative Efforts...

I am still insisting on my 90 day challenge, even if it has been broken up by illness.  As mentioned already, I've had pneumonia once. I am not doing it again, if I can help it.

So today I took some first tentative steps (like a baby toddling along), returning to my walking every day.  I am definitely a victim of my own competitiveness: it is one of the things that gets me into trouble physically more often than not.  If I'm going to walk, a mere ten or fifteen minutes will not do.  No, I must tramp for hours through snow and ice and negative temperatures!

The snow and ice is such a draw, though, for a photographer.  Today the frost particles looked as though it started snowing, started raining, the wind came down, and then everything froze in place.  There were what look like frost hairs lining everything - the trees, the bushes, the frozen red berries, even the metal fences had such a strange lining of frost!  I stood and stared for a few minutes, breathing through my scarf, amazed at what is possible with these weather changes; amazed at the Creator's beauty in small things.  

Everyone is still walking; the post office and airport hours are on constant change; my friend dropped by the other day and it took several people to push the car up the icy slope.  (It was kind of funny, watching from the kitchen window.)  Friends are dropping by with Christmas presents; my store of peppermint tea is diminishing rapidly, and I'm starting on the mulled wine; I'm listening to carols as I work away from home; and everywhere is goodwill.  Ah, I love Christmas!

A Blow To My Pride

I am not well today.  I've got the cold, which won't go.  My cough is not improving.  I had a migraine that lasted a full night and was not happy times.  I've spent the day in bed and have gotten up several times to peer out the window and wonder if I could go for a short walk - because I absolutely hate not coming through on a challenge, and the challenge is to walk every day in spite of the weather.

However, I had pneumonia two winters ago, and I never want to repeat the performance.  If it means a blow to my pride and not walking for a day (or perhaps more - I'll take each day as it comes), then so be it.  Walking for health is good.  Walking when I should be in bed resting is just stupid.

But it's Jane Austen's birthday today, so I will celebrate by reading a little Pride and Prejudice, or perhaps Mansfield Park.  Two of my favourites.

I'm hugely thankful for so many things, though: for migraine medicine, a warm house, good books, hot tea-with-lemon-and-honey, the internet, and even the blow to my pride.  After all, every rule has an exception.  Surely every challenge has its failures, too!

"Ah! There is nothing like staying at home, for real comfort."  -Jane Austen

Day 16: The Day Is Fading With Fire

Some say the day will end in fire,
Some say in ice. 
From what I've seen upon the sky,
I hold with those who favour fire. 
But if it had to end it twice,
I think I know enough of cold
To say that for the end of day ice
Is also great,
And would suffice. 

(Roughly turned from Robert Frost's Fire and Ice.)

This picture doesn't half do justice to the fire in the sky tonight.  I took my daily walk to the post office (again!) and ran a few errands while out, and as I went into the last shop I saw the light was fading in golds and pinks.  When I came out, there is no other way to describe it than to say that someone had lit a match to the clouds, and it caught and flamed and spread across the sky with great speed.  Vibrant, sharp pinks and reds and golds, giving a pale pink hue to the snowy tops of houses and buildings.  I actually stood for a moment staring at it, wishing I could capture it. 

Incredibly, and typically, by the time I got to the end of the street, the fire had gone out.  The blues and purples of the clouds were overwhelming the brighter colours, and all was back to a dark evening. 

The air was cold tonight on my sore throat.  I was more wrapped up than anyone else I saw, but I was warm, and I don't have pneumonia.  (Been there, done that, never want to go again.)  So I think for the end of the day, I choose fire. 

Walk length:  30 minutes

Day 13: A Wee Wander In The Grotto

Still feeling a little under the weather today - although how does that phrase work, anyway?  If the weather is excellent, and I feel rubbish, is that under the weather?  What about if the weather is fairly blah, and I feel more blah than that?  Does that fit? 

Either way, I'm not up to the ideal weather today.  But I took a dander round to Carfin Grotto, as I've got a wedding to shoot there on Christmas Eve.  There are plenty of good places to capture the bride and groom, but you'll need to wait for Christmas to see the photos! 

Walk length: 10-15 minutes

Day 12: Orange Friday

I'm sick.  My walk today happened not because I am so committed and dedicated, but because I needed medicine and vitamins and other supports.  All I want is my bed and to watch episodes of 24 online.  So this is a short one.  Here's the summary:

Walk length:  30 minutes (to shops and back).  Post office queue for work items:  1 hour.  Shops entered:  Four.  (That's three too many, my mind is tired and distracted.)  Items purchased:  Strepsils (the orange-and-vitamin-C ones), Vitamin C (double doses for when you're sick), soup vegetables, oranges, Sudafed, and Coke.  (It makes you feel happier.)  Notice everything is a remarkable theme of orange here.  State of roads: good.  State of pavement: soggy. State of mind:  miserable, trying to rejoice!

Day 10: Snow Feathers

One of the most beautiful things about snow is how it changes.  One day it's little pellets striking at your face; another day you can see big flakes, beautiful in their individuality, landing on your gloves.  Some days it comes thick and fast; other days it floats lazily down and you hum 'Silent Night' as you watch it.

Today I stepped out for my walk.  I expected a long one as the sun is out and I had the afternoon before me: but I didn't get a few feet out my door before I was stopping to pull out the camera.  The snow is like individual sparkling feathers, and when the sun catches it, there are diamonds everywhere.  You want to reach out and touch them.  At one place I stopped to walk through this feathered snow where no one else had passed, and it had a sound like fine sand - whishhh, whishhh, instead of the usual schoonk, schoonk (or, sometimes, a soft crunch, crunch).  I wish I could take a picture of a sound, but just close your eyes and imagine fine white sand pouring from one vessel into another, and you'll hear the sound of walking through snow feathers.

It was about -9 during the day while the sun was shining.  Strange to feel very warm, with my scarf tied close around my neck, and also very cold at the same time.  My face felt frozen into position so that I struggled to smile at those I passed.  One of those I passed was a guy walking into Morrisons, saying to his mate, "Okay, so I need bread, milk, sausages, and Irn Bru."  Basic Scottish needs.  I stopped to take a photo of the train tracks, and an older lady and her husband stopped to speak with me, and we discovered we are neighbours.  She had seen me clearing the road in our estate on Saturday.  Imagine leaving my flat for a long walk and running into two people who live almost next door to me!  

I walked a long way today - probably three hours at least.  Everywhere I went there was beauty.  You could even see the distant mountains, what the Bible calls the "everlasting hills", from certain heights.  I even walked through a cemetery - normally quiet and peaceful places, they are even more so when covered with snow.  A lonely bird perched on a celtic cross surveyed its position, and me, before flying haughtily away. I had disturbed it, and it was not best pleased. Walked past a flowing stream, with the water steaming up where it met the cold air.  A lone tree in a wood.  Quiet, quiet everywhere. 

After a few hours I walked past a friend's house, and they spied me from the window and invited me in for a cup of tea.  I delayed them an hour whilst I caught the end of the setting sun, and then nipped in on my way home.  By this time the sun was setting, and I was so cold I could hardly speak.  It took me a few minutes to get my wellies off (having learned my lesson yesterday, I had three pairs of socks on, so thick it's difficult to get the wellies off! - but my feet were not blocks of ice today!), and they graciously gave me not only a cup of black coffee (is there anything nicer), but a bowl of soup and sandwiches to go with it!  It was difficult to hoist myself together and venture out into the negative temperatures to walk home, but it was lovely to know that my warm cosy flat was waiting patiently for me, as always.

Walk Length: Approx 3.5 hours

Day 8: Six More Inches, Fog, And A Few Basic Necessities

So when I woke up this morning it was coming down heavy and thick, and it didn't stop until close to 3 this afternoon.  At least six more inches today, so that brings us up to two feet or more!  I amused myself this morning watching cars go slowly past my window up the hill...and then a moment later come sliding back down again...!  There were many people who had attempted to go to work or somewhere else and were now heading back home, so a mass exodus trudged past my windows all morning.  Meanwhile I was warm and cosy inside!

But not for long.  Not feeling a hundred percent today, but had to get my walk - otherwise bad habits start.  So, once the snow stopped, leaving us with at least six more inches to enjoy, I completed the now-familiar ritual of putting tights on under my jeans, layering up, hat, gloves, scarf, coat, extra socks, and finally stepping into my wellies and heading out.

Words can't convey the absolute silence outside.  There are so few cars on the road, and the ones that are there move silently on a smooth, icy road.  (I had one peep at me quite angrily for walking on said road, but the roads belong to pedestrians as well as cars this weather.  Perhaps more so pedestrians.)  Every fence-post and lamp-post and street-light and post-box has a massive snow hat, and the churches look even more solemn and beautiful and peaceful.  Lights gleam out, white and yellow, as the sun starts to set.  The trees are heavily laden with beauty, and the fog has started to come down and mist the whole scene with blurred edges.  Everything is muffled and quiet, except for the random ned on his mobile phone, hollering insults at the city, the weather, his mates, and the Lord, not necessarily in that order.  So few people are looking around at the incredible beauty around them.  I do feel a little sorry for those who are stuck in massive queues on the roads and motorways, but I'm a bit surprised that with heavy snow falling this morning they ever attempted to leave in the first place. 

I ran into a few locals who were out getting some basic necessities, noting that some of the shops are out of milk.  "No one can panic-buy like the British", they say, and from what I've heard this past week, that's incredibly true.

My suggestion to everyone is, listen to the insurance companies, the post office, or whoever it is telling you not to get in your car.  It's just not worth it.  Cars abandoned in the middle of roads.  Queues backed up for a mile because one car can't move, and none of the others can get round it.  People leaving work at 1 in the afternoon and at half 5 not even close to home yet.  Cold.  Dark.  Dangerous.  It's just not wise, people.

Better to pull on the wellies and shrug into that coat and walk! You'll get there faster, and you'll enjoy the journey so much  more.  Take it from me!

Day 7: Remember The Sabbath Day

"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall do no work; you, nor your son or daughter, or your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day.  Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."  -Exodus 20.8-11

"And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day."  -Deuteronomy 5.15

It's wonderful that today is the seventh day of my walking, and it also falls on the first day of the week, a day of rest!  Today as on all Sundays I rest from my exercise as well as other things, but it was an act of necessity to walk to church today!  It was a beautiful walk, crisp and clear, with icy snow underfoot and even the bright sun not melting it.  There are piles of snow everywhere, beautiful white snow and horrible grimy brown snow, but  most people are resting today - not by commandment, but by requirement.  God has brought the snow, and their cars and their families have to rest.

What a beautiful thing it is to rest not because we have to, but because it's a gift from God.

Postscript, Day 3: Back In Time

I took a very, very mini walk tonight to get my dinner.  The local Chinese was actually open!  (Although the lady who ran it kept answering the phone and explaining that no, there were no deliveries, and we all laughed.)

Snow at this level makes me feel like I've gone back fifty - or maybe a hundred - years.  The roads are so quiet, and still.  The noise of drivers and driving is gone.  People are walking everywhere.  There are greetings being passed across the road - "Hiya, nice to see you" and "Aye, I'll come by later".

Laughter floats across the cool night air and the street lamps cover everything with a soft orange glow.  Everyone talks to each other, they share stories about how they were stuck or couldn't get to work or didn't want to bother going to work.  The news is on the telly, but we get the most important news from each other.  "Is the post office open, do you know?"  "Aye, they were saying the football match is postponed indefinitely."  "Is the airport still shut?"  And a random stranger to sympathise with your hard times, or laugh at your snow story.

It's heartwarming.  Almost makes you want to go back a hundred years.

But then you wouldn't hear from me. :)

Day 2 and 1/2: Fool Me Twice

Okay, so, despite my great blog post earlier today and subsequent lessons learned, I still ventured forth hoping for the best when asked to do an engagement shoot in the snow.  I wasn't sure whether we would have a blizzard on our hands or not and I thought, 'Surely the bitterness of too much snow is past'.  (Rough quote from I Samuel 15.32, in case you think I don't like snow! I do!)

At 2.15 the sun was shining brightly on the snow.  At 2.30, when I walked out the door, it was really coming down!!  Fortunately everything came together for our shoot and we got both 'snowing pictures' and 'snowy pictures', to the happiness of all.

And another hour's walk for me!  The thing is, it doesn't count for two days.  You don't get to walk 6 times in a day and take the day off for the next six days.  But hey - I'm a sucker for taking photos in the snow!

The walk was good.  The sun goes down a little before 4pm here, so I walked home in the dark.  People were still cheerful everywhere I went: or perhaps it was just me.  It's amazing how friendly everyone else is when I'm in a happy mood!  Every house that I passed looked like a little gingerbread cottage.  The train tracks were smooth and clean; every car a little heap of white; and the streetlights sparkled on the snow like glitter.  I smelled the crisp burning of a wood fire.  Mmmmmm.  Winter nights!

Well, as they say, fool me twice, shame on me.  But I don't regret it.  I'd do it again!