It was snowing heavily, and I was running late for an appointment when this car caught my eye.
I hastily swung into a car park to take some snaps. It was some way off and the falling snow didn't help getting a clear image.
Heavily disguised, this is a prototype of the new 'baby' Range Rover, the Evoque due to go on sale in summer 2011. It's a handsome looking vehicle despite the camouflage. I'll certainly be looking in the usual places to see if I can get some better photos...
It was way too cold to go kayaking, so I opted for a walk instead, choosing to visit some of my old haunts. The windchill under the leadened skies persuaded me to leave the high open ground and seek the comfort of the woods.
Amongst the trees I stumbled across an old friend. The skeletal remains of a once loved shelter. Although now bare, the framework had survived well, still able to support my full weight.
It was over three and a half years ago that I built this bivi as a bolt hole from bad weather. It had been a great place to stop for a nap or to cook a snack, but I abandoned it after it became apparent that a local Muntjac deer was using it as a rest up. There are no tracks, or signs of use, so maybe come spring I might re-thatch it and move back in.
The wind dropped and the sun emerged with a surprising warmth, luring me out onto a sunny snow covered bank.
Settled in the sunshine I felt it was definitely time for something to eat.
It snowed again last night. Just as well too, there had been a nasty thaw and we were beginning to run short. By morning the layer of white made the garden look pristine... something would have to be done about it!
It was an icy, sparkly snow, like silver sand. A little too crumbly for moulding and my snowman didn't come out as well as I'd hoped.
Just as I was doing the finishing touches there was a horrible accident! First the head wobbled a bit, then unexpectedly toppled to the ground.
Endeavouring to put my loss behind me, I began a new sculpture.
Firstly I located a plentiful source of pink snow (not to be confused with that yellow snow under the hedge).
It was meant to be a dragon, but the wings kept on falling off, so it ended up being a seal pup/ polar bear with an alligator tail. Any suggestions as to what sort of creature this is, are welcome.
Snow at last! I love the snow. Other parts of the country have had a covering several times already this year, but we've only had the brass monkey temperatures without any of the fun stuff...
In the early hours I set off along the deserted roads. A quick stop at the petrol station, followed by a couple of drifting laps of the traffic island... the joy of 'left foot braking'!!!
The sparkly, powdered country lanes were beautiful in the glare of the rooflights. Spangles of silver danced in the beams as the front of the car flicked snow off the hedgerows. Driving sideways is so much fun!
I went to see my friends, the foxes. The usual chappy was there (you can recognise him by the nick out of his left ear).
He was somewhat impatient, and wouldn't stand still long enough for me to properly focus the camera. He's learnt how to open the car door, and was soon wrestling with the locked handle... he's going to break it one day!
On the menu tonight was, 'Bacon Surprise'... bread soaked in bacon fat but without any bacon... Surprise!!!
Still it smelt nice.
Very nice...
In fact it tasted so yummy that it made you forget that your bottom was getting cold on the snow.
My plan was to head up to a place called 'Crows Castle', a hill out in the fields where there are views in all directions. I took the bridle path through the woodlands dodging the muddy bits, electing to follow the fox tracks because he knows it better than I do.
It was nice to enjoy the virgin snow, the only other tracks being coney.
Energy running low it was time for some nosh. I fuelled up my ever faithful meth stove. This tiny titanium stove is brilliant, it's super light and really tough (I've stepped on it many times!)
Soon the bacon was sizzeling. What is it about food outdoors that makes it taste SOoo good?
As I crossed the higher fields I left the shelter of the trees and the wind was bitter.
By the time I was in view of Crows Castle the wind chill made it difficult to remove my gloves for long in order to take photos.
It's lovely up here, wild and windswept. A favourite haunt for the Buzzards. The Scots Pines are old and gnarled. The high fields spread out to the horizon on a clear day. It was way too cold to hang around for long, so I headed back home.
Back in the warmth of the trees I spent a while tracking badgers. There was a group of three. It looked as if they'd been having fun. There were 'snuffle' marks and patches of disturbed snow where they'd been larking about.
I followed them as far as the Christmas tree nursery where I lost the tracks in the tangled undergrowth. Tired and tea deficient, I headed back to the car...
We only had a sprinkling of snow in the UK, but there was enough to build an igloo.
As I piled the snow high and carefully hollowed out the interior I contemplated spending a cosy night sleeping out in it.
There had been a terrible mistake of scale... I don't know if I mistook inches for millimetres on the plans. Maybe the cat had grown... No, something had definitely gone wrong!
Never mind, the cats think it's great...
Sunday evenings we often meet up at Russells house. In summer it's a BBQ, in winter we just hang out, have a beer, and stuff ourselves with snacks. It's amazing at how much fun we have joking around and poking fun at the world. The twins (http://russandmax.blogspot.com/) were in bed so there was no competition while playing with their toys and once worn out we settled down to watch 'Transformers on DVD on Russells 'home cinema'.
On leaving we discovered.....SNOW! I love snow, there wasn't much, but there was some. Did I mention?...I love snow.
We don't get snow very often anymore, but as soon as we get some you can't stop me. I'm off in the car practising my handbrake turns, left foot braking into corners and J-turns.
By the time I'd got to the church at the end of my road it had already begun to melt, and that nasty man with his gritting lorry had ruined it!
When I eventually arrived home, (I had to go the long way, I was having too much fun) the road was almost clear. The steep driveway to my house however was not. It took me three attempts and in the end I had to reverse across the road and take an almighty run up at it. I arrived at the top of the drive going a little too fast...a quick tug of the handbrake and I made it around the corner and into the yard. I missed next doors car, Jennys bike but the bucket and the tomato plant really shouldn't have been there and I can't be held responsible for them failing to get out of the way in time!
Doesn't look like we're going to get snowed in anytime soon.....just enough left to build a quick snowman before bed...
