Snow...

Wednesday 10th February, 2021

Another snowed in day but with a minor difference. Although I could not go for a walk as pavements were dangerous and there was much ice about but I did know that I needed exercise. So at 12.30 I decided to start clearing the long sloping path to the road. I only had a pitch fork so it was a challenge. At the gate to the road I noticed all sorts of neighbours with a variety of clearing snow tools were working hard. The cars down the side of the road were piled high with snow and surrounded by a barrier of it. Few cars or lorries were going past but if they were they were slow and cautious. I did note that by 15.00 the road was wet but I fear a real freeze this evening which will create an ice rink! Whatever I cleared the path. It was very hard work and at 13.45 I broke off for a rest in bed. Then after an hour's reading back for another 40 minutes but this time I was less energetic and cleared the steps down from the front door to the garden. The path and house are on a hill side with the Tay at the bottom of the garden.

I remembered that somewhere the Council had a salt container. I wandered and asked an energetic young woman with a dog loving the snow if she knew where it was. She gave directions. So up the steep and hellish short hill, which no car would sensibly attempt to negotiate. I found the salt and filled a small bag with it.

I thanked the lady who seemed to be in designer snow gear of fluffy white anorack and pink designer track suit bottoms, rolled stockings and heavy walking shoes with red laces. As I came to the main road a car swished past and kindly covered me in slush!

Back to my path having found a spade and bristle brush. Not quite the specially designed snow shovel two of the neighbours had which marked them as true Scotsmen. Anyway I cleaned up the narrow path I had made, spread the salt and retired to my room. I decided on watching a film and found ' Adopt a Highway'. It was amazing. An ex convict ( given 20 years for selling marijuana...a realistic fact in the 1990s in California and reminiscent of Daniel Holmes in Malta as described in his Memoir. I know he tells the truth as I know him ) finds a baby in a 'trash container'. It is a powerful story ending with the ex convict going home. His Father had died but left a bank safe box. The letter inside was a real tear jerker and again I know it had semblance of truth as I have witnessed such happenings. The letter simply spoke of his love. He left also a Trust fund and the last scene is of the man leaving a letter at the adoption society who promise to give it to the foundling when she is 18! Okay, this may be Hollywoods best but I loved it.

I went out to inspect the results of my hard labour and was rewarded with the finest of sunsets....emblazoned gold and pinks and hues of all sorts. It was beautiful and a real display of Nature's finest.

Then to a siesta and I write this before picking up my Connelly novel and hunkering in a warm bed for an hour. The joys of being snowed in!