And here we stay...

The weather men tell us not to go out unless absolutely necessary. Even motorways are blocked, often by one vehicle having had an accident. We heard of people having to sleep in their cars overnight last night.
Deliveries are not getting through to shops, ans many supermarkets look as though post war rationing has returned, no bread, no milk.....
We are in one of the coldest areas in Cheshire, down to minus 18 last night......yes, laughable if like my daughter, you have jsut returned to Canada where the temps are minus 30.
So although we are booked to return to France next Monday, I'm not sure that I shall do that long cold drive down to Portsmouth. We may just have to stay a little longer, visiting with our family!

Sadly, not my photo, as the camera had once again stayed at home in the warm. We were all out having a wonderful walk around Dunham Massey grounds, a National Trust property near Stockport.

Ice and snow everywhere, ducks slipping and sliding in the frozen lakes. People treading with great care. Paths closed to the public due to icy conditions.

But what a marvellous place to visit, particularly the new Wintergarden, only created this year, and featured on a Television programme recently. I rememebr seeing volunteers washing the silver birch bark, and there they were, gleaming in the pale sunlight, silvery and ethereal in their little triangle. Underplantings of cyclamen and snowdrops will make a fantastic carpet in a few weeks.

Snow is falling fast today, and we are not going out.

Off again.

I'm going to be off line for a while.

England beckons, family are hoping we will get there for New Year.

One daughter and grandson put on the train for Paris,

one more daughter waits in UK.

Arent we fortunate to have so many choices?!

Now all I need to do is to...

undecorate (is that a word?) the house,

clean out the fridge,

pack the suitcases,

unpack and check that I've put the medicines in,

Pack again,

get house ready for friend who look after things,

fill the car blankets andwith emergency packs in case

we get caught in the snow/ice of UK.

And go.

SAfe arrival>

My family arrived safely today!

We will have just a week together to celebrate Christmas

and to enjoy being together after so many years.

Why do these children live so far away?!

I leave you with this beautiful picture,

and wish you all a very

Happy Christmas.

Jesus is the reason for the season.

Pearls

This exquisite rose is called Pearl.

Today is our Pearl wedding anniversary, thirty years of happiness.

The sun shone for us, despite it being a December day. The service of blessing, held in our little local Church, which followed our registry office formality was a very beautiful occasion, with our families and friends around us.

I have so much to be thankful for.

No snow!

This morning we looked out on a green garden.

The snow had gone overnight, and we were able to get out and do the shopping.

Now, like so many other families, we wait to see if daughter will make it here, despite Canadian weather and French rail strikes.

We're all ready, advance cooking done, shopping finished, beds made, presents wrapped and under the tree.

Ever hopeful.

Melting snow.

The snow is beginning to melt, slowly, drip by drip. We walked from our gateway down the lane to the road, but it was too dangerous to go further. The lane was a sheet of ice.

In small villages like ours there is no gritting service, and we just have to wait until the roads are safe to drive on.

I pray it won't be long.