Gold in the Gloom

The weather in some parts of our country has been appalling over the last few days. There have been heavy snowfalls with accompanying power outages in the lower part of the South Island, flooding on the West Coast and in parts of the lower North Island. Main highways are closed with flooding and land slides. Folk are being evacuated in small North Island centers.... And the storms continue. In Blenheim it has been cloudy all day with a cold wind but no further rain. There is a touch of gold in the gloom in that some very early spring bulbs have burst into bloom in our garden. A cheerful note in the depths of winter.