Winter beach

The sky is blue, though there are floating dark clouds, and a threatening mass of grey downriver behind me. The sea is blue(ish) and calm. But beyond the recently painted little tower of The Yachtsman cafe there are the snowy mountains to the north, and the air is certainly too biting to suggest a seat on the shore.

The tangle of seaweed shows the effects of high winds and tides, and camouflaged among it are two pigeons. I know there are two, because I saw them move, but for the life of me I can only see one now. It's lunchtime, and there are few people about. I'm glad I took this rather odd walk, as I've had yet another event cancelled because of the weather forecast. Snow, it said - but right now, when I should be at this meeting, I can see stars and as yet there is no ice. 

How *do* they manage where they have proper winter weather?