Footprints in the Snow

I wasn't expecting another major snowfall, but it materialised today anyway! We all drove into Newcastle together first thing this morning so I could drop Ben off at work then take Joshy for a day trip before I taught piano at 3.30pm. However, as a few flakes of snow were beginning to fall, and as I recalled the mess I had left at home, I thought I wouldn't subject my wee son to a day of such cold weather and drove back to Durham instead; I fully intended to go back into Newcastle a few hours later after I'd done some housework and kept Joshy warm by the fire. However, a subsequent blizzard confined us to the house, so I had to phone up and cancel the piano lessons as I couldn't get the car off the driveway! Ben plans to get the train home, which is probably a) wise and b) a quicker option, given the weather.

The postman called earlier, and left these prints in otherwise virgin snow outside our front door. It has been some years since we had such an incredible winter! My dad, to whom I spoke on the phone this morning, remembers the deep snowdrifts of 1963. I can certainly remember similar sledging-friendly conditions when I was little, and hope Joshua's first snowy winter is not an isolated incident - I can't wait to build a snowman with him!