The big freeze

Not quite as cold as predicted but certainly cold enough! It was -5C when I went to bed and -4C when I got up. Bright sunshine and amazing frost patterns on the green house windows again - extra.

Despite cancelling the early walk for safety reasons Chris and I decided to venture down to Goit Stock. Not so steep but by the time we got just beyond the first waterfall we decided it was too much like hard work.
I have seen the main waterfall with huge icicles, not least in the winter of 1981 when the freezing conditions lasted a month. Alex was a baby and I took him in his carrycot on wheels with my mum and dad to take a look. I can only think it wasn’t quite so bad underfoot! 
It sounds as though this will be on it’s way by the end of the weekend so one week isn’t too bad really. Last night I watched a repeat of the programme called ‘The Big Freeze’ showing archive footage from the winter of 1963 when it lasted 7 weeks! ( It was funny watching them using cardboard weather maps!) I remember that winter, I was at Primary School,  we eventually had to walk on the packed snow at wall top level to get to there!
On our return from Goit Stock, as we were suited and booted, we carried on past our turn off on the estate and went to the garden centre for a coffee.  Passing the beck that goes under the road I spotted these ice formations. There has obviously been some sledging activity above the cricket field too. 

Good to get a bit of air but good to get home safely too!
Colder still tonight we’re told maybe I really will stay in tomorrow.