The magic apple tree

There was a complete whiteout this morning with a low fog. This cleared and the sun shone making everywhere a picture postcard. A hoar frost had turned the already snowy countryside into a winter wonderland. It was very difficult choosing a blip for today as there were so many picturesque views. I finally decided to go for an unusual sight - apples in the snow.

I had walked down over the fields to the village and came back a different way through a hamlet which had a very ancient orchard growing beside a cottage - and what a sight! The tree nearest the road and the most sheltered was covered with little red apples. The fog still lingered in the valley and the apples stood out against the white background like little red beacons of warmth.

This was such a welcome sight after the nightmare of last night: We were called out to rescue a friend who had got stuck on a nearby hill on the ice in his car. Tim set out on the tractor and began to slide sideways down the hill and eventually spun round in a circle. By this time the car had disappeared as another passing tractor had rescued it from below and Tim's mobile needed recharging so he never received the message. Having heard what happened and after having requested the police to officially close the road because of the blockage we set out to collect the friend now at the bottom of the hill with Tim, who had safely secured the tractor, and a talkative drunken woman who had walked four miles in the dark from the local town and couldnt walk up the icy hill on foot. Finally we were able to drive them in the Landrover to near their respective homes by a round about way where they could easily walk the last few yards. Tim then stuck himself in a hot bath when another mate turned up who had seen the tractor and said he could help him bring it back that evening. Off they went again and found a salt box on the side of the road which they managed to push below the tractor and emptied the contents. In a matter of minutes the ice had cleared and half an hour later the Tim and the tractor had returned safe and sound.