We have now surfaced from the recent "White In" of the UK. The snow here, in London, has melted away returning, to us, the comfort of our familiar surroundings. The recognisable dirty, grey, wet pavements with clear curbs and slip-free surfaces. The warmer weather. We are now safer to venture out. Yet I open the curtain to see this world returned - and miss the joys of the snow. Its smooth soft covering over of detail and texture. A pure whiteness contrasted with black outlines giving the cityscape a clean, minimalist simplicity that was a beauty to behold. A Feng Shui of our surroundings. Venturing out too was fun. The sound and feel of scrunching snow beneath our boots. Kids, and larger kids (aka adults) building snowmen and tobogganing down the local smallest of slopes with glee. The patterns and prints on the frozen ponds and the swans still landing as if it were water. People could not get into work and, for a week or so, the country was turned into both panic and pleasure. Snow is a rarity here so we are hopeless at coping with it in the way other experienced nations do. The media, which always welcomes a problem, made the best of whipping it into a frenzy for fear of appearing boring. Despite their best efforts, it seemed that, in contrast, people did not seem panicked and took it with the usual acceptance. Where there were real problems a "Dunkirk spirit" re-emerged we thought lost. And yet, at times the snow also turned us into recluses, frightened of falling over on the ice. But how good it was to appreciate the cosiness of our home, the sofa and not to feel bad that we were not "living our lives" to the full by speeding out to exploit the potential of all on offer…or being lazy. So maybe the snow did not "turn us" into recluses but gave us permission to stay in and put our feet up. Enjoy our homes. Certainly I am now well into reading "How to be Idle". May I now learn the joy from both...
