Our First Snow in Luton

I was trying to get an extra dose of sleep this morning when I heard Hakim rushing into our room, singing "It's snowing, it's snowing, the old man is snoring!" Then I recalled the forecast, "snow expected this Saturday,..." Hmmm... so, it snows this morning though not that heavy.

I tucked myself back inside the blanket and snuggled beside my sleeping partner. It has been very cold for the past week. Last Wednesday, I got off the train at St Pancras hardly feeling my legs. But not wanting to stop the flow behind me I concentrated in forcing some mechanisms in my grey cells to remind me to put forward a step before another. Somehow I managed to reach the office having no idea whether I still have both my feet intact. Yesterday was even worst. The train I used to take was cancelled and it was some 20 minutes that I have to wait, standing in the windy morning, shivering in the cold - I can almost hear my teeth clattering. My fur-lined gloves provided no comfort at all. My fingers were all numb and I felt tears running down my cheek. My fingers are not just numb - they were biting cold and very painful - I could even imagine part of my capillaries and cells turning into icicles.  You have no idea how glad I am when the train finally pulled up in the station! And it was not until we reached St. Albans that I can take out my gloves and inspect my hands - at least I still have all ten fingers and I started rubbing them together - still painful at first but at least slowly they warmed up. And how glad am I that I do not have to go to work today - the first day of snow!

Anyway, I can't sleep anymore. And as usual on Saturday both my husband and I will stay a bit longer in bed - we talk - about anything and everything that crosses our mind. I love our sessions. Just the two of us. From downstairs we can hear the children talking, playing - time where they can express themselves clearly! i.e. No Parental Guidance time. It is not a crisisless time either for they do fight with each other, they yell and get cross with one another but still it's their time. Sometimes during this time they can be very quiet too - mostly due to each is drowned in their own work - Danish reading, Hakim on the PS2 playing football imagining he is Steven Gerrard, Aqil on the Netbook and Mia either reading or drawing or painting or doing some craft works. I always love it when they are in this kind of harmony. But normally it will end in War. There will always be one who step into the other's barrier - it can happen without any physical interference - a simple unintentional comment will do. But this morning - maybe due to the snow (perhaps), this human sanity and order last until both of us came down. And except for minor hiccups, harmony is still leading. Great! I love Saturdays like this errr.... except for the minus temperature.

Looks like we will spend the whole day at home today. As I am writing this, I can see from our window that the sun is coming up. The forecast mentioned about it being sunny at 3.00 p.m. Well, it is still another1 and a half hour before it is three and yes, the snow is melting. Suddenly, there is a little hope - perhaps we can go to Hitchin tomorrow - we need to get some boots, not to forget some hats as well.

Oh yes, did I mention that today is my Birthday? Well, Have a Great Weekend everyone! :-D

The first snow ....

Thursday (Dec. 17, 2009) was my final paper for the semester. As I left the Exam Hall, I saw my friend Monica (a Nigerian but has been living in Edinburgh for the past 6 years) looking a bit unhappy. Well, I asked her how was the paper. "It was what I did for my coursework. But everything that I have studied escaped my mind." she said. well, I understand that. I understood how it exactly feels like. In my case, for one of my papers, I did not managed to complete all three questions required. I only answered two - and I am already thinking of re-sitting next semester - no used to think too much about it. It's gone and done with - nothing I can do to make it better - oh... how I wished I could turn the time - but that's not possible and I have to carry on.

I let Monica poured out her frustration to me and I asked her to join me for coffee. It was while we were enjoying our coffee (me - my latte; she - her cappucino) when we saw through the large window at the Union's cafetaria that - Snow is coming down! It kept on pouring for about 20 minutes then it stopped. Then I remembered. My children at home! They have been listening to the weather forecast and since Monday, it was forecasted that it will be snowing on Thursday. The night before they have been asking whether the snow will come down during the night or during the day - they do not want to miss the first snow. And I have promised them if it is thick enough we can have snow fight!

I told Monica about my children's enthusiasm. And she said they will be enjoying Edinburgh if we can travel down - "Princess street is fully decorated for Christmas - they'll love it you know - they'll be some rides as well - do come if you can manage it." Well, I know it must be. Edinburgh must be lovely now, ready for the celebration. How I wished we can really travel down.

After departing with Monica, I rushed home - that's not before I wished her Merry Christmas - Hakim was letting me in "Ibu, I saw, we saw, it was snowing just now but it stopped after some time."

"Yeah! It's still very thin. Let's wait for a few days when it'll get thicker. It'll be a White Christmas then this year! My friend said if we can drive to Edinburgh, we can see how beautiful the city is this time of year."

"Can we?"

"We'll have to wait for your father - after all, we'll have to see whether it is safe to travel - the road will be slippery and the car is not fit for travelling in the snow."

"If we can get it fixed?"

"We'll see. Remember? Safety first?"

And with that, they were capitulated.

It has been a few days now. It was thicker yesterday. But still not enough for snow fighting! And further still from building a snowman.

(Mia on the way to school yesterday. She enjoyed her walk despite the cold. When I reached home after sending her, my fingers were all numb. Took some time before I was out of my coat!)

(Image of University of Dundee from http://www.dundee.ac.uk/)