would grind to a halt for snow. Yes, snow. The forecast of heavy rain was
accurate in the fact that wet stuff fell from the sky, but it kind of
changed form on its way down to us! Yes we are still in Africa.
Yesterday started cold and the builders braved it out putting on some of the
roof sheets and plastering the outside walls, 2C outside, shame. The morning
drizzle soon became lunchtime rain, and then suddenly afternoon snow. Slowly
falling at first but getting ever heavier, larger, and settling on the wet
ground. By evening we had a good covering of the white stuff. Overnight
however, while we were fast asleep, the snow came and came and came. It was
amazingly bright at just before midnight. I guess any light around was just
bouncing between sky and snow, almost felt like there was a full moon.
Leaping out of bed at just after 06h00, snow, lots, blimey. We had been
warned of snow taking gutters out and we now appreciate why when you have a
smooth corrugated roof. I was sharply teasing the snow from the edge of the
roof and gutters with a garden rake. Up until then it was just sliding down,
building up, and dumping down in mini avalanches, not fun to be standing
under if you weren't paying attention! The garden looked amazing. Sadly some
of the plants didn't, bent over or slumped down under the weight of their
new icy blanket. Our big tree outside the kitchen lost several branches
under the weight of the weightless snowflakes, crashing down when they could
take the strain no more. The neighbours phone line that passes thru our
garden was down, pulled from its pole by the weight of the snow on it. Ours
was under strain but soon relieved of the pressure with judicial use of an
extendable tree pruner!
We decided to brave the elements and walk to the spar, after a cup of tea of
course, to get some supplies before the shelves emptied. You never know when
the trucks will make it to resupply. Stories on the news of many a road
closed off locally and far away. The power was off on our return, came back
over 6 hours later, then off, and back, several times more. Snow is lovely
when fresh and white. The village centre already looked a brown slushy mess
and the thaw hasn't started yet. Thankfully with the Rayburn at full bore we
have a warm house and an ever boiling kettle! With nothing else to do it was
snowman time, and snow shovelling time too. The garden nevertheless looks
more brown and white than pure white now. The thaw has already stated,
dripping snow from roof and trees. The sun is set to return tomorrow
perhaps, back to 20c again, not for a few days I think. Just a slow messy
thaw, and builders back to turn the white snow into a very brown muddy mess.
Our partially roofed extensions are a wet mess already with the snow melting
and mixing with the building rubble and unused sand. I think a good bit of
cleaning out will be needed before much can be done.
Ironically enough I feel sorry for those that have missed this brief foray
into artic conditions. Our neighbours at the end of the garden really wanted
to see snow. They went to the coast yesterday morning and will not see a
drop probably by Friday on their return. Just glad we were here! Saying that
you do wonder how those a lot less fortunate than us are coping with this
severe change of weather. Informal settlements, no power, no heating, and
African blood that is not designed for icy weather. Please spare a thought
for them.
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