I love snow, especially when it is a snowy weekend! I had already booked Friday afternoon off, managing to get away by 2, which was just as well, because thanks to heavy snow for most of the day, together with Friday commuters and a Leicester City home game, the city was gridlocked by late afternoon, with people walking home. The snow had stopped by Saturday morning, and so I took the dogs for a lovely long wintery walk, going along routes that had been impassable because of mud before the snow .
As we headed back home there were shrieks and shouts audible across the fields coming from Croft Hill which was very busy with people sledging
We had invited our friends Duncan and Lou and daughter Emily to come sledging, although obviously Chantal stayed at home in the warm. Duncan had recently bought Emily a sledge, and so with the two sledges that are kept at the Oakstump, children of all ages were able to spend a happy hour or so tobogganing down the Hill.
Emily had difficulty steering her new sledge, and so Duncan swapped it for one of our longer ones. Duncan tried the new sledge and promptly steered it over a rock (that I had already discovered on a previous run when I struck it sharply with my right foot), which pierced the sledge between Duncan’s legs, before the sledge and Duncan continued down the hill. Fortunately for Duncan the rock slid under the sledge rather than sharply upwards between his thighs, but snow poured up through the hole leaving Duncan distinctly uncomfortable, but at least with all parts intact. The new sledge was a write off – we calculated that it’s use had cost £2.50 per descent.
There was a great family atmosphere on the Hill, which seems to have gradients for all abilities. If Chantal had been feeling better then no doubt we would have ended up in the pub, but instead we all came back to the Oakstump for hot soup and freshly baked rolls.
Snow fell throughout Sunday and I had to avoid my usual “back route” to church along a country lane, which was covered with packed snow. Simon and his dog Phil came over during the afternoon, and we both, Simon and I, went for a long walk with all three dogs in the heavy snow.
I couldn’t persuade Simon to go sledging afterwards – the youth of today have no sense of adventure. Or maybe it was the thought of a 27 year old being seen sledging with his Dad… Where are my grandchildren when I need them?
I have received some snow photos to appear on the site later in the week. Any more?
Technically we live in Oaktree House, but sadly the tree had to go.
We now have a thriving Oakstump at the front of the house.
