Snow creeps up on us...and kind of ruins things

On New Year's Day I went for a long walk around Knole, a National Trust property. It was great and much needed. We drove there, it's around 30-40 minutes and it's all pretty straightforward. Then, when I awoke the following morning and peered out of the window on 2 January 2026, my world had been transformed into a winter wonderland of the worst possible kind. I'm talking about snow. It was everywhere and while it was little more than a light dusting, it was enough to cause problems underfoot and on the roads. The worst thing being it was going nowhere. The temperatures were not warm enough to thaw the snow so it simply loitered with intent and now, on Sunday 4 January 2026, it's still there and the forecasts suggest it will be hanging around for a few more days, certainly the rest of this week. Normally, we get two helpings and if that happens this week then you can bet your arse we'll have snow for the next fortnight, which means little in the way of cycling or driving or walking.

Two days of staying indoors

Andy and I were going to meet in Costa Coffee in Purley, which would have meant an 80-minute round trip on foot, but when I awoke at 0550hrs this morning I started to think no, it would be treacherous in the extreme and, therefore, not worth doing. I might have been wrong, but over here (perhaps not where Andy is) there's a lot of snow and ice on roads and paths. I can't get my car on to the drive so it's sitting outside the house like a guest, not a resident. But that's not the problem. The issue is really the fact that snow is bedding in, making itself comfortable and is, quite literally, an unwelcomed guest. In some respects, it's great; it means I can sit and read Uncommon Danger by Eric Ambler or, as now, write something on the blog. I guess the phrase 'it is what it is' springs to mind and if so there's no point in worrying about it, but in truth I was planning a ride to Esquires Coffee in Westerham, I really fancied the ride and, of course, the large cup of tea, the whole idea of just chilling for a bit before the ride back. But no, it's not to be and I won't make a fuss about it.

Outside now the sun is shining and the skies are blue, but the ground is brilliant white. I've resigned myself to doing nothing although I'm strongly considering 'testing the water' so to speak, ie taking a walk to see just how bad it is. The last thing I want is to go 'arse over tit' to use a well-worn phrase, but it's highly likely. I don't know what it is around here, but whenever it snows we do tend to get a fair bit of it compared to, say, Sutton, where mum resides. Perhaps it's because we're fairly high up. I did drive the car the day before yesterday, very slowly until we reached the main road and then I managed to get to the supermarket. I'm sure that's the way things still are, hence my tentative plan to get out there and test things out. I've had breakfast and I'm considering another cup of tea and a short read. I know there's some shortbread biscuits around somewhere but I can't be bothered to go in search of them, not yet at any rate. This is dressing gown weather and I quite enjoy it. Tomorrow, it's work, and that means getting up early, something I haven't done for a while. I'm not looking forward to it, put it that way.

I stayed in all day and did absolutely nothing. There is snow all over the place, not driving or walking weather. While there was some mid-afternoon sunshine that seemed to be thawing the snow, it's still there. Right now, it's dark, in fact it's 1800hrs, dinner is being made and I'm sitting here writing. I'm rambling so I'll shut up and try to enjoy the last few hours of my Christmas holidays.