A slight thaw in the proceedings

Other places in the UK remain suffering but up here in Northumberland, we are experiencing a thaw. The wind is from the south and the snow is melting away. The main roads are clear, and the trains are running.
The coal and the heating oil has now been delivered. And it begs the question as to why the heating oil lorry could make it up the hill yesterday and the bin men can't. The bin men did spend time clearing pavements which was good of them, but my main bin has not been emptied since before Christmas! Tomorrow, it will be recyclables again and they will not be taking the other garbage until the Monday after that! Provided the weather holds.

My eldest went back to University today. He is doing well but is ready to get on with his studies. It is easier the second time they go. My daughter has various A level tests next week (no postponement) and ditto for the youngest and his GCSEs.

My fingers are firmly crossed for the thaw to continue.

Going Viking in a Bookstore

Kimber An did a review of The Viking's Captive Princess on Enduring Romance that made me smile. In particular she said -- This is book three in Michelle Styles' Viking series and I can guarantee there will be more (because if I don't hear more about a certain secondary character, I'll go totally Viking in the bookstore).

I would love to know which secondary character she means. There are two possibilities really --Erik the Black and Thrand. Although I think she means Thrand and it may happen, but at the moment, I am focused on my Regency/Victorian stories. I am super excited about writing a couple in the Ottoman Empire. However first, I have to finish the one I am currently writing which sets up the second of the Ottoman Empire stories.

But really if people want me to write more Viking stories, they do need to contact my editors rather than going Viking in bookstores. My editors do like to hear feedback and requests for stories of secondaries. (I did send a copy of the review to my editor) Otherwise they do sort of let me write in the time periods that I want to write in (see above for my latest research obssession). My editors are lovely that way.

It is snowing again and they have stopped gritting as much. This means the hill where I live will become totally treacherous. My husband said that the A1 yesterday was littered with accidents. Basically in snow and ice, people do need to slow down. You want to avoid skidding, rather than practicing skid control.

I have started investigating Public Transport. The only trouble is that it is pretty poor and it is difficult to carry shopping home... It will all get worked out but I determined that snow is not going to stop me. It is a matter of taking the time.

My youngest two have exams next week and these are going ahead. Luckily they can walk to school.

Warnings from my youth

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I remembered the warning but I remembered it far too late. The words only came back to me as I pressed the starter. The car chugged once and then died. No one's fault but my own. Somewhere, someone told me to start my car every few days in the cold so it would start. I forgot until my car wouldn't start. Then I remembered and felt stupid.

So now my life is littered with un-done to do lists and I am stranded. Or rather the proposed excursion to the heady heights of Tesco with my eldest has been postponed until my husband returns. Chile the Labrador , however loves the snow and has been acting about the same age as Hardy and Tess.

As the winter weather looks set to continue, I have investigated the train. It is doable for certain outings next week.

After 3 days, the post was delivered today, replete with Christmas cards posted far too late, a Christmas parcel from my aunt and my youngest's ski helmet. My youngest is going kiing at the end of January so he could truly experience snow etc. The back lawn would not look out of place in the Alps...

In an act of defiance against the weather, I have paid the remainder for the book research trip to Egypt. Somewhere warm!

The heating oil people were lovely but informed me that there is a 2 week backlog with oil weather permitting, of course. Luckily it was just a precaution...The oil should arrive just as the current batch runs out...but I have turned the thermostat down and put another jumper on. I have also ordered more coal.

There is supposed to be more bad weather on the way.

Note to Caroline: yes it is a bloody struggle to get some of my words done before turning on the Internet, particularly as this little voice keeps whispering but you need to check if the children's school is open (it isn't). Still in 6 weeks time this too will be a habit and productivity will return.

I wass doing fine on my weight management but then my daughter decided desperate times called for chocolate chip cookies and made some. And boy did they taste wonderful...

In the bleak mid winter

Lots of snow and plunging temperatures. The children's school remains closed for a second day.
We have done some sledding, throwing of snow balls etc. and still the snow keeps coming.
It was to do with the weather pattern and where the highs developed. There are predictions that Northumberland could see as bad a winter as the one in 62-63 where 20 foot high drifts developed in the Allen Valley. I have seen the pictures in the Courant!

And yes, I know lots of other places in the world regularly get this sort of weather. It has to do with expectation and preparedness. And despite going to university in Minnesota and living over here for 20 plus years, I remain a wimpish SF Bay Area girl at heart and hate driving on snow.

Right now, I am hoping the thaw when it comes will not be too drastic as then we will get flooding...

My new regime is going well but it is hard. However, it does take 6 weeks to get into a habit.

An unexpected blizzard

We were supposed to get a light dusting of snow, covering the four inches that we had yesterday. Instead we are getting a blizzard complete with a biting wind. It brings back memories of when I was at Carleton... The puppies are enjoying the snow and chasing the sled when we go sledding. The postman became stuck and could not go further up the bank because the Council had not gotten around to gritting. He predicted more snow and has been proved right.

Day 2 of the new regime and I am finding I have to think and remind myself -- Internet second, writing first which shows how bad my habits are.

With weight management, I have stepped on the scales, and it is not a pretty sight. My sister in her wisdom has suggested to focus on losing 10% in 2010, rather than trying to lose the whole lot. It seems good to me. Once I have done that, then I can look at losing more.

The kittens (as can be seen from Mr Darcy's photo) find my messy desk fascinating.

Mt Molehill

We have snow -- about a foot. I had assumed the mole would be quiet. But no, Mt Molehill had just broken through the snow...The children think this is funny.

The children are also pleased -- no school and they will be going sledding. One of the Christmas presents was a sled, with brakes.

It will take a lot more snow though to equal the winters here in the 60s. Apparently people were cut off for weeks on end. Currently the traffic is flowing. But blizzard conditions have returned and I am pleased not to have to go out.

The traps will have to wait until the snow clears. However, based on the Mt Molehill evidence, I suspect the mole has not been caught.