Friday 9 February 2018

Cold.

We have been lucky here in the Yorkshire Dales today in that it has been a day of beautiful blue skies once the early morning snow showers had disappeared.   Now, as darkness falls, the temperature is rapidly falling and it is bitterly cold.
This morning the weatherlady on Breakfast television smiled all the way through the forecast and when the presenters asked her how she could smile at such an awful week-end forecast she replied that it was February and just what we should expect.   What I like about February is that it is short and to the point.   We are already a third of the way through the month and soon it will be March, the early daffodils will be out and we will begin to say goodbye to winter, even if it is reluctant to leave.

Our Friday coffee morning was well-attended this morning - most of the friends were there and, as usual we had our lovely chat. What a difference to life friends make.   What would we do without them?

The News is so depressing today - the two Jihadis
who have been captured, the Oxfam/Haiti scandal (it is stories like this, true or false, which do the big charities such a lot of harm as people withdraw their support), the Brexit talks, which drag on and on week after week.   If there was a piece of cheerful news then I didn't hear it today.

I have messed up my e mails and somehow I can't get into them as my password is not being accepted.  Luckily my son, who is much better at computing than I am, is coming round later to sort it out for me.   Without him I would be up the creek without a paddle.

Wrap up well and keep warm if you live in the North of the country this weekend.   Don't go out unless you have to, stoke up the fires or turn up the central heating and get out a good book to read.   That's my advice and that's more or less all I shall be doing.   See you tomorrow, although if all I do is sit about all day then I don't think I shall have much news for you.

24 comments:

angryparsnip said...

So cold where you live ! It is much to warm where I am 80 again today. I want rain and or snow !
You can always tell us about gud dug Tess . Mandibles would like that.

cheers, parsnip and mandibles

Mac n' Janet said...

Rainy here, time to cuddle up.

Heather said...

We had snowflakes in the rain this morning down here but they didn't get a chance to settle, and the clouds parted and we had sunshine too eventually. I find the news too depressing to watch these days, even though I probably should. It wouldn't be so bad if a bit of good news was allowed to filter through occasionally.
I am planning a snug weekend. I have stocked up the fridge/freezer, have several books to read, and several baby garments to knit for my next three great grandchildren, due to arrive in the next few months.

Jill said...

I look at Feb the same way. March is in sight and then we know we have survived!

Joanne Noragon said...

I'm going out tomorrow, to a 'do' to mark out library's 75th anniversary.

donna baker said...

Balmy at 63 degrees today, but the weekend the arctic cold returns. I don't like that.

Amy said...

Should I confess that my husband and I went to the beach today?! It was lovely in Clearwater, Florida today. Of course, we love the winter months because of no humidity! Next month it will be nice, but normally so windy you get sandblasted if you venture to the beach! Stay warm and safe, everyone!

Rachel Phillips said...

It has rained all day here, drizzle and then heavier later. I have not read beyond Soros headlines today and the man I have written about widely during the American election. People like to hide their heads in the sand. He is a wicked man.

Nature Lover Nina Naomi said...

I'm so glad I found your blog. We love your area of the country. And also the comments--so personal and interesting. I'm in North Carolina, today at the beach in Pine Knoll Shores on Bogue Banks. The weather is cold one day (well, 43F or so) and balmy the next. Today I could ride my bike. I'm at Grandmanaturediary.blogspot.com which I write in honor of my nature loving mom, Nina Naomi.

justjill said...

Blue skies, sun, but bitterly cold. My new woodburner is working well. Lots of green shoots soon be Spring and we can all come out of hibernation.

Virginia said...

We are having our hottest summer ever here in New Zealand ... let's hope that won't be a prelude to our coldest, stormiest winter! We are being warned that the increase in storm events is likely to mean Insurance Companies will refuse to insure coastal properties particularly exposed to erosion. As we are a long, narrow-strip type land mass, and often the roads are very close to the sea, that is going to be a very major problem! Especially as there are only 4 million of us to share the costs.

Cro Magnon said...

Still very cold here (-2 C this morning), but as you say, March is just around the corner.

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

I avoid the news when possible - it is so disgusting here in the US - vile president and his minions - so I concentrate on something else when it gets too depressing. We had sunshine today and expecting more tomorrow so I decided that I will get out on the deck (where I do all my gardening) and empty the pots and refill them with fresh potting soil - it is about time. Feels like a good weekend project. Maybe I'll venture out to the market and get some pansy plants too. That will cheer things up. Hope your weekend is warm and snuggly.

thelma said...

Freezing cold here in our part of Yorkshire as well, but I learnt yesterday that you can get a dye from daffodil petals, somehow that cheers me up, capturing their colour for summer!

Derek Faulkner said...

Had a fantastic evening last night (Friday) watching the Illegal Eagles group on stage in Folkestone. So worth watching. As I write this it's still dark outside and I can see a hard frost on the cars outside. The concert was a great start to the weekend and tomorrow I have the Six Nations rugby clash between England and Wales to look forward to on the TV. Why do people ruin their time by watching and getting involved in politics and deaths from around the world, seems a perverse way to fill a day.

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

Pleased this morning that mild sleet has changed to slow drizzle. Would quite like a bit more snow.
You may not be going out today but you'll be able to tell us about your book tomorrow.

Gwil W said...

The thing about charities reminds me that I cancelled my WWF standing order when it came out that the WWF president, the King of Spain, had been shooting elephants in Africa. With charities it's good to know whose behind them and why.

Minigranny said...

Freezing cold down here in Somerset too. Daffodils have been out for a while though and I have some tulips in a pot that are flowering .

Jennyff said...

I think the news is dreadful at the moment not just the content but the presentation. I understand that we need to be kept informed of world events but everything is so negative. I also feel we do get too much information, shocking pictures of death and destruction, details of abuse, plastic pollution and nothing gets better. Maybe the bad news should be balanced by news of the good in the world.

Librarian said...

What is the problem some seem to be having with the month of February? It is as good or bad as we make it, just a few days shorter than the other months. And to complain about "bad weekend weather" makes as much sense as complaining about having to breathe all the time in order to live :-)
It has turned cold here now, but no more snow has fallen since last Sunday. It is carnival season here, and people are out and about in costumes, going to parades during the day and to drink and dance at night. Not everybody's cup of tea, for sure, but can be good fun with the right company and in moderation (drinks).

yellowtulip118@gmail.com said...

It's pouring with rain and blowing a hooley here in the south west, so I've taken your advice. I am now sitting my a roaring fire, crocheting my Nordic shawl, candles flickering feeling cosy and content.

Jules said...

It's turned a bit more mild here today. It was very soggy underfoot on our afternoon walk and very muddy in the woods. I don't mind so much when the weather is suited to the season. Stay cosy Pat, Spring will soon be on it's way. X

Elizabeth said...

Reading or chatting to friends are excellent ways of spending a (wet/cold) weekend.
I'm loving A Time of Gifts by Patrick Leigh Fermoy.

The Weaver of Grass said...

So pleased you are reading Patrick Leigh Fermoy Elizabeth - I have all three of the trilogy and have read them many times - each time feels like the first time.
Librarian - can't help feeling those carnivals help to pass the cold days well.Jenny - I do agree about the balance of news good/bad.
Minigranny - freesing cold in Somerset - what hope for us in the North I ask.
Gwil - I do agree a lot of questions need to be asked before we give our hard earned money away.
Derek - I have a ng rugby is going your way this afternoon. I think the answer to good news versus bad news is that we do need both. We absolutely must not bury our heads in the sand but we do need light relief.
Rachel I agree we must not hide our heads in the sand.
Amy - I am trying not to let jealousy creep into my view of your answer!
Thanks to you all..