Snowed under

I think I saw a lifetime's worth of snow in one day today. Last night it snowed a lot and then today it continued to snow heavily all day long (stopping around 4pm). In my parts I was walking (wading?) in knee-deep snow! It has caused chaos for transport and many buses and trains stopped running. People with cars complain about the roads, and have to get new tyres. Walking through thick snow is pretty hard work too!

So, it's been 6 days straight of seeing the snow for me and it still amazes me and I still take lots of photos every day all throughout the day. I guess if you're used to seeing it year after year it's nothing special but for me it's still pretty special!


I HAVE seen snow before but after many people have asked me if it's my first time, I've kind of started lying and saying it is because it's just easier than explaining plus it feels like my first time anyway. The real first time I saw snow was when I was 14 and my parents took my sister and I, and went with their friends to the snow in Australia.

For those that don't know: YES, IT DOES SNOW IN AUSTRALIA. I am kind of tired of getting asked that question! For some reason people think Australia (despite it being so huge) has the same weather and temperature throughout the entire country and that it's always hot and sunny??? Yes we have seasons and it can get cold too! And yes, we have snow and skiing too! However it's only in a tiny part of Australia, the highest part where all the mountains are.

Back to my thoughts about the snow...

Thursday 25 November 2010
Lunchtime (around 1pm) - I looked out the window and saw snow for the first time in my town.
Dinnertime (around 6:30pm) - I looked out the window and saw the snow making the ground white
Around 8pm - The ground and all the cars etc were all covered in white and I was soooo excited!

Friday 26 November 2010
Morning - there was a lot of snow overnight and it looked gorgeous.

Saturday 27 November 2010
It was still snowing a lot and was overcast. It stopped around 3-4pm and then it started up again around 6pm. I built my snowman (snow family).

Sunday 28 November 2010
It wasn't snowing but there was still a lot of snow on the ground everywhere. Around noon I walked around the block and took some photos. Saw lots of kids building snowmen and playing with their toboggans. Ahhhh to be a kid again!
Late afternoon the snow started melting a bit but then in the evening it started falling again. I felt really really cold that night.

Monday 29 November 2010
It was beautiful! The snow had melted a bit overnight and then new snow had covered the melted snow, making a 'bubblebath' effect which I loved. That, combined with the sun which shone brightly made the everything look so beautiful and dreamy. Luckily I didn't have to work that day and pulled myself out of bed early to walk around the town and take pictures of the snow in the beautiful, perfect sunny morning light with blue skies.


Tuesday 30 November 2010
It was very overcast and continued to snow a bit and then stopped. In the early afternoon it had been swept and was that ugly murky brown-grey colour from cars, and from people walking in it and I actually started wondering whether I'd see that brilliant bright white colour and full coverage again. I needn't have worried because around 3pm it started snowing heavily and did not stop...


Wednesday 1 December 2010
It snowed a lot overnight and all the grass outside my window was covered. Completely covered. It was the thickest I had ever seen and it continued to snow throughout the day. A lot. The roads were not swept as I guess it was too hard to do and it was very hard to walk through it in many places. I noticed the cars were driving very slowly, at around 40km/hour or less. A few people have told me they needed to get new/special tyres for their cars.

Observations
• I love looking out the window when it's snowing heavily and marvelling at the wonders of Mother Nature. This morning I started thinking to myself there must be some mathematical formula that calculates how much snow an object can withstand, ie how wide must the object be to the ratio of how high the snow can be on top of it. And at what angle it can hold snow, ie vertically it can't really hold any snow, but diagonally it can.  Although it was snowing so much today that even vertical things (like wire fences, walls and poles) had snow stuck all over it!

• You know it's been snowing a lot when even the electrical wires and the thinnest, tiniest branches are all completely covered in snow!

• I need to wear sunglasses because the whiteness of everything is so blindingly white. Today all I could see was WHITE WHITE WHITE everywhere!

• Surprisingly, it's not actually that cold when it's snowing. It seems colder when it's not actively snowing.

• I like and hate walking through the snow at the same time. I like it for that 'crunchy' effect and marvelling at how it turns to ice when it's melted and then refrozen. I hate it because I want everything to stay pristine and perfect and beautiful without footprints and dirty spots!

• I suck at making snowmen. I tried and the snow was too dry and I couldn't make even a decent sized snowball in my hand. However, I do know it's possible as I've seen them around the town. I lack proper training, obviously! I even watched some YouTube tutorial videos (yes, that's how seriously I take it ;) ) and found out you make the snowball in your hand first and then start rolling it on the ground which will pick up more snow in turn.. (hence the term 'snowball effect). I watched a father and son do it so I know it's possible but I think I need  personal tutor to show me (just kidding!) :) I did manage to make a mini snowman though, complete with snow wife and snow child.

• I don't know when I will get sick of the snow. I know it is causing a lot of hassles for people but it makes me feel sooooo happy looking at it and being in it. They say that no two snowflakes are alike. Isn't that amazing? And all the snowflakes are different sizes and diameters.  I tried to take a photo of one/some but they melt too quickly.

• Walking through thick snow is a bit dangerous. Actually you can't tell how deep it is and you don't even know what's underneath: is it concrete, grass, sand, dirt, mud, (frozen) water? It could be anything and I have nearly put my foot into some frozen water (ice)! Also you can't see where the kerb is or where the steps are when it's that deep. It's hard to estimate depth or distance. It also becomes very slippery when it's re-frozen and turned into ice. I keep thinking I'm on a giant ice-skating rink! Even with really good rubber-soled snowboots I have slipped a little and felt like I was nearly going to fall.

• It's taken me a while but I think I have actually acclimatised. From the 23-24°C when I came to minus degrees. I think it's been anywhere from -1 to -10°C lately.