The current bout of cold weather is being called the Beast from the East. I think I prefer the poem:
The north wind doth blow, And we shall have snow, And what will poor Robin do then? Poor thing. He’ll sit in a barn, And keep himself warm, And hide his head under his wing, Poor thing.
Not a lot of snow in London, snow is a rarity here. I got my washing mainly dry on the line this morning, though until the sun reached it, some of it was stiff and frozen. It was bitterly cold, and my cuddle with Hartley was shorter than he wanted. He was curling up on my lap preparing for a snooze when I stood up and headed back indoors to the warmth of the flat. I didn’t think it was going to snow, the forecast showed a twenty per cent chance but the skies were blue. But as I knuckled down to some of the endless paperwork the room became very dark, and I looked up to see real snow, serious snow, swirling about. It started to settle. For about half an hour it continued, then stopped. Tonight there is some left, a smattering, and it will freeze, so tomorrow pavements will be icy and treacherous.
But it is pretty.
I had to photograph the honey fungus on the cherry tree to send pictures to a tree surgeon so I took a few more photos of the garden while I was at it. I don’t know where the robin was, but this male blackbird seemed happy enough.
Blackbird
Bird feeders
I was glad Hartley seemed to gone inside for once, otherwise he’d have probably expected me to sit down on the garden seat and pet him.
Garden seat
The holly berries looked brightly seasonal.
Holly berries
The other plants – a rose in bloom, flags about to unfurl, the green leaves of the lemon-scented geranium, and the still flowering pink geranium looked caught out, like pole who turn up for a party in the wrong clothes.
Pink geranium
Rose in winter
Unfurling flags
Lemon scented geraniums
MasterB had looked into the street earlier, and shown no further interest in going outside. We had some energetic feather play in the sitting room instead.
With feather and rabbit toy
I haven’t decided yet about yesterday’s story, so I’m going to pour myself a glass of wine and read it now. I never enter competitions, so perhaps I should even if I feel this piece needs more work, just for the experience.
Isobel (and Cat)'s Blog 
Nice portrait of himself. I admire your good spirits in the face of the cold front. I cannot rouse more than various levels of grumpy about our weather – which would be the envy of just about any other place in several continents.
Well it is winter, so not entirely unexpected! I am lucky enough to have a warm home and every I need to ride this out without much effort. Although admittedly out and about when working has been a challenge to keep my fingers from turning blue!
We’ve got snow this morning, I’d upload a photo if I knew how.
We have had more snow in the night, a nice dusting. I’m meeting another tree surgeon in the garden this morning so shall take some photos. I don’t think you can upload photos to comments.
I’ve missed who Hartley is. I assume he is a cat, but immediately thought he was a hare.
We have about 5 inches of snow today. More food to be put out for the birds today.
Hartley is a local black and white cat. He could win the World’s Friendliest Cat competition and has embedded himself very firmly in the neighbourhood’s affections, though my neighbour H, who Hartley visits daily, describes him as promiscuous!
I love the rose photo. Master B is very sensible staying inside, Flora and George have played in their first sow and were very excited, I just want it to go away quickly.
Are you actually reading Paula now or is that out of date, it’s a heart-breaking and wonderful book, I read it a long time ago and tried a few more of Allende’s books since, they were okay but not as memorable.
No, I read Paula a long time ago! Must try to keep that but up to date or just delete it. I loved Allende’s early novels; The House of Spirits was a favourite.
Some of us grow things in containers, but we have a very bossy resident who is the current secretary of the RA who opposes raised beds for vegetables etc. The soil is v poor, despite the fact that in the C18 and early C19 this was a famous flower nursery.
Our snow is slowly going and I am hoping we don’t get the freeezing rain.