Sunday, December 10, 2017

When it snows

In the UK snow is a novelty. Sometimes it's a disaster, sometimes it's a welcome diversion. Today it snowed and, being a Sunday, most people seemed very happy to enjoy the opportunity to not do what may have been planned, but to wrap up warm and go outside.

Walking from where I live towards the heath there is a small hill approaching the station. It was slippy and several of us stopped to help push cars up the slope. It wasn't the best day to drive really, but it was quite fun pushing the Porsche (although I did get spattered in grey snowy sludge as it's wheels spun).

There was an air of pleasantry - people tugging kids on sleds, dogs eagerly trotting in smart coats, adults in hats and gloves and generally most people were smiling and willing to say good morning and look you in the eye, conspiratorial in the joy of snow.

When I reached the heath there were lots of people sledging and just having good old fashioned fun. Snowball fights, large mounds of snow being rolled in anticipation of snowmen, and dogs excitedly rushing around, chasing irretrievable snow balls. 

The sound on the heath was beautiful - the shouts and calls of happiness: people having fun in the open air,  and the echoes of voices bouncing off the low cloud whilst it continued to snow.  In the woods the sound was muffled, with the occasional 'swoosh' of snow falling from branches (and catching me unawares sometimes as if snowballed by the trees); the call of a wren, a robin, and some great tits dancing above me backgrounded by the distant calls of humanity.

I felt so peaceful being on the heath, walking through the woods in the snow.  I have many happy memories of being on the heath with my children - sledging and building snowmen - and I cherish this wonderful place that is fabulous for people and wildlife both winter and summer.

More photos here: Flickr All pictures (C) me.

Liked this? Try these

Two walks
A walk on the wild side
A night on the Brecks


Sunday, December 03, 2017

The perfect (American) Christmas story

Miracle on 34th Street (C) 20th Century Fox
Having watched a few – I have to say ‘schmaltzy’ – Christmas movies, I’ve come up with a formula for the perfect story.  The ingredients you need are:
  • Small US town
  • Snowy region (preferably near Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Buffalo etc – cities in the ‘snow zone’ or miraculous snow in New York)
  • Single parent family (this facilitates the inclusion of children whilst permitting a romantic storyline)
  • The children are polite and well behaved 
  • A problem (St Nick has lost something, one of his elves is in trouble, his ‘magic’ is being depleted, family home about to be repossessed etc)
  • A ‘miracle’ themed object (star, angel, animated snowman, special house etc)
  • An ‘unbeliever’ (cynic who has had a negative Christmas experience, loss of family, etc)
  • A supporting cast of friendly uncles, aunts, neighbours, friends
  • A reluctant romance
  • A penchant for choosing the rural career over the city life
  • The conversion (cynic is provided with undeniable evidence that ‘Christmas miracles’ exist – whether Santa is real or that against all the odds lost family members are found)
  • The ‘spirit of Christmas’
  • A happy conclusion

And by observation, it seems to be a largely white, middle class cast of characters - though I think we can dump that in the ‘historical’ bin and be a bit more inclusive!  Sometimes (but not always) there is a bit of religion.

By contrast, UK Christmas stories seem to contain a mix of the following:
  • Disaster (sometimes averted)
    'Nativity' 
  • Unlikely romance with a specific challenge (societal, etc)
  • Badly behaving kids
  • A nativity play
  • A supporting cast of idiots/comedians
  • Cynicism in the majority
  • Conflict resolution
  • A happy conclusion

What’s do you think – do you have a ‘top ten’ (or top three) ingredients for Christmas stories? Post your thoughts in comments below. 

Liked this? Try: A coat of age