Today’s guest picture shows the station in Leicester used by my brother a few days ago. He noticed that they had a separate entrance and exit in years gone by in case passengers should be confused about what they were doing.
Our lengthy spell of warm weather has come to an end and although the thermometer said it was just above freezing when we woke up, everything outside was quite frozen.
There was a big demand for pellets…..this was the big demander.
Although the roads didn’t look icy, the temperature of 2°C was quite low enough to keep me off the bicycle and to welcome Dropscone round for a cup of coffee and a scone.
By the time that he was ready to go, there was a hint of sleet in the air and by lunchtime the garden had changed colour completely.
The snow encouraged a blackbird to try the seed feeder….
…a most unusual sight.
The chaffinches sat in the plum tree waiting for it to go.
Fortified by a slice of bread with sardine pâté, I laughed in the face of some substantial snowflakes and set off for a walk. I was only able to laugh as I had prudently put on a pair of waterproof trousers and I was protected by a large umbrella.
It was just as well that I was wrapped up as this was the scene outside our front gate…
…and it was snowing even harder by the time that I got to the suspension bridge.
I walked up to the High Street….
…and along to the Kilngreen.
The slushy snow felt rather slippery under foot and I watched as first one and then another car failed to get up the short but steep hill opposite the toll house. The driver of the first car wound down his window to tell me that he felt better about life when he saw the second car fail too. The thoughts of the driver of the second car, who obviously imagined that he could succeed where the first car had failed, are unrecorded.
I was glad that I wasn’t driving at all as conditions were not friendly.
With care, walking was even enjoyable. I strolled up the Lodge walks…
…avoiding being run over by the only car to pass me.
There was a lot to please the eye as I peered through the curtain of falling snowflakes.
A passing pheasant had left me clear instructions as to my best route…
…which took me round the pheasant hatchery and back along the riverside path.
There was an occasional hint of colour to remind me that I wasn’t living in a black and white world…
… but the black and white was very decorative.
I crossed the river by the Jubilee Bridge…
…and returned safely to the full colour world of our kitchen.
The snow eased off but remained on the ground and quite soon the light faded. It seemed like a good time to collapse in front of the telly and watch an old movie so I did that. Mrs Tootlepedal is busy on a new embroidery project so we sat in companionable silence.
In the evening, we were joined by Mike and Alison and Alison and I enjoyed some slightly patchy playing before joining the other two to down a small seasonal drink. After the afternoon’s heavy snow, it was fortunate that we had some port to hand. It didn’t matter what the quality was like though as you can drink any port in a storm. (Actually it was very good.)
The government has just issued some advice saying that 14 units of alcohol are the recommended amount for a week so Mrs Tootlepedal and I are going to have to drink a lot more if we are going to keep up. We will try our best.
The flying bird of the day is a chaffinch in traffic.
Tootlepedal's Blog 
Beautiful pictures and lovely story 🙂
simply beautiful pictures! Still waiting for the first snow here.
I hope that it comes in manageable amounts when it arrives.
Lovely snow pics–especially the peachy color of the finches in the white stuff.
Snow sets off chaffinches very well.
Loved the snowy pictures but am dying to know, did the parcel ever arrive?
Not yet.
Beautiful photos – I guess someone else’s shovelling always looks better than your own! The port joke was awful, but I did laugh!
Yes I am sorry about the joke but imagine poor Mrs Tootlepedal’s life who has to live with this sort of thing day after day.
I should think that Mrs. T. doesn’t mind at all.
She does. She is a perfectionist and doesn’t like to show off work that she thinks could be better.
It doesn’t take much snow to make everything very beautiful, like the trees along the river.
I’m still waiting for a storm where the snow sticks to everything. So far ours haven’t been very photogenic.
This was very sticky stuff with flakes the size of oak leaves. It won’t last though as it is too warm.
Oh boy! You’re getting the white stuff already! 🙂
This is about the right time of year for it.
Beautiful snow pictures. I enjoyed your port joke and I will have to do some serious drinking too, to meet the governments requirements. Take care in the snow!
At least you have some excellent breweries near you.
We do!
Absolutely lovely winter scenery, Tom. Be safe!
I watched my footing very carefully.
Enjoyed the beautiful snow scenes.
They were very fleeting as it started to thaw as soon as the snow stopped falling.
No snow here at our elevation (800 feet) in our neck of the Cascade foothills. Beautiful winter scenery in your area, and I am glad you and Mrs. Tootlepedal had some port for such a snowy evening! The port we keep on hand is called “Fonseca Bin 27”, and certainly works in any storm. 🙂 My husband Rick also loved your port joke, and says he will have to remember that one.
Would love to see a photo sometime of one of Mrs. Tootlepedal’s embroidery projects, if she is willing.
She is rarely happy with her finished work and often unpicks part or the whole and starts again. I don’t think it likely that she will let me photograph it but I will ask.
i think that you may have had one port too many if you used that old joke. 😉
I believe that you were wishing for snow, and now I see why, what a beautiful snowfall, and what beautiful photos of it!
I like a modest amount of snow just to make winter different from autumn.
Beautiful snowy photos with wonderful commentary…keep working on the jokes!
There may be better jokes about than that one but I couldn’t help it.
Beautiful photos as always!
I dare say that snow is not such a novelty for you as it is for us. 🙂
The woods covered in snow look gorgeous. My favourite is the shot of the river from Jubilee Bridge. The finches look also very cute. Love the port joke 😉
The river did look beautiful even on such a gloomy day. I had hoped that the sun would come out for a moment just to put the icing on the cake.
Hopefully next time. Still very atmospheric.
I liked the port joke too.. but the recommended 14 units one was even better… ! Thanks Tom, I love your blog.
You are very kind.
I like photos of trees covered in snow.
We haven’t had much snow for the past two years so this fall was very welcome.
Beautiful winter wonderland pictures, but what a surprise! We are still enjoying rather balmy, or barmy, weather down here.
From a warm December to a snowy January in the UK! Sounds much like the weather here in Ohio- minus the snow so far…we’ve had some rain though.
Beautiful photos!
I expect that your snow will put our tiny fall to shame when it comes.
I would not mind a pretty day like that, even though I find snow scary to walk in if it is slippy. You KNOW the port joke made me laugh out loud.
I apologise for it but I can’t sip a glass of port without thinking about it.
Very picturesque, Tom. No sign of the white stuff here in Kidderminster.
Have you waxed your skis yet, and have you checked the stringing on you snow shoes?
The snow vanished in double quick time but with frost forecast, I am looking out my Yaktrax.
Good idea, Tom.
Nice one about the port, Tom! Great pictures too, as always.
🙂
I know it’s cold, but snow does make things look pretty. Nothing, however, could make that port joke attractive 🙂
Sorry.
😀
The snow photos are beautiful and gave me a little shiver.
I would rather have our snow than your fires.
Obviously when our weatherman forecast snow he was looking in the wrong place. We get it so rarely here it always feels like a treat and I love walking in it since I got my Yak Trax.
Me too.