Here are some fun facts to begin with: On the day that Sydney had its highest ever recorded temperature, the BBC was reporting a temperature of -6 degrees in Cambridge at 7am. That morning, I walked to work because my bike was being serviced. Walking over the bridge towards Jesus Green and Midsummer Common, as the sun rises in a clear, cold sky and mist rises from the fields, slightly obscuring the colleges and churches off in the distance - bliss.
Knowing that it was forecast to snow the following day: EVEN MORE BLISS.
I'll admit that the snow was just average on Friday and Saturday, an icing sugar dusting that made the houses and trees look picturesque, without actually settling properly on the ground. While this is pretty and fun, it's not thrilling and exciting.
But Sunday was my designated Snow Day. First, I had to walk to the station to pick up my bike. As I walked, the snow turned from small specks of white, to slightly larger flakes, to proper snow flakes that were beginning to settle and stick. As I headed back into town, I had to walk my bike to avoid being blinded by flakes in the eye. (Surprisingly hurty, actually)
I then met three friends and we spent an hour walking through the colleges and around the grounds, which were by now properly covered in snow - the kind of snow that crunches under your feet as you walk, and actually deserves the label 'Winter Wonderland'. There wasn't enough snow to build a snowman. Or, there was. But it was on the grass. And even when it's snowing and you can't see the grass, one still Keeps Off The Grass. (I do wish I had made a snow angel on the grass, but suspect I might be tarred and feathered and run out of town) We made a small snow cat on the edge of a bridge over the Cam, as we watched some particularly game tourists being punted.
I then went to church, and on leaving church found that my bike was half-buried in snow (inconvenient? Yes - but excellent? Also yes). On Sunday evening, I had dinner at a church friend's house with a whole lot of other people, which was lovely. As we were all getting ready to leave at a civilised hour, the thought suddenly occurred to some of us that this was the perfect time for a snow fight.
On hour later, completely covered in snow (including inside my jacket, wet gloves, wet hair) and having taken about 20 snow balls to the face and really not having hit anyone because I throw like a girl, I headed home, a happy traveller and completely at peace with the world. (We also made snowman heads because the snow wasn't sticky enough to roll into a snowman body where we were, and if you just make a head you can pretend the rest of the snowman is buried up to its neck)
All this is a very long-winded way of saying, snow is lovely. It makes everything look completely different. It makes the world feel hushed and special (partly because the schools were closed yesterday so there was no traffic on the roads) It even makes the streetlights look different - more mellow or something. It makes it feel like a Christmas movie.
Of course, it was -7 degrees last night and now all the snow and snowy sludge has turned to ice and the roads are slippery and treacherous and it's starting to lose the new-snow special-ness and just be dangerous and mundane. But there's still something magic about trees laden with snow, even as it's melting and sliding off the branches.
I think for my birthday this year I would like it to snow again lots and then I would like to make a snow angel and a snowman and go for a walk in the snow. So if you were thinking of me on my birthday, instead of emailing or calling or sending me a card, maybe just say a little prayer for the right atmospheric conditions to prevail on January 29th.
