Cultured Views

What has happened to the weather! When I left Australia to settle in Northern Ireland I accepted that cold weather would be part and parcel of my new life, I would even manage to see some snow if I was lucky…just how much I would end up seeing has surprised even me. Just take a look at the sort of weather Belfast is experiencing right now! People are actually leaving their cars in the snow and walking up to several miles just to get home of a night.

My first winter in Belfast was at the end of 2002 and I thought that the snow-covered front garden was lovely- from the comfort of my window that is. I had no idea just how much your opinion of snow can change, and how quickly, once you are stuck in it. I also learnt that snow and ice go hand in hand.

I took the baby out for a stroll in the pram treading carefully on the icy slippery footpath and got as far as the end of the street, then I got into diffs. There was a slight slope at the end of the road and I found myself, and the pram, having alot of trouble staying upright. And to make things worse I was wearing trainers, not a good choice on icy ground and they have no tread whatsoever.

I decided to turn and head back home and realised I had gone further up the slope than I thought and began to lose my footing and my grip on the pram. Honestly, I was quite worried and becoming scared. I found myself in the position of having to slide along on my haunches because my feet kept going from under me and I didn’t want to lose grip of the baby buggy. I must have looked a sight!

Fortunately a neighbour must have looked out his window and seen this woman sliding along the ground behind a pram; I reckon he came out to assist me after he had had a good belly laugh at the sight. Anyway, he let me hold onto his arm and guided me and the baby, asleep in his pram, back to our house. He is a typical Belfast citizen; kind, courteous and friendly.

From then on I have admired the snow from inside whenever possible.

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1. Belfast…Go there!