Snow on snow, in the bleak midwinter...

So we went out to play.

Now the dress here is a mini. Worn with black tights and ankle boots. I was freezing! Quite a lot of the ladies had shoulderless dresses on, brrr. It was a huge ballroom we were in and dotted around were very small electric fires (?). At one point I actually went through to reception to complain. It did then get warmer. The central heating is ducted through the ceiling. They must have assumed we would create our own hot air. Bit difficult when its minus ten outside.

This event was our Rotary "Cause for Celebration". There were a number of tables for various charities, who all benefitted from the money raised in the evening. We had a lovely meal, courtesy of the Waterside, and there was a group called Quattro, so presumably there

were four of them. Dancing after the meal. I was the official photographer. And despite my usual glasses of wine they have mostly come out particularly well.

Just before midnight we realised the snow was coming down heavily so decided to head for home. The snow on the car was gathered on the way back.

Today, yet more snow. And a wind. Although we have been snow ploughed twice, so Mike went out for supplies and then out again for yet more bird food.

We have a covey of partridges feeding at the front, a pair of pheasants in the spinney at the back, and a buzzard keeps calling to the side. Mike was talking about buying a few mice...

Our ducks are underneath the tall pine tree. Its lower branches weighed down with snow it makes a nice shelter, they do have a hut but go in there on sufferance. The hens too are in some shrubbery and all looking totally miserable. Thankfully 'Oven ready' has grown most of her feathers back.

Back to it tomorrow. Hopefully our two paying guests will make the journey here from Glasgow. The snow here measures 12 inches.. The wind is whipping it up into drifts and there is more to come.

Water like a stone. Thankfully not the red stuff.