Total chaos for 3 days.

How do places like Canada and Sweden manage to function when snow falls? A few years ago, we went to Calgary in early February - the reason is not important today, but the scene when we landed was very similar to what we have experienced in the last few days - deep, deep snow. Their airport was open, their malls were open, traffic was moving, people went out.

It was apparent by 8am on Wednesday that large areas of the UK had already ground to a halt because of the snow. I was in one of those places. My car wasn't going anywhere, but I live close enough to walk to work in about 45 mins in deep snow. Before setting off, I rang to make sure I was needed in the office as, when we had left the day before, I knew it wouldn't take much more snow for the local key-holder not to be able to make it to work.

I'm glad I rang as the office was closed for the day.

I had a day off. If I don't work, I don't get paid - 3 weeks before Christmas is probably not the best time to find zero pay going into the bank, buy hey ho, 1 day won't hurt too much.

I hung up the phone and got changed for a 'stay at home day'. Our first challenge was to dig an area at the back of the house so the dogs could go out for a wee. The snow was already up to their stomachs and they were struggling to walk/jump through it.

And it was still snowing.

By mid-morning it was obvious this was not a normal snow-fall. We had the deepest snow seen in the UK for 30 years.

It was so beautiful and so crisp. The branches on the tall trees were weighed down by the amount of snow clinging to them, it was impossible to see where the road ended and the pavement began and cars were being abandoned all over the place. The local news began detailing all the schools that were closed, the buses that weren't running and the roads that were impassable. The area was seriously affected.

We decided we would take a walk with the dogs to see how it was to get around. Unlike last year in the Spanish mountains, we were close enough to shops to walk to them. We would not be snowed in like in Spain. Some of the neighbours with 4x4's had managed to get down the road and we could walk in their tracks - but getting from the house was a major achievement for the dogs, by now they could barely kangaroo jump through the snow, it wasl level with the tops of their backs. 

We managed to walk into town without too much problem. There were loads of people about, kids being pulled on sledges by thei- Mum's, shopping being pulled on sledges by shoppers, and everyone so much friendlier than normal. The adverse weather always seems to have this effect on us Brits.

By the time we got back home the dogs were shattered, it had taken a lot of effort for us to walk through some of the drifts, for them it was like us battling through 5ft of snow. Once de-snowballed, they slept for the rest of the day.

By night time we were seeing reports of the A57 road being closed a couple of miles from us. HGV's could not get up a hill and it was now clogged with wagon after wagon after wagon. It was to be closed for 3 days as abandoned vehicles hindered attempts to get the snow cleared. The A57 is a major road from the motorway to Worksop - closure would cause chaos.

Every news bulletin reminded us that we should not venture out in our cars unless it was vital. I even had text messages from our insurance company advising us ton take care in the snow. Our cars were going no-where. We had nowhere we needed to be. We were already at home, fortunate not to be one of the many stranded away from home because of cancelled trains and buses, and abandoned vehicles.

We awoke to more snow on Thursday morning. Our road was now a 3 inch thick slab of ice with 2 feet of snow along the pavements and I had another 'home day' as our office remained closed for a 2nd day. We spent the day digging out my car incase we needed to get anywhere. We walked to the shops to replenish our bread and milk supplies. We walked the dogs. And we stayed in. I took the opportunity to start writing my Christmas Cards, normally a job a put off until the last week before Christmas. The country remained at standstill.

Overnight, there had been no more snow. Friday saw things start to move again. The wagons on the A57 were finally freed and we had a snow plough down the road - which did nothing but smooth over the top of our 3 inch slab of ice. Friday was a 3rd 'home day' for me.

And so, today we have been out in the car for the first time. We have seen so many vehicles still abandoned, still hemmed in by 2 feet of snow. We have seen our grand daughter and got stuck in McDonald's carpark. Fortunately, there were 3 very helpful guys who pushed us clear. We have seen queues into the supermarket carpark only normally seen on Christmas Eve, we have seen the result of 3 days of chaos.

But, we are home now, we are settled in our cosy lounge with a nice hot cup of coffee from our coffee maker, the dogs snuggled up beside us.

And what film is on the TV?

Ice Age.....

I kid you not!