Out of the fridge, into the freezer

Just as we’re all getting excited about making it to the end of January, the gods of winter wake up from their New Year nap. With a stretch and a flex of their muscles, they breath in deeply and the mercury drops: down, down, down. And then they exhale, and let loose their bone-chilling breath into the land.

This morning the grass was dusted with snow, and the air tasted sharp and clean like a gulp of ice water.

Although it was beautiful to see, and fun to have a change in the landscape and hear the snow crunch under my boots, I loved watching it all thaw most of all. In the garden, the sun came out and slowly the green tips of spring bulbs reappeared. Ice dripped from the roof tiles and trickled down drainpipes, each fat drop like the slow tick of a clock.

Alas, the slate grey skies are back now and a cold drizzle has started to fall steadily outside. January may be nearly behind us, but winter isn’t going anywhere.

Time for a cup of tea, and one of these:

Winter gods, do your worst.