Well, it seems that my doubts about the severity of the storm were wiped out overnight. I didn't notice any horrible winds because it is cosy here and the windows don't let in any drafts. There was snow on the windows on three sides of the cottage so there had been some wind and swirling snow while I slept. And the snow is not stopping.
I think someone said "Let there be snow" and forgot to say "Enough!!" Still waiting for it to be called off. Now would be a good time to do that. Apparently it will turn to sleet and rain before the precip stops. Feels very much like home. Well, except for the temperatures. These temps feel fine.
There's a lot of moaning and warnings about the cold. It's barely below freezing. Cold? I think not. The "stay in the house" warning has been lifted but folks are told to please stay off the roads. People were rescued from abandoned cars, an ambulance got stuck, and if you were on the road you probably slipped all over the place. Cars would block the passage of emergency vehicles. The army is helping out. No tanks have passed by Moss Cottage - yet. I'm hoping they provide transport to a pub.
TV reports were all doom and gloom and I guess they were not an exaggeration at all. Weather reports were constant and still are. This 'event' has totally taken over RTE 1 The affected areas varied and unlike the usual worst weather happening on the Wild Atlantic Way, it was Ireland's Ancient East that took the brunt of this snow attack.
Just heard something a bit strange - Dublin Airport is open but all flights are cancelled. I wonder, do they have de-icing facilities? That might be the only place to find a cafe open today but hardly worth the trip. Then again, you can't get there from here. Or basically get anywhere from anywhere else. I can't get to Eurospar and it's just down the hill. Don't know if they are open anyway.
Dublin opened emergency shelters for the homeless but apparently there were still 15 people identified as refusing to come in. They don't want to be dragged into "the system". Folks expressed great fear that they could not survive a night outdoors in -2C temperatures. Warm clothes or blankets and waterproof tarps were given to them. Honestly, they won't freeze. Compared to the conditions under which the homeless sleep rough in Canada, they are in no danger, they just won't be comfortable.
It's hard to say just how much has fallen here but it would be at least a foot. You will see from the amount on the top of my car that it's a substantial amount. The snow is heavy and sticky. Because it's going to warm up on the weekend, and the roads are impassable except to tractors and heavy vehicles preferably equipped with snow tires or even chains, nobody is shovelling much. It's just going to melt and then the warning will be of floods. The fun never ends.
I emailed my hosts in the house right beside me, asking if they had an old pair of wellies. Sure enough Mary replied that there were some in the shed. I managed to get that far in my shoes and found the boots. They were a bit big and apparently had been abandoned by an archaeologist who once stayed here. But - boots they were, and that was good enough. No need for warm lining.
At home I don't normally go out to play in the snow but I had cabin fever. I slogged through the snow in my borrowed wellies, out to the street - a distance of about 100 yards. That was a lot of work so I turned around and came back. Briefly the idea to build a snowman sneaked in, but my efforts showed a distinct loss of talent in that department. I settled for a few snowballs, ready for battle. Believe me my throwing arm has not improved over time. If you're over 10 feet away you are safe from any onslaught I might attempt.
While outside, Mary and Brian came to the door and we chatted briefly. Mary invited me to dinner. The distance between our front doors is probably 20-25 feet. I think I'll make it. Lucky I only had one glass of wine last night so I still have most of the bottle to take over. Maybe I'll bake something too. I'll just type the ingredients I have on hand into a search box and let google find me a recipe.
The snow continues to fall and it's almost noon. It's lovely to look at - if you were perhaps, on a ski vacation. This is seriously cutting into my visiting of the townlands of the ancestors. I guess I'll just have to come back again (and again and again ...). Maybe I'll try to rent a dog sled. Wait - I'm not in Canada. Perhaps I should bring snowshoes next year.
Enough for now - will update when it seems appropriate. Here are some photos.
What greeted me on opening the front door.
What I had on my feet to get to the shed to pick up the wellies
and then I was ready to go. The boots are only about 3 sizes too big but will do just fine.
as I started the walk I looked back at the cottage. Green door is the shed.
My little fortress on the left. The lumps at the end are cars.
someone had already walked out to the street so I didn't have to blaze the trail
I was too warmly dressed - should have listened for the temperature not the description as 'freezing'.
view from the dining room window - pretty much the same now but more snow in the past couple of hours since I came in and it's still not letting up.
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