White Out

'For today it is snow day, and all those who awake to a footpath covered in black ice need not venture out into the streets of London.'

Fortunately, I have enough emergency supplies (icecream, miscellaneous frozen vegetables, soup) to withstand the 18 or so hours of testing snow conditions. Others who weren't so fortunate had to *sucks air through teeth* go outside!

I am being facetious of course.

The snow has fallen. The credit crunch is forgotten. 24 hours of Russian winds have turned even the most uptight of adults into a squealing, goofily, smiling child. Exquisite blankets of powder cloak the streets. At it's edges of course there is grey slush, but no matter: we don't care. We frolic in the parks and the streets. We slide down hills on makeshift sleds, ignore the numbness of our toes and make minimal efforts to get to work.

For mine, I spent the day trying to ascertain whether my flight would depart for Warsaw. It's moments like those that I know the Aussie in me will never be completely stamped out. Conditioning has not yet wiped out my faith in this country's infrastructure. Optimism persisted until the moment I was informed once and for all that I could finally enjoy my snowday because the flight was indeed, cancelled. 'That's terrible' I said whilst clenching my fists to punch the air with glee. I was free.

I have spent the rest of snow day tromping in to work to get some stuff, with a circuitous walk past St Pauls. Amazing. Snow covered and beautiful. I then tromped back via Redcliffe Square where I watched lots of people making snowmen and igloos. Delightful! Glorious! Snow!

I have since indulged in some White Out cooking. Chicken fillets a la Snowday now sit comfortably inside my tum along with some leftover vino. Heaven. Flight is rescheduled for 10.30 tomorrow. Fingers are crossed, but hopes are low.

In the meantime, London is forgiven all of its sins. The credit crunch is muffled under a fluffy white coat. Moods are light and kids are playing. Roads are impassable and my freezer is well stocked.

February 1 - January 0.