Chaos around Aberdeen today with just 4 inches of snow on the ground. Jack-knifed lorries all over the place blocking the roads. (Why are there always jack-knifed lorries??) Anyway, October seems pretty early for snow in the UK. My holly tree is absolutely full of berries and this is said to be a sure sign of a hard winter. However it is always full of berries and most winters here in Kent are v. mild with hardly any snow. Now in the late '70's and early '80's we had some stupendous snowfalls in Kent with villages cut off for days, but over the last decade hardly anything. Following a record-breaking hot summer, could we finally be in for a return of a winter when it will be worthwhile excavating the sledge from the back of the garden shed?? Last time we had enough snow to use it, the kids were in their early teens. Now they've left home.......