I thought we had had our dose with what fell before Christmas and running onwards, it had mostly cleared by last weekend.

On Friday it started again with icy pellets blowing horizontally, though not a lot was lying.

Yesterday more of the same, and a couple of inches had built up, I shovelled the balcony clear-ish once the wind died and sun came out, but this morning reveals that there was no more melting and all the bits I didn't get to have frozen hard - should have found that blasted brush while I had the chance.

Still, we shouldn't grumble, I have never checked but am told we are on roughly the same line of latitude as Moscow. It is only the Gulf Stream that keeps our climate as warm as it is, so any of you guys who are down that way...Thanks, please keep it going.