In my experience, the weather forecasters don’t always get it right, and I always take their predictions with a grain or two of salt. I find the easiest way to tell what’s happening weather-wise is to stick your head out of the window and look up.

So when snow was forecast for our region, I was highly sceptical (too early in the season) and expected a few flakes around midnight to be the end of it.

I first noticed there was something different going on outside the window at about 9 p.m. And sure enough there was quite a shower of snowflakes whizzing past being driven by a very strong wind.

“Oh, it’s too light, it’ll never “settle” – that’s one of the first new word I learned on arrival in England. Suddenly I am the big expert on snow, having been brought up in a country where winters last about 3 weeks maximum and snow is seldom seen.

But a few hours later, the scene was entirely different, and late night revellers, caught by surprise where laughing, shouting and screaming, sliding, throwing snowballs, taking photos of one another and being generally merry.

The snow took late night revellers by surprise

This morning it was still snowing! What a lovely surprise. As soon as it was light I dressed warmly, and armed with my camera, made for my the beach. It was very slippery underfoot, and I found my feet sliding out from me on a number of occasions. I learnt to tread on virgin snow, that made the going much firmer.

The park

The nearby park was a picture, a couple walking their dog which was thoroughly enjoying the novelty of bounding through snow to inspect a snowman.

Views from the pier were superb, and there were a few of us taking advantage of the photo opportunities.

Someone had even built a snowman sitting on a bench, with a plastic spoon for a pipe.

And there was no fishing today.

Home to a lovely hot cup of coffee and a biscuit (or two).

EVERYONE HATES THE SNOW …

As the day wore on, and a weak sun made an appearance, the snow turned to a browny-grey slush, most unattractive to look at. Transport was disrupted, trains delayed, cars sliding all over the roads, Gatwick airport closed for a while, people started to get grumpy.

I had a doctor’s appointment, and the ramp from the pavement up to the surgery was slick with compacted snow that had turned to ice. Most of the complaints from those in the waiting room were about the lack of gritting and/or salt, their original aches and pains forgotten in their annoyance.

Ah well, the novelty is over, and so is the snow it seems. Perhaps there will be more in January or February – life at the coast continues.

Sunrise with a waning moon

Night slips her mantle, and day arrives coughing and spluttering …

The Salvation Army Band playing carols

Barrow selling roasted chestnuts

Santa's Grotty ... er Grotto (collecting for Lions Charity)

Full moon rising over the town

Low tide at sunset - the sun managed to find a gap in the clouds

It’s not a new occurrence, I have noticed it before. As I’ve become older I’ve apparently become transparent. There are hundreds of us ghostlike “oldies” wandering around the streets, armies of us going about our invisible business.

I guess it’s the way we were brought up, not to be pushy – for example, I could never get a drink at a crowded bar (the fact that I’m short in stature doesn’t help).

It’s not the fact that I lack confidence, quite the opposite in fact, and I’m definitely not a cartoon grey-haired granny – I dress fashionably and take care of my appearance. So what is it then that makes us invisible? Could it be that we don’t appear in many advertisements? Except for wrinkle remedies, funeral and insurance policies, incontinence pads and denture fixative ads, we aren’t exactly in the public eye. You never see commercials on TV of a group of golden oldies listening to our ipods, laughing as we text each other while striding into a pub and ordering the latest alcoholic beverage with our mates. Not for us the fashion shoots, trendy boots and handbags, hairstyling products or make-up. Hey people, we love our music, we love socializing, we love fashionable clothes – we may be old but we aren’t dead yet!

So next time you see me, move over – I’m coming through!

Cattoo wonders if it will ever stop

A grey day

It may be cloudy and cold outside …

Cozy Cat

but inside it’s cozy and warm.

Rustic scene in Arundel - on one of our walks

“In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.”
– Kahil Gibran

I am happy and grateful for my friends. Especially reminded of that today, lunching with my pal, talking like we haven’t seen each other in years (instead of weeks, emails, texts, phone calls in the interim!)