Snow is a funny thing, it transforms the landscape from normal (read dull!) to pristine beauty; fields and buildings covered in bright, clean white.

The heavy blanket of snowy brings a surreal quiet to the daily rustlings and bustlings of nature, all sounds are muffled and muted.

Each step over snow-covered grass provides the most deliciously satisfying crunch, as your nose goes red and you ears start to burn from the sharp cold air.

Driving anywhere becomes a daunting task, the view ahead resembling static on tv and the risk of sliding off into the ditch or head-on into another vehicle a very real possibility.

Even walking has its dangers, as icy pavements send people crashing to the ground, hurtling towards both a bruised bottom and a very sore ego.  (Is there anything more embarrassing than falling on your ass in front of people??)

Sometimes the snowflakes may float lazily to the ground, sweet tiny individual puffs, other times they’re whipped up into a swirling, eddying frenzy, a swarm of flakes, by the bitter Eastern wind.

In some countries people have to deal with the challenge of clearing several feet of snow piled up against their cars and their houses before they can even leave for work or get to the shops.

Several feet of the white stuff and they still carry on as normal.

Here in Ireland, give us a couple centimeters and the entire country goes into lock-down, businesses closed, public transport cancelled, schools shut.

Stay home, stay safe.  Go make teeny-tiny snowmen with the bucket of snow that covers your whole garden.

If there was an Academy Award for Over-reacting, we’d totes be winning. As it is, we have countries like Canada giggling at our dramatics.

But we never get snow. Just as we’re never guaranteed the chance to wear our pretty summer dress or get a suntan in July/August, the chance to build a snowman comes round once in a blue moon.

So I think it’s ok to indulge ourselves a little, no?

Besides, thanks to our utter lack of abity to cope with a tiny bit of snow, I’ve got an extra day off tomorrow.

Sweet or what?!

Ciao darlings!

Lizzie xxxx