The last ‘proper’ snow here was back in 2010/2011, when things got real cold, as low as -15, and pipes were splitting up and down the country. In Ireland we basically call society off when it goes below -5. Most of us have never seen a snow plough, or snow shoes, or know what snow chains are or how to put them on. What we have is extensive 24 hour reporting and one topic of conversation. We promise we’ll learn all about stuff so we’ll be prepared next time, and then we forget once it melts into brown slush and settle back into moaning about the mild rain.
After a mild autumn this year, the white stuff was suddenly back on the menu after some thick showers snuck in during a cold snap in early December.
I drove up the Shannapheasteen road until the Astra got stuck, wheels spinning in second gear on a bend. I reversed/slid back down to a junction, and went for a hike.
Turns out hiking in snow is awkward. Especially when the it’s on a bog and the bog has big holes in it and slopes up. My boot slipped and I dipped the camera down. It came up white. Crap. Wipe wipe wipe. Two minutes later I did it again. Learn: use the tripod as a walking stick and put the camera in the bag while going up a slope. I still managed to do a third time.
When I got back to the car, a tractor was helping a couple get up the road where I had parked. I was, er, slightly blocking the road. Sorry.
