"At half past three we go home to tea"..

..."or maybe at quarter to four. 

And ten pairs of feet go running down the street

-and in at their own front door.

 

And it's rough and tumble, battle and noise

-mothers and fathers, girls and boys.

 

Baby in the carry-cot, sleeps by the fire

-there's a little bit of worrying, but much more LOVE!"

__________________________________________

Yes, that traditional English rhyme must have been on my mind as I fled school the other day, with the sunshine still out, BEAMING on the snow, and promising Easter.  If afternoons were able, I think the afternoon was actually shouting at me to get outdoors; since it was like physical pain to sit on my butt inside and mark student papers, I did what I was told here.

Snowshoeing til dusk.  Plugging slowly upwards, in powder heaven in the woods right back from where I live.  Seeing Tromsø light up like a Christmas scene: that was pretty pretty!

Yep, sometimes you just have to get out of the school: and the great thing about 'half past three' here is we don't say that here: Norwegians use the expression 'half-three', and that 'half three' is critically actually 2.30pm here ;) hurrah! 

Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day

from Norway, x

Winterweather II

I'll let the pictures tell the story...  

(P.S. Don't be misled: the sun is back, but on there were few signs of warmth in it's rays. On the summit it was -15C with windchill.  A challenge to get my bare finger out from my wool mitts to touch the cold metal of the trigger button on the camera at all - but I just can't resist taking pictures! ;))

Day One

Day Two

I think the pics speak for themselves.  

As I said in my last post: Time and Height is all you need :)

Rollarcoaster winterweather...

Good weather :)

Less than good weather...

It's been a rollercoaster of a winter to date, weatherwise: snow, rain, mild, ice, cold, mild, snow, rain.  I dislike the mild, ice, rain combination most of all...  Reminds me of a rainy Britain and hunkering down in severe Gulf Stream induced British winter weather... yet here the streets are also laced with sheet-ice.  Makes simply walking almost impossible at times!  At these dark times, I survive only by walking around with severe looking mini-crampons on...

BUT

In between this strange, unseasonal MILD weather there is fabulous, glorious snow (you just have to know where to look ;))

I have to admit, it is a question of Time and Height.  If you have the time available, you can find the correct conditions at the higher altitudes to enjoy real snow and winter conditions.  Problem is, as a student I feel time is sooooo precious I worry incessantly about 'wasting it'.  I admit to not being a very happy student, at times, when being a student is condemning me to the mild, ice, rain combination.  Ho hum, that sort of Does Something to one!



But, at times, there is the chance to get out, to the right height, given the right time.  Here are some photos of the contrasts of this winter's weather, so far:

Time and Height allowing for a 'no complaints' moment! yeees!!