Snow at last...

This morning we woke to the sight of snow dusting the fields as the sun slowly rose. Enough for a snowball fight before school this morning, but it has all melted away now. Dylan was thrilled, and helped Jason scrape the ice and snow off the car windows (before he discovered the snowballs accidentally landing in your wellington boots make your socks uncomfortably wet). Sam was less impressed. It was cold, it was wet and it made him slip over even more than usual - what was all the fuss about?

We had a teasing light snowfall on Monday morning. I watched the flurries and imagined the excitement in Dylan's classroom at that moment - although it was melting on impact. But when I picked him up from school that afternoon he and his friend Sam said they didn't even see it, and were very disappointed.

We have had a few play dates in the past weeks, and it is great to get to know some of Dylan's new friends and their families. We even had our first visitors to Yew Tree Cottage - but embarrassingly, the cottage decided to finally fall apart that day. On top of our usual plumbing variables, we had sporadic blackouts and the dishwasher broke down. I think something has come unstuck in the wiring after the horrific gale storm last week. I have a stream of electricians, plumbers and repairmen booked to come and sort things out over the next few days... which means lengthy afternoons hanging around at home waiting.

Thankfully we didn't suffer any serious damage in the storm last week - the tar roof on the wood shed lifting off was as bad as it got - but Jason saw 3 lorries overturned on the motorway on his way home from work. I was just glad to have him back in one piece.

Australia Day excitement is mounting at Hilltop school - I am busy baking lamingtons and anzac biscuits, and making photo collages for our presentation to the entire school. We have received some fantastic things in the post from family and friends, and I know Dylan will have a very special day. At home that evening, we will have fireworks (snowfall permitting!), a roast chook dinner and cuddle around the roaring log fire...