Friday 18 January 2008

First snow of the year

I've been asked recently what happened to all this snow I'd been talking about. Well, the weather people here must have been having a severe Michael Fish moment, because they got the predictions completely wrong; last week we enjoyed a whole seven days of sunshine, temperatures of up to 20 degrees and several tasty lunches on the terrace.

Given this splendid January weather, we did suffer slightly last Friday when temperatures plummeted and the rain finally appeared. We awoke on Saturday morning to this:


Our view to the south-west

I always think it looks as if someone had grabbed a giant sieve and delicately dusted the peaks with icing sugar. When we eventually get snow here and I have to traipse down to work in my wellies I'm sure this rather romantic image will promptly disappear from mind.

The sky quickly cleared and we went for a long walk up above the house. This is the Peña Mayor to the east of us, with melting snow. It didn't last long did it?



Since then there's been more snow, and more melting. The closer mountains are currently almost free of the white stuff. This is the cat-and-mouse teasing before it pounces on us here below. Preparations will be needed so we can sit snug indoors by the fire of an evening while the snow falls silently outside.

In the meantime, I intend to enjoy the current spell of fine weather which is due to continue for the next week or so. Lunch on the terrace today I think. I just hope the Spanish weather people haven't been talking to that Mr Fish again.

24 comments:

Metamatician said...

Not to ignore the rest of your post but holy jesus I love the way you crop your landscapes.

More from me later, just wanted to get that in. You really seem to GET IT quite naturally when it comes to photos, beautiful countryside or not.

And don't shortchange yourself, you DO have a great facility with words. I don't know why everyone thinks my poems are so wonderful, I think they're rubbish most of the time.

But I keep posting for some reason.

Oh and my CIA contacts affirm that the Spanish authorities (I'm Castillian, did you know that?) have been in close contact with Mr Fish just recently. Apparently they've been monitoring his satellite phone calls on accident in their search for bin Laden.

Anonymous said...

Rachel
The weather looks glorious. The blue skies are like nothing i've seen for a long time. If you had any idea of the weather we are currently experiencing in South Wales at the moment you'd be hard pushed not to feel sorry for us. Page 2 Headline in today's Western Mail is "Two thirds of month's rain expected this weekend". And it has been pouring down every day this year already so dread to think what it will be like on the weekend!! Oh well, at least it is the weekend and i can lock myself indoors for two days with the luxuries of dog, husband, wine, and my new sewing machine.

Unknown said...

Been having lessons from your mum have you Dawn?

lorenzothellama said...

I agree totally with Meta's comment. Your pictures are always so beautiful.

Is there snow on the Picos or is that too far away from you to know?

Lorenzo.

Scaredy Cat said...

'cat and mouse games'.
Huh, no mouse ever messes with me.

Scaredy.

lorenzothellama said...

I gather you would recommend 'never let me go'. I haven't read it, but it is one of the books I have been meaning to read. I'll get on and get it out from the library.
Lorenzo.

Martin Stickland said...

I can smell the fresh air from here!
What a lovely view, it make you feel good to be aliv......

Unknown said...

Meta, it's good to know the photos are appreciated. I shall keep snapping and, sometimes, cropping. Mr Fish must be hatching a big one with the authorities here because it's still gloriously sunny.

And thanks Lorenzo too. I imagine there is snow on the Picos, they're slightly higher. Although 'my' mountains are part of the same range we can't see them from here. Yes, yes, read 'Never Let Me Go'. It's the best book I read in 2007

Scaredy, I'm sure no mouse would dare. Unfortunately we are the mice who have no chance at all of messing with the big snowy cat.

Martin, Martin? MARTIN!

Scaredy Cat said...

Greetings Raelha and thank you kindly for visiting my blog.

Trouble with my beautiful tummy is that mum will try it brush me and I really don't like it very much. She thinks it might help me avoid swallowing too much hair so I dont deposit hair balls in inconvenient places.

Huh, that's what she thinks. I place my hair balls at very opportune times in very opportune places.

Greet the girls from me!

Scaredy

lorenzothellama said...

Wad'ya mean Cointreau and Baileys? As if!

Lorenzo.

Melody said...

That first photo is incredible Rach! Beautiful. I love your description because that's kinda what I thought too... (must be the baker in me!) You're right, who needs a telly when you have views like that?! (but you'd have to have the internet - telly, no, internet, YES!)

Tortoiseshell said...

Hi Raelha.

Things a bit quiet over at Graff, Evert, Ashe?

I'm wondering if this is the worst tournament the 3 of us have had in a while - the way everyone's getting KO'd it's anyone's guess!

Sorry haven't been in the blogosphere lately - hope you'll understand why!! Just put Small Tortie to bed at 2.30 am!

Unknown said...

Tortoiseshell - I've only got enough free time to keep up with this blog at the mo'. I almost forgot to chose my players on time too. Considering how I'm I probably shouldn't have bothered! Bloomin' Kuznetsova/Gonzalez/Mauresmo etc.

Scaredy, at least we don't by them the cheap dried food. And they do get the canned stuff as a treat. If Matt can be persuaded to part with some of his fish, they get that too.

Lorenzo, I'm only repeating what I've read on your own blog/comments. Surely you weren't telling porkies?!

Sara said...

I agree with my fello commenters, particularly regarding the first photo. I wouldn't say no to an enlargement of that on my wall.

As for weather in the Westcountry.. it raineth eth eth eth eth.

Metamatician said...

There's always a price to paid for beauty, Magdelene. Just ask Dorian.

lorenzothellama said...

Dorian?

L.

lorenzothellama said...

Not Mr Grey?
L.

lorenzothellama said...

S .. oops, Mags would never do that!
L.

Unknown said...

Ah, of course it's Mr. Grey. Thank you Lorenzo. I'd been puzzling it over for an hour or so. I'm obviously still half asleep. Damn my caffeine allergy.

Metamatician said...

See, if I don't hand out the answer right away someone always comes up with it, and then its considered clever rather than me just being a prat who cites literature. :)

Ju's little sister said...

Hi Raelha, sorry about the long absence. When it snows like that at home Mum always says "There's been a light disting of snow on Mt Harpur" which I think is delightful, as technically I suppose snow isn't dusty - but you are both so right!

I am currently trying to edit another video of Plumpy for him, but I don't know how long it will take - these things are generally time intensive.

Anyways, all the best for winter. I might have to try that book. Loved Middlesex.

Ju's little sister said...

arrrgh! "A light dusting of snow..."

Viking Warrior said...

Haste ye over to yon Plumpy

Unknown said...

Magdalene, didn´t mean to ignore you comment earlier. I would be more than pleased to have my photo exhibited on your wall.

Jls, glad you liked Middlesex. I´m tempted to get The Virgin Suicides now (same author). I enjoyed the film and that usually means the book is up to scratch. speakign o scratching, I´ll keep an eye out for Plumpy´s next starring role.