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gee4
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« on: December 14, 2011, 10:03:46 am » |
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We've had heavy rain, we've had sleet, we've had flurries, but looks like snow is on it's way. 2 and a half inches has fallen already this morning, 23 miles away....noooooo!!!!  |
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msmarieh
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« Reply #1 on: December 14, 2011, 03:43:45 pm » |
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Hope you don't get too much. Such a pain on workdays!
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gee4
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« Reply #2 on: December 14, 2011, 03:48:14 pm » |
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Thankfully nothing made it this way today. Forecast for rest of the week is good, but no snow. It can snow after 20 Dec, but not before!!  |
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JessW
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« Reply #3 on: December 15, 2011, 10:23:44 am » |
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Gee, You ok today hun?  |
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gee4
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« Reply #4 on: December 15, 2011, 10:25:20 am » |
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Yep. Snow on hills, roads are icy. Definitely not as cold as yesterday or as stormy as the day before.
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JessW
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« Reply #5 on: December 15, 2011, 12:45:22 pm » |
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Well that is something. I don't know if/when we will get it in South East, but hope it stays away long enough that my xmas eve flight (figuratively and literally) to France for the festive holidays does not get scuppered - once I am there, then I don't care!  |
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gee4
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« Reply #6 on: December 15, 2011, 01:46:59 pm » |
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Are you finishing work then...for good?
We have just had a get together to say goodbye to one of the secretaries who volunteered for redundancy.
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JessW
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« Reply #7 on: December 15, 2011, 05:23:22 pm » |
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No such luck - just taking the rest of the year off to get away from nagging parents  and possibly do a bit of house/flat hunting  . The PTB will be expecting me back at my desk on 3 January 2012 (more's the shame!) 
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Jackie G
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« Reply #8 on: December 16, 2011, 04:00:49 pm » |
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Jess
come up to Scotland, we're way more civilised and have an extra day at new year. I don't come back till 4 January!!
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JessW
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« Reply #9 on: December 19, 2011, 02:12:18 pm » |
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Jackie, I am on my way! (Shall I be bringing my own tea, (t)hen?)!
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Jackie G
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« Reply #10 on: December 19, 2011, 07:53:56 pm » |
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well you'll need a first foot if you're coming for the turn of the year!
** First footing is a custom in Scotland on Hogmanay (New Year's Eve) where the first person to cross the threshold after midnight and the new year turns (after you open a window briefly to let the old year out) is considered to bring good luck - provided he/she is tall and dark (and handsome). Lots of people have pretty much 'open house' for neighbours and friends. If lights are on after midnight and you're out and about in the area, you're fair game for visitors.
Traditionally a first footer would bring with them a lump of coal for the fire, some black bun, a dense fruit cake, for the table, and a bottle of whisky, to drink a toast to the new year. These days where people organise a party, you'd be there before hand, and someone gets chosen to get their coat on and is put outside at a minute to midnight and then not readmitted until the bells have gone. It's traditional to shake hands (and / or kiss) at New Year and wish someone all the best for the year ahead.
There are lots of local customs (see the Stonehaven Fireball ceremony) and some grow into the new year (the Shetlanders have some great stuff which links to Viking times, where they burn a Viking longboat after they've built it)
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Sunflower
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« Reply #11 on: February 07, 2012, 03:59:40 pm » |
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I know this is an old thread, but it is still valid.
What little snow we did have, has all gone now - and the sun is shining, it's almost spring-like.
Jackie - did anyone tall, dark and handsome knock at midnight bearing coal, bun, cake etc?
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Jackie G
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« Reply #12 on: February 08, 2012, 08:26:25 pm » |
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We've still had very little snow here, what a change from last year.
Midnight first footers? No, and it was too cold for one of us to go out (in a big family, the tallest and darkest man is usually put outside (suitably scarved and coated etc) just before midnight so they can be let in again immediately afterwards). The other tradition is you open a door or window to let the old year out - we did that as the doggies needed out, and suffered. Oh, I see I've already told you that, well it doesn't hurt to say it again!
I forgot to say that by then the central heating boiler had packed in so we were basically trying to keep to one room and only moved to let the dogs out and suffered the chill as the door was open. When Chris came to me a couple of weeks later, he did bring a first foot with him as he was probably the first person over my doorstep apart from me (chocolates!). And we took stuff to his sister on New Year's Day - some Christmas cake (not black bun tho, yuck!), some wood sticks for her coal fire (not coal, too hard to get now) and we definitely had bottles though probably not whisky - definitely wine and some champers too.
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Sunflower
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« Reply #13 on: February 10, 2012, 12:25:57 pm » |
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Fabulous traditions - and so good to see they have moved with the times - chocolates indeed - with wine and champers too! I have this image of a cosy cottage, lots of snow, roaring fire, dogs asleep with yummy things to eat and drink.
Is a black bun really a burnt bun? I have heard of Clootie(?) Dumplings - which sound like fun.
More snow last night and was 0.5 degrees this morning, but weirdly it felt much warmer.
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Jackie G
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« Reply #14 on: February 10, 2012, 12:36:17 pm » |
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No it's not burnt! It's a very dense fruit cake so it does almost look black as it's full of raisins and currants.
Clootie dumplings are fruit dumplings cooked in a cloth (cloot) - a steam pudding if you like. It's often eaten with savoury things though. Not a fan of it but my partner loves it and his assistant at the shop usually makes him one for his birthday (upcoming) and for Christmas so he has two in a short space of time.
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