Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

We have had some very exciting weather here in England the last few days! Heavy snow, below freezing temperatures, and lots of ice has meant that Heathrow Airport has been shut down for the past three days, the Eurostar scaled back to three trains a day, and most buses and trains canceled! In London we had between 5 and 6 inches of snow on Saturday while Devon, which rarely gets any snow in the winter, saw over 8 inches of snow on Sunday! We've dealt with these white blankets by doing what most people seem to do: stay inside! Here are pictures looking out our flat onto our street.

On Saturday, however, we braved the snow and cold to explore the Real Food Christmas market on the Southbank. Ruben and Ryan had several fine snow fights and we warmed ourselves with Creole veggie fritters, le diot patate raclette (a French potato and sausage mess, at left), mulled wine, and churros con chocolate! Though freezing, we really enjoyed the market and all the artisan food vendors. Some how food always tastes more delicious when experienced within the clutches of severe weather. That must be why camping meals always taste so fantastic, even if it's just a can of Dinty Moore Stew or corned beef hash!

On Tuesday morning, with Heathrow still closed and St. Pancras still jammed, we went to Paddington Station to catch our train to Bishopsteignton in Devon where we will be spending Christmas with Alun. The snow gods were smiling on us and we were able to get our train without trouble to Devon. Riding the train through the countryside we saw field after field of white. It was beautiful.

There isn't much snow in Teignmouth and Bishopsteignton, but everything is a soft, misty gray, covered with frost. Last night we had some freezing fog and woke up to hoar-frost, in which everything was covered in ice even though it didn't snow last night. I didn't know such phenomena existed! I am learning much about cold weather and different types of ice formation. Needless to say, I bought my very first hot water bottle today, and can't wait to go to bed tonight. Time to tuck in, stay warm, and let the Christmas baking begin!

These are my snow prints from when I took the trash and recycling out. I don't know if there was much point though, as the trash-men and postmen are nowhere to be found!

Ode to the Hot Water Bottle

A quick post about a non-food related, but exceptionally exhilarating new discovery that deserves its own separate post: hot water bottles. While not a new invention (containers for warmth in bed date back to the 16th century), and not exclusive to England, having grown up in Southern California where a cold house is 65F (18C), I've never owned, let alone seen a hot water bottle before!

When we arrived last weekend in chilly Tollesbury, with the temperature registering at 14F (-10C), David offered me a hot water bottle, encased in a knitted hot pink covering.

"I like the hot pink," I told David.

"Well I just bought it anticipating your delicate sensibilities," he replied with a smile.

I tried to defend my sensibilities as being very strong, but who was I kidding? I couldn't wait to get into bed with that hot water bottle at my feet. I watched with awe as David poured freshly boiled water into the inner rubber lining. Pushing the water to the opening to let any air escape, he screwed on the cap with the precision of a scientist. As I lovingly carried the hot pink water bottle upstairs, it grew warmer and warmer and I could barely contain my amazement and excitement!

In bed with the bottle at my feet, the chill from the sheets immediately evaporated and my icy feet were warm and cozy in minutes. The area around the bottle started getting untouchably hot, so I moved the bottle around. With careful navigation and timing, I was able to get the entire bed thoroughly warmed, relieve my lower back aches, and comfort my digesting stomach all in a matter of minutes! "What an invention! Pure genius," I thought! Except now I was too excited to go to sleep. The warm embrace of the bed quickly lured me to sleep and when I awoke in the morning, refreshed by an incredibly peaceful night's sleep, I noticed a sliver of warmth still emanating from the pink bottle. Wow! I was beyond impressed. See my morning-after face in the above photo--that's the face of a restful, warm night of sleep.

Just when I thought I was the queen of sleep, a new device has showed me the truth: I have much to learn about warm sleeping technologies in England. And its eco-friendly too! You don't have to run the heater all night with a hot water bottle at your side!

I'm jumping into bed with a hottie tonight!