…as and when…

I’ve forgotten what it looks like…

The day started pretty much as expected – cold, snowy and grey. The snow through the night hadn’t been too heavy but nevertheless a fresh sprinkling had settled on the ground. Thankfully it hadn’t frozen too hard so we arranged to pick up the cats from the nearby cattery, and to then return home. A quick phone call was made to the cattery and we were on our way to pick them up – both Lyn and I had missed the little nuisances…

The drive to the cattery was quite clear and we had soon got the pair loaded into their carrying cases and into Malc’s car, paying the outstanding bill to the cattery owners and expressing our thanks. Back at Ann and Malc’s we let out the cats and it was obvious they were glad to see us… but also obvious that they were annoyed they’d been ‘abandoned’ in the cattery for two months! It would just be a matter of time before they settled down and came around.

Later in the evening, we packed up Lyn’s car and Malc’s car – ready to make the 45 minute journey back home for the first time in 2 months. As the got closer to home, the weather and conditions grew more and more harsh and the temperature dropped below freezing. Snow deepened and a bad feeling started to creep over us. As we live in a hilly area where roads are left untreated, we weren’t sure what to expect. But it would not be good.

As we got closer to home, the number of abandoned vehicles began to grow; simply ditched by the owners as driving had become impossible. Nearer still to home and there were hundreds of cars abandoned all over the place, obviously unable to continue their journeys for one reason or another. This made navigation and transit somewhat difficult/dangerous as we threaded our way between them; Lyn doing well to keep the car under control as it slid and squirmed underneath us. It didn’t bode well as we live up a very steep hill that overlooks the open Welsh hills and fields…

Turning into our street our fears were realised. The pavement could not be seen due to snow and vehicles that had been abandoned and left toe-to-tail. The road surface was icy and untreated and covered in snow… and we had an uphill journey all the way to the house. No chance. We made it about half way up the road, not even getting to the steepest part of the hill. Malc didn’t even make it that far and reversed all the way back down the hill. Due to the abandoned vehicles, Lyn and I were stuck and needed to turn the car around. The road was packed snow and ice and the wide wheels on the car are not designed for this sort of weather… We managed, with the help of a passerby, to get the car reversed into the opening of a little side street and Lyn reversed as far as she could go – which wasn’t far. I got out the car and Lyn gave it some gas to spin the front wheels; as this happened I simply pushed the front of the car around pretty much on the spot thanks to the ice and snow. At least we were now facing back down the hill and so we began our slow descent. So close to home but yet so far… Even getting to our house on foot would have been difficult so we were left with no other choice than to return to Ann and Malc’s.

To cut a long story short, the conditions are so bad we are unable to return home at present. Thankfully Lyn and Malc are kindly hosting us and our cats until we can get home. As things stand it is likely going to be a few days before we are able to do so. Bummer. I hope everything is ok at the house – I’ve forgotten what it looks like.

Here are some snowy photos from the local area (credit to the photographers – whoever they are – as these are not mine!)