This week had been the most depressing week of January. Post-Christmas debt, bad weather and failing New Year's resolutions were all factors in making this particular week in January, the worst in the calendar. There was also cabin fever, a phenomenon that took place during the dark winter months where most people tended to spend 15 hours a day indoors and, therefore, putting a strain on relationships. The lack of sunlight and exercise and being cooped up in a stuffy, centrally heated house made them lethargic, depressed, irritable and stressed. Thankfully for us, whatever the weather, we were out there enjoying the seasons.
The country remained in the grip of the big freeze with continuing snowfall and plunging temperatures prompting forecasters to issue severe snow and ice warnings across the country. Scotland and Northern England bore the brunt of the severe conditions. Overnight temperatures fell to –9C in the Cairngorms and –5C in Dundee and continuing snow kept a number of roads and schools closed. Snow also drifted from the North Sea into north eastern England, Wales and into the Midlands. Unfortunately. it forgot to fall in Coventry and all we’d were very cold, clear days with very low temperatures. We felt as if we were stuck in a refrigerator because of this prolonged cold spell with a cold Polar/Arctic influence
It wasn’t an ideal weather for the winter graduation ceremonies, either. The weather was very different from day to day. We’d 3 different weather patterns for the three days. Those graduated on the first day experienced a very dark, dank, miserable day but the sunshine came out on the second day. It was glorious and very spring-like. On the third day, the heavens opened and only the brave souls posed outside the Butterworth Hall where the graduation was held. But what ever the weather, CONGRATULATIONS to those who graduated and may you achieve the things you hoped for.
The last 2 weeks took a toll on me, too because I’d to take the bus home. Usually, I only take the bus to work in the mornings and in the evenings, Babe fetched me from work. Unfortunately, our car was misbehaving itself and needed some extensive (and expensive) repairs. Babe took it to the garage that we have been going since we moved here. During the first week, Babe too was stuck in the casa. We held our breaths and waited (im)patiently for the phone to ring. We’d already planned the weekend to be at home and just walked to the local nature reserve. And then the phone rang and we were told that we could pick our car. Hooray.
We’d to walk to the garage which was about a mile away through a road that I’d never walked before. Thankfully, it was a lovely day and I stopped at every building that caught my eyes which annoyed Babe because he wanted to get to the garage ASAP. We were assured that the car was working properly and left the garage with a very light wallet :-(. Unfortunately, on the way home, the car didn’t feel right. It wasn’t running properly and Babe was furious. We were quite worried driving home too as the roads were chocker-blocked with traffic because of a major rugby match at the Ricoh Arena. As soon as we reached our casa, Babe was so exhausted that we decided to just stay at home.
In the meantime, CC called me to accompany her to see a garage that she was planning to rent at the back of my street. We walked to the place and waited for the owner to arrive. He texted saying that he was late because he was stuck in the traffic. It seemed that all roads into the Ricoh was at a standstill. The London Wasps was playing against Leinster Rugby in the European Rugby Champions Cup. We could hear the thunderous groans, roars and applauses from where we were standing. In the end the Irish province, the three-time European champions and reigning Pro12 title holders, settled for a draw that left them top of the group and safely in the quarter-finals. Wasps had wait to see if they had done enough to qualify as one of the three best-performing runners-up.
The last week of January was also Burns Night which was annually celebrated in Scotland on or around January 25. It commemorated the life of the bard (poet) Robert Burns, who was born on January 25, 1759. The day also celebrated Burns' contribution to Scottish culture. He wrote many poems, lyrics and other pieces that addressed political and civil issues. Perhaps his best known work was "Auld Lang Syne", which was sung at New Year's Eve celebrations. He was also known as: "Rabbie Burns"; the "Bard of Ayrshire"; "Scotland's favourite son"; and in Scotland "The Bard".
I was looking forward to a Burns supper of tatties (potatoes), neeps (swedes) and vegetarian haggis but without a car we couldn’t nip over to the supermarket to get them. Instead, we’d to settle for burgers, chips and baked beans. We could feel the The Bard probably turning in his grave at this. Earlier during the day, it was Market day at the Piazza, the first for 2015. Lots of stalls had been set up and queues were snaking all over the place. I checked all of them and decided to queue for this stall selling Malaysian street food. Whoop…whoop. In front of me were a group of Malaysian Chinese students who were waiting patiently. It was lovely to hear them speak in Chinmanglish which was a combination of Chinese, English and Malay, the three main languages in Malaysia. I bet they were missing food from home because they nearly emptied the pan.
What we all queuing for was fried kway-teow, a very popular hawker dish made from flat rice noodles in a spicy sauce with bean sprouts and chicken or seafood. To me, they were the ultimate comfort food, reminding me of home and my dear parents, half a world away. At first, I wanted seafood but when I enquired from the chef, the chicken was halal so I chose that. I didn’t mind the long wait because the meal was worth it and it had the authentic taste. Nom…nom will definitely have it again. This can be easily made at home and I’d done it several times before but it was nice to have someone do it for you.
Fried kway-teow
Heat oil in a large wok. Once heated, add the garlic for 5-10 seconds, then add the chilli paste, chicken and prawns. Fry for a further 3 minutes Add the pre cooked noodles, veg and eggs and stir-fry for a further 2 minutes. Add the bean sprouts, soy and dark soya sauce to taste and combine all the ingredients again before serving. Add chopped red chilli for extra heat if required.
For the past few months, we’d been promised the white stuff for Coventry but it never came.I gave up checking the weather forecasts. But, I was on my way back to work after having lunch with SA, a former colleague, when wisps of snow drifts began to fall. The occasional flurries gradually lengthened to a more persistent snowfall. Oh my … I just couldn’t stop grinning. Unfortunately, I’d to get back into the office but couldn’t help watching out of the window. Mother Nature was throwing down her blanket, just in time for an Arctic blast moving through the area. The snow was settling and magically transformed the landscape into a winter wonderland. Finally, snowmageddon and we were on par with the rest of the country. It snowed lightly overnight too, and everything looked so pretty covered in a light dusting of winter’s finest.
"Timeless thoughts of a winter’s stare;
eyes gazing over a landscape bare.
Memories drift on a blustery breeze;
dying light ushers in the freeze.
Reaching out for a grasp on the present;
stillness sets in, alone, and desolate.
Future unknown, outcome uncertain;
brilliance shadowed by a drawn curtain.
Path now set, laid before me known;
closing light now emanating from home.
Enter my homestead, heart filled with glee;
two eyes of the future peering upward at me.
Trusting in him to forge forward until fulfilled;
Basis of strength, values I have instilled.
A wary mind at last permitted to rest;
reflecting on the realization of how I am blessed
~Michael A. Barron, Winter’s Epiphany~
I took leave on the last Friday of the month to say goodbye to Pluriel. After nearly 5 years, we were trading it for another Citroen C1 which we named Blue because, well, it was blue. I would have wanted to keep Pluriel for much longer as it was a fun car especially driving in summer with the roof down. And also I wanted our money’s worth since we spent nearly £4K on a new roof. But, it was turning into a bottomless money pit. We’d quite a good trade in price and bought an environmentally friendly car which hopefully will last a very long time. It was a smaller car but then, there was only 2 of us. We couldn’t wait to give it a long run.
Our destination was Draycote Waters and we’d been here twice.The first time was when we took the car for a long drive on the motorway and the route to Draycote was the closest. So far so good. As soon as we manoeuvred into the parking bay, a kind soul who was leaving gave us his day ticket. Thank you so much and it saved us £2.50. The park was freezing as usual and very windy, a good weather for these sportsmen on the water. They were very dedicated to their sport and kudos to them. We had always enjoyed photographing them especially when they mishandled their boats :-).
We walked along Farborough bank and scanned the reservoir. The water was quite high. We saw the usual Great Crested Grebes, Little Grebes, Mallards, Coots, Tufted ducks and Gulls bobbing about on the waves. Pied wagtails were indulging in aerial fly-catching, quickly darting after insects and flitting among the rocks. Below the bank, we spotted a flock of Greylags feeding on the field. There were reported sightings of Pink-footed and White-fronted geese grazing with them but we didn’t see any. Back on the water, we spotted a few pairs of Golden Eyes splashing about and diving for food.
We continued towards the hide when we saw a Kestrel hovering in front of us, with its pointed wings and long tail. It was amazing to watch this raptor with its head totally still even in the strong winds, allowing it to pinpoint and catch its prey by sight alone. It was in this position for a few minutes by rapidly beating its wing while facing the headwind and matching the airspeed precisely. This distinctive hunting had earned the kestrel the name of Windhover. No other hawk had so perfected the art of stationary flight. I am pleased to have seen these birds regularly because the numbers had declined from the effects of pesticides and agricultural intensification. 
I caught this morning morning's minion, king-
dom of daylight's dauphin, dapple-dawn-drawn Falcon, in his riding
Of the rolling level underneath him steady air, and striding
High there, how he rung upon the rein of a wimpling wing
In his ecstasy! then off, off forth on swing,
As a skate's heel sweeps smooth on a bow-bend: the hurl and gliding
Rebuffed the big wind. My heart in hiding
Stirred for a bird, – the achieve of, the mastery of the thing.
The Windhover by Gerald Manley Hopkins (1844-1889)
At the hide, we’d a drink and some crisps while waiting for something to happen. The Alpacas were out and about on the hills. A Wren and a Dunnock was flirting around the bushes. Robins, Chaffinches, Blue and Great tits were taking turns to feed on the bird-feeder. We saw a flock of Long-tailed tits flying across but they were too fast to photograph. We saw a Heron fishing unsuccessfully by the lagoon. There were hundreds of Great Crested Grebes and Tufted ducks at this corner of the reservoir. We hoped the albino squirrel would turn up although we assumed it was dead by now because no one had reported any sightings, which was a shame. Then a Kingfisher appeared briefly near the heron which kept a few people in the hide very excited.
After about an hour, we decided to head back to the car. A large flock of Canada Geese and soon after that, Greylags, flew in and landed on the waters between Grays Barn and Lin Croft Point. It was too far for us to walk there. The geese were really honking away, greeting each other after a long day grazing in the field. We scanned the reservoir and spotted the long staying drake Smew looking very pristine, with its dazzling snow white plumage. Smallest of the sawbill ducks, it was a compact diving duck with a delicate bill. It was a winter visitor, escaping from the freezing weather in the continent.
It was a very dreich day, the second time we were here. The place was very windswept and freezing cold with 3 intrepid souls windsurfing, a surface water sport that combined elements of surfing and sailing. We watched them racing each other from a sheltered area on boards powered by wind on a sail. Imagine the skills needed to tilt the rig and carving the board to perform a planing jive or downwind turn. It was amazing to watch but unfortunately we’d to keep on moving or we might turn into a big blob of ice. We walked down to Hensborough bank towards the Overflow and spotted a few Little Grebes bobbing around in the strong waves. We decided to turn back and head home because the weather was turning worse with whistling Arctic winds, glowering skies and freezing horizontal rain.
We feel cold, but we don’t mind it, because we will not come to harm. And if we wrapped up against the cold, we couldn’t feel other things, like the bright tingle of the stars, or the music of the Aurora, or best of all the silky moonlight on our skin. It’s worth being cold for that.
~Phillip Pullman, ‘Northern Lights’~
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