Icy Cold

 

As no snow plough appeared in my immediate neighbourhood on New Year's Day, the wet snow we had then just froze; and since then the temperature has just kept falling (to around -10C / 14F), which again leaves us with very icy and dangerously slippery streets. 

Today was the first day of 2024 that I ventured out a bit further than to the rubbish bins - which are just to the right of where I stood to take this photo. (My entrance is behind the bush in the background.) So you can see even walking that far is a bit of an adventure these days. Today I went as far as to the recycling bins. Normally an errand that takes me about 15 min - but today half an hour, because of having to walk extremely slowly.

Very weird weather today: Sun shining from an almost clear blue sky - but at the same time light snowfall. Or more like it was whirling around horisontally (even though the stormy winds from yesterday had subsided a lot). 

It's been worse in other parts of Sweden though: Proper snowstorm chaos in the south (with road accidents, and queues standing still etc), and far up in the north temperatures down to -43°C (-45°F). Here ("in between") we had the wind blowing, but very little snow falling. 

Hearing about the extreme cold up in the north on the radio this morning made me recall one New Year way back in my youth (1978/79), when I actually did experience temperatures nearly as cold as that (around -40°C = -40°F).* 

I was living in Karlstad back then, and the youth gospel choir in the church I belonged to was invited to a small town or village further up north in the province of Värmland. I think we sang at some kind of youth club on New Year's Eve, and then also in a church service on New Year's Day.

We had trouble with the cars getting all icy and not wanting to start (photo evidence above); and spending the night in sleeping bags on air mattrasses on the floor of a school classroom wasn't really cosy either... I remember I caught a cold and a fever (well, it's one way to keep warm!) and I suppose I must have ended up having to stay home from work for a while afterwards. While we were up there I don't think we were actually told exactly how cold it was - I seem to recall only learning about that after we were back home again. Anyway I sincerely hope it's a record I'll never have to break again in my personal experience.

* PS. I just did a bit of googling to check, and yes, it really was that cold in northern Värmland that New Year. 

It’s Cold Out There

Yesterday was my 7th ‘Blogoversary’, can you believe it?!

It was on 5th January 2009 that I created my first blog, entitled The Island of the Voices – without knowing if anyone but myself would ever find it. But some people did find it – and, even more amazingly,  some of you are still with me! … also having followed when I widened my horizon further and sailed on to Beyond the Lone Islands (from 2011).

Whenever you came aboard, thanks for still tagging along!

After a mild autumn and no snow for Christmas, we’ve had a cold start to 2016. Around -10°C (14°F) here today… Which is “cold enough” for me, but still nothing compared to the far north of Sweden, where it’s been down to -40°C/F in some places.

Yesterday I took the bus into town for some errands; got off at the railway station (above). Nice to see sun and blue sky…

Later, waiting for the bus back home in the town centre.

Pigeons seem to have the idea that people standing still by the riverside may involve food…

 

Today: Dressed for a minor polar expedition.

Some of the views (and water reflections) down by the river have changed since my early blogging days. Old factory buildings have been torn down, new highrise apartment buildings have gone up.

Depending on how one manages to frame the images, it is still possible in some spots to get the view to look much the same as before though. Mind you, with furry mittens on, it’s not all easy to handle the zoom and settings...

The camera gave up before I did today, claiming “weak battery”… I think it really just found it too cold, though, because the battery charged very quickly when I got back home!

Linking to Through My Lens and Weekend Reflections

Feverish Wednesday

“An illness is like a journey into a far country; it sifts all one's experience and removes it to a point so remote that it appears like a vision.”
~ Sholem Asch ~

Can’t recall the last time I had a cold of this magnitude. Feverish all day. Trying to keep myself upright as much as possible though because it’s better for my breathing. Been watching TV, not really caring what’s on. When I find myself watching The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills I know I’m not quite my usual self…

Feathers and Eggs

In Sweden (and some other European countries) we have a tradition at Easter to take in branches of birch and decorate them with colourful feathers and eggs.

▲ From outside a day care centre last spring.

In more recent years, it has also become a tradition in our town to have a big Easter Tree in the town square. Last year I managed to get some colourful photos of it against an incredibly clear blue sky: ▼

This year I wasn’t in town to see the tree until Easter Monday, which was such a grey, dull, wet and chilly day (and with no shops and hardly any restaurants open) that even a decorated tree could not do much to liven things up: ▼

▲ Straight from my mobile ▼

My aunt and uncle putting on a smile for me in the rain outside just about the only restaurant in town open for lunch on Easter Monday.

▲ Going for a short walk around my neighbourhood on Easter Sunday, I saw this tree in a garden. I think that’s the first time I’ve seen a private tree of that size decorated for Easter.

We are soooo longing for Nature to bring on some colour of its own! Doesn’t look like that is going to happen during the next week though…

In the meantime, the cold I began to suspect yesterday, has gone on to a stage way beyond mere suspicion. (I can only hope I didn’t pass it on to my aunt and uncle!)

To try and look on the bright side: When my brother was here on Saturday he helped me get a lot of supplies home from the supermarket. I also have the basic medicines etc. So no need to go out for a few days, if staying in should feel like the best thing to do. Not that the time ever feels “right” for a sore throat, running nose and a bad cough… But it could be worse.

C for Cars under Cover (ABC Wednesday)

We’ve been having COLD weather here lately!

For ABC Wednesday - C