In this part of Leicestershire the snow that fell on Boxing Day was merely a centimetre or two deep, not enough to hide the brown stubble or long grasses in the fields. Nevertheless dog walks across the frozen fields are distinctly wintery affairs, particularly when looking across to the slopes of Croft Hill, where the short rabbit-cropped turf has a covering of snow, the white Hill rising above the contrasting browny-greens of the surrounding landscape. Even on the Hill there is not enough snow for sledging. Deeper snow attracts folk of all ages from miles around to sledge down the Hill, with its gentle family-friendly slopes on one side, and steeper more adventurous descents attracting more daring (or foolish?) tobogganing down the other. @shepherdmanswife and I, together with Tia, have just returned from our annual walk to the top of Croft Hill to see in the New Year – this year there was about 20 other people who had the same idea, counting down to midnight wishing each other Happy New Year, and singing that traditional anthem “Should auld acquaintance be forgot, dum-dum-de-dum-dum-dum”…. No-ever seems to know all of the word. There was a chilly wind at the top as we watched fireworks exploding around the horizon. It was a nice atmosphere, although @shepherdmanswife found the wind a bit too cold, and so we soon headed back to the fireside for a warming sloe gin.
Happy New Year from both of us to all of our friends in the 365 community.
Greetings from Canada, although it is a cold start to the new year and having monitored your trip to the Rockies and all those beautiful photos that both you and Chantal were able to capture, I know you can appreciate the snow, ice and cold Canada has to offer. We do love being out there in the winter months and the tremendous variety it has to offer compared to the other three seasons. It is nice to hear that you have transferred your mountain climbing from the west coast to Croft Hill back home, sounds like a great tradition one worth a slight chill.
Wishing you both a very happy and productive new year!
Well, that's more snow than we on the west coast of Canada have right now - but it is really cold! Love the light leak at the top of the hill! This hill appears to be a challenging height . . .
Wishing you both a very happy and productive new year!