Yikes it's cold!

We've just been through one of the coldest periods I can remember over the last 25 years (or more!). It's been below freezing for almost two weeks until today and although it meant we had some very bright sunny days, it was a welcome change to finally see temperatures approaching double digits at last. I guess it shows how we're just not used to these low temperatures, but it really has been the main topic of conversation almost everywhere you go, and has prompted quite a few unexpected things to happen and others that have had to be dealt with.

At work we had freezing underground pipes that caused buildings to be closed, and at home we needed to heat places we normally don't worry about. I was even getting worried that the wine in the garage might get too cold and start to crystallize! In fact the heating has needed to be on constantly since Christmas which is really unusual here.

Anyway, at last the poor old fish in the pond can finally relax from the fear of being frozen alive and the ice on the pond became thicker and thicker as the days went by. Right now the ice has all gone and the fish are happily swimming all round the pond.