Snow Day! ... (and a break in)

This week was forecast to be pretty bloody cold for the The Netherlands... so cold that it would likely snow this weekend and then through the week as well. It's rare enough for the Netherlands to see snow, and when it does fall here in The Hague, it is generally pretty thin and gone within a day.

However, this week, we are seeing temperatures of about -4 degrees Celsius (about -247546592 plus or minus 4245869835498743 if you are an Imperalist, or about 10 freezers if you are American) over these next couple of days. Sustained for a few days as well! With the windiness and air humitidy that is normal here, we are seeing about -12 degrees Celsius for the "feeling" temperature.

Last night saw a nice fall of snow, enough to sink more than ankle deep in when you walk through it.

So, it was no surprise when this morning, we were woken up by the two girls who were ready to get out into the whiteness and get drenched and freezing. As Australians, we don't really have a lot in the way of snow gear... I've never skied in my life or any winter stuff like that... so, most of our gear is either donated hand-me-downs from locals or improvised gear. There's actually quite a bit of the mismatched hand-me-downs for the kids... but for the parents, not quite so much!

Thankfully, we can see the kids out there from the upper levels of the house... when we retreat to the warmth of the house!

I have to say that there is something unusually beautiful about the undisturbed snow, the feeling that you are the first person for the day to come out and stomp all over it! Something interesting about this area, a few nights ago, we saw a number of police with torches searching the common grassed area. It was a bit weird, but in the end we had a sticky beak and then went back to watching our family movie for the evening (The Muppets 2, it's better than I remember it was...).

Anyway, later this morning, I was speaking to one of the neighbours whose house borders this common area... the police were also looking around the alley behind his property as well. Anyway, it turns out that that evening, a house was broken into and burgled. Sigh... I hate it when these things happen... it's quite disconcerting, but thankfully, it was only the single house. Not sure if there was much taken or if they were disturbed.

It turns out that the burglars had dumped some stuff in the garden beds around the grassed common area, and the police were recovering the bit and pieces. It was odd that the burglars would try break-ins during a lockdown period... and we have a curfew as well! However, they struck around 1930 in the evening, and so it was just before the curfew, but dark enough to be under cover... but still, strange to try their luck when most people are being forced to be at home due to the coronavirus restrictions!

Funnily enough, the primary schools start up in person again this week, starting tomorrow (Monday). In The Netherlands, most people live near their school... generally down the road or within a close bike ride. However, we are a bit strange and live about 25 minutes car ride away from our school... and our car is a little one... with no winter tyres on either! So, it could be a bit hairy trying to get the kids to school tomorrow!

Most of the larger roads will be swept and clean... but the little ones generally aren't. Plus, we will be picking up a good deal of snow on the road into the grooves of the tyres, making for a slippery drive! I'm definitely not taking the electric bakfiets either! That would be even worse!

I do wonder how the garden is going to fare after all of this... we didn't make any special preparations for the snow. Probably should have mulched around the bigger plants, but it is far too late now! Probably should have done that before winter began!

Heading out the shelter in the common green area, which is sheltered by the surrounding houses.... we reach the little water area. I was quite surprised that the water hadn't iced over yet. It was definitely cold enough! Anyway, this was where you could feel the full force of the wind, with the snow blowing around in flurries... Definitely cold cold cold! I only went around this way to get my rainboots from the garage... My normal shoes were getting soaked through!

I'm going to let the kids play outside for a bit longer... but I've had it! I'm freezing and ready to go indoors for a nice coffee and chocolate!

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