The Beast from the East - Surviving weather in the UK

This article is for all you people out there who come from sunny countries! Who want to experience the UK. Just a heads-up about the weather…

As you know, I come from South Africa. We have amazing weather down there. It’s almost always sunny. We get rain when we need it. The winter has its cold days, but when it’s cold, it really is cold there. We don’t really have central heating, because we don’t need it. Keep this in mind.

Then you get the UK >>> I got here in the middle of winter. It rains almost all of the time, if it doesn’t rain there is no sun. It’s all grey!!! The wind feels like ice on my face. And hey there, speaking of ice…have you heard of the latest snow storm hitting the UK? -> The Beast from the East <- that’s what they called it. Trust me, it was something to remember.

Here are some of my personal experiences with the !Beast from the East! snow storm. It lasted 3days here in Chafford Hundred. At first it was lovely. It was romantic. And it was fun. My friends and I were both in Costa for a mid-week cup of warm coffee. It has these big floor-to-ceiling windows looking out on passers-by and the best lighting a coffee shop could hope for. We were sitting in a corner of the shop drinking our coffee, listening to some jazz music which I’ve put on my phone. And while holding my cup of warm coffee, watched the snow fall lazily for an hour. We chatted and laughed for another half an hour. And then we had to get on with our day. But this is one of best memories I will cherish for the rest of my life. My first acquaintance with the snow.

After Costa, we went to buy a sledge. It was sold out!!! About all of the shops were sold out on sledges. Every parent wanted it for their children. So did we! Luckily, we found a forgotten shop on the last minute and were able to snatch up one quickly before anyone else could. Points for us!!! Ok, now keep in mind that I have never stepped on snow before this…and didn’t know that when it melted on the pavements –where we are supposed to walk- turned into VERY slippery ice. Long story short, I fell. In front of a few passers-by. Some laughed with me, at me and some were just concerned. It felt awkward. But I saw the situation as just another story to tell people. Like I am doing now!!! I stood up, dusted off the few snowflakes on my denim and continued to school. Laughing along the way.

Yes, it was STILL snowing, after three days. The schools closed up for that time. Only children who were walking distance from school went. And not even all of them. Why go to school when you have permission to stay at home??? But my little cousins are very exemplary, so they went anyways. That didn’t stop us from using the sledge!!! When we picked them up after school, we went to the hill. We each made turns sliding down…dragging it up again…sliding down…dragging up…sliding down… It was loads of fun!!! We even made snow angels and threw each other with snow balls.

Ok, now head my warning! It’s cold. So very cold! I didn’t even want to play outside the first time I stuck my nose out that door. Being inside and watching the snow, was way more comfy and cozy. But what is the point? I am probably never going to see or experience snow again. So I made myself go out there and try and enjoy it with the kids. Luckily I did. What I also gained in the process, was frozen fingers, cold feet and a stiff butt. So it has its consequences. But I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.

So that is the fun part of snowy weather.

The part that’s a bit more gross, is when the snow starts to melt. Everything becomes wet and muddy. The grass that you threw snowballs from and made snow angels, are now SUPER wet and muddy. The roads are a muddy slush as cars go over the snow over and over. So just so you know it’s not all sunshine and roses.

Bottom line here, the weather is very unpredictable during the winter. The sun will be shining one morning and you would take off with a light jersey to quickly go to Tesco or something, but when you get out…no more sun. You don’t know what you’re going to get. One moment you slip on mud. The next you slip on ice. True story.