A Proper Snow

In British English the word "proper" is used in a manner in which we would convey the contextual meaning of "real, full, complete, authentic." (ie "she had a proper lunch" - she had a full, normal, regular, complete lunch). Well, last night Philip and I experienced our first proper snow in England. In the 15 months we've been here (hard to believe!) it has snowed but the only time it as actually accumulated on the ground was last Easter. I missed that event as I was in sunny San Antonio visiting Philip at tech school that weekend.

Last night we went to Matt & Jana's for a superbowl bash (though since it didn't start until 11 pm and Philip & I each had to be to work early, we went for dinner and punched out at 10). We walked outside to a thick blanket of some of the best snowball snow you've ever seen. It was beautiful. Our 1 mile ride home was INCREDIBLY slick (which is a bit unnerving when the road you're driving on is wide enough for only 1.5 cars). I figured that this snow would be like every other I have experienced here - it snows but NEVER accumulates and stays on the ground.

Well, we woke up to snoflakes still pouring out of the sky and the same white blanket that covered everything when we had tucked in for the night. My drive to work wasn't bad at all but I am having the BIGGEST LAUGH about how Britons are reacting to this weather.

At the most there has maybe been 2 inches on the ground at one given time (it's been snowing steady all day but some of it is melty as it comes down). For a Minnesota girl this is NOTHING. However, apparently England has not received this much snow for YEARS. This means:

- schools were closed around noon

- the base had late reporting and then closed down at one (though Philip had to work 8 - 6 for some mission essential stuff)

- one of my coworkers actually brought pjs to work for the late shift incase she can't get home

- another coworker said she tried to book a taxi for her ride home tonight and she was told

"well, the taxi drivers have been told to drive at their own discretion, so if they want to go

home early they can - this means we can't promise you a taxi"

- several of the clinic staff trudged into work in proper (there it is again) snowboots

- my mom heard that the busses in London stopped running

- two of the three major English airports closed today

- The word "blizzard" has even been thrown around

WOW! *though, when people aren't used to snow they are rubbish at driving in it which can be dangerous so I can understand people taking precautions -- All of this being said I am a bit nervous that I'm going to have a reeeally icy drive to work tomorrow*

Considering that the majority of my blog readers have at one point been connected with life in Minnesota or Colorado, I thought you all would be just as amused as me.