Snow Yeti Again

Well, this is going to sound a bit like a broken record, but we have had snow again this week. But first, let me tell you about our little trip last weekend to Rennes le Chateau.

We decided, after reading about the snow forecast, to make the most of the fine weather on Sunday and go to the market at Esperaza. Sun bright and people chirpy and market a little quiet but still nice. On the way home we took a detour and went to have a quick look around Rennes le Chateau.

Tour de Magdalene

Penitence

Chapel of Mary Magdalene

Those of you who have read Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown) and Sepulchre (Kate Mosse) will know the story of Berenger Sauniere, who was a local priest accused of receiving funds inappropriately and even of spying for the Germans during WWI. His grave is in the churchyard of the Chapel of Mary Magadalene. This small chapel is beautifully decorated.

There are some nice windy streets and interesting buildings in the village, as well as stunning views over the Razes from nearby the Tower - the Tour de Magadalene. Inside the tourist office you can find a huge glass-covered excavation hole, which was dynamite blasted in the '60s to try and find "buried treasure", which of course was never found and probably never existed. But it did start fresh rumours about the priest, followed by a series of books and theories, some mentioned above. You can also visit the museum.

Feathered clouds on Sunday

Later in the day we had some lovely feather clouds which to us signify an oncoming storm. It was unbelievable as the weather was just warming up nicely and the day was so bright. But Monday morning was a completely different story. A large blanket of snow was everywhere we could see. The snowflakes started off wet and large and soon became thick on the ground. The temperature continued to drop and by the end of the day everything was quiet when we took Cassy for a walk down to the reserve. Wearing our good old NZ gumboots otherwise the snow would have gotten into our shoes!

Monday

Tuesday morning

Looking towards the back fence
Icicles on shed up to a meter long

After 4 days there is snow still sitting on the ground and in some trees. We have had watery sun occasionally during the week but not enough to get rid of all the snow. The icicles are beginning to thaw and crash to the ground. Now we feel we have seen enough winter and just want it to be spring! Poor birds are having a tough time finding enough to eat so we are putting out "fat balls" for them to nibble. It's quite lovely to see them all queueing up and then some underneath feeding on the bits that drop.

Robin in the snow

A couple of weeks ago we completed our new fence around the garden we planned to upgrade this winter. Before we could start we had to remove the privet hedge - one reason for getting rid of this hedge is that it looked rather straggly and another reason is that I am allergic to the flower pollen. We got a couple of the smaller ones out no trouble, but the others called for the more drastic action of pulley and block - I think Wouter likes to use these machines - like making cement is the grown man's answer to the sandpit.

Front garden with privet hedge

Wouter working wonders with the pulley

Wouter Kabouter......

I always hoped to find a kabouter (gnome) in the garden!

The posts are from acacia and were given to us by our vineyard neighbours. They just wanted to get rid of them and we said we would take them. Simple and great for us! We did buy a few small plants to pretty up the entrance (hopefully they survive the snow) and at some stage we will get something hanging on the rails by the gate. The other side of the fence will be covered with clematis once they grow. The centre part of this garden will also be changed, but we are not entirely sure how we will do this part.

Posts woven with Virginia creeper and pruned branches

By next Tuesday our temperatures will be into double figures again, so we are told, and then it will be a race against the clock to do all the chores that need to be done before planting, before trees sprout again, before fruit sets, and before weeds get too big to handle! After that's all done the snow will be long gone and we'll be looking at the next chores of building our outdoor guest barbecue making a cover for the well-pump.

Cold as Ice

While you Kiwis and Australians have been sweltering in the heat (especially Auckland, with a heatwave of at least 20 degrees...) you might be pleased to know that we have been shivering in our shoes, literally. We do feel sorry for the Melbournites who are currently struggling with temperatures into the 40s and are having to deal with bush fires and destruction of property.

Last week on Thursday the snow started coming in and is still here. The last few nights have been bitterly cold at -8 or -10, with last night being our coldest since we arrived here, at -12 celcius. The sharp air cuts through your lungs and seems to bite hard. The ice wave of UK finally made its way down to south of France and caught us up in its grip.

street in the village

chemin du relais towards reservealong the Southe oaks retain their colour in the reserve

We have both been knocked out with the flu or a cold or something in between - lots of sniffling and not being able to breathe properly, hacking coughs, headaches and just feeling lousy. But, Wouter is a few days ahead of me and is well on the way to recovery. I am feeling much better too, so it's all good.

During the snowy weather we also got some sun, so Wouter took the opportunity to go out and take some photos. You can't tell from some pictures, but the snow was around a meter deep in places. According to Wouter he had to shake out his boots several times. As the snow starts to melt, icicles are formed and today we saw some which were at least a meter long. If snow has been compressed on the ground, walking can be dangerous if the compressed snow has turned icy so it's best to walk in softer snow.

view from the front window

snow drift on east of property

hope the broad beans make it through....

I think this looks like woolly mammoths climbing our hedge (we just saw Ice Age...)
and the tobacco plants look rather glum under the snow

Cassy has enjoyed the one walk I've made with him in four days (due to flu) - there were so many new smells to sniff out - he was almost in heaven. Although he later showed his true labrador traits when I felt sorry for some birds who could not find food, so made a melange of rolled oats, pumpkin seeds and breadcrumbs and bacon fat. Cassy made sure the birds didn't get a taste for this new cuisine as he found every single crumb. But he paid the price by having sore gums later on - having spent a lot of time with his snout in the icy snow.

The forecast for tomorrow is for up to +12 degrees so no doubt it will feel absolutely tropical!

Bonne Annee

When we first arrived in the area we asked around what the weather is like in winter - do we get snow? - and we were told that yes, we do get snow here but usually only once and it might last a day but it's a while since it fell in Cambieure..... So this is our third fall of snow since we arrived and this time it has stayed overnight.

last night

It started yesterday with an icy blast from the north - even in Marseille they have snow and by comparison we have a small dose. It was windy and felt like there were ice needles in the wind and the high for the day was -2.

The 'quelques flocons' forecast did arrive but as they were much smaller than the fall on Boxing Day so we decided to call them "floquettes". Now I understand why Innuits have about 37 different words for snow. The current fall started off as sticky snow, but today it seems it's powdery - can't easily make a snowball - but it does stick to your shoes when walking about.

early this morning

Since 1st January we have been checking our weather, temperatures and rainfall, having set up our own little weather station just like we did in NZ. With great interest as the temperature spread in Auckland, at least, is 25 to 30 degrees at the outside - if you consider the lowest temperatures we had there hovered around zero and the highs were late 20's. Here we've had very high 30's and even over 40 one day close by in Brezilhac. This morning Wouter checked the thermometer and it read -10. Although after yesterday's icy wind it doesn't feel that cold today.

By 1pm the temperature has reached zero degrees. I guess you could compare our winter weather to that of Alexandra or Lumsden.

Here are two links to BBC stories regarding the big freeze:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7817124.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7815773.stm

While our friends, family and colleagues are sweltering in the unusual heatwave hitting Auckland we are having cold snow.

It's interesting to note who and what moves around in the snow - easy to tell when it remains overnight by they tracks left behind. For example, we have birds, rabbits, dogs, cats and people.

birds

cat (Moulette?)

Cassy

rabbit

icicles on loquat

sparkles in the snow

Anyway,not complaining, as we look on this as all part of our experience. Cheers and Happy New Year, Bonne Annee, Gelukkig Nieuw Jaar, Blwyddyn Newydd Dda.

Snow Falling on Cypruses

This morning we were feeling lazy so had a lie in, especially after all our heavy work polishing off a bottle of mulled wine yesterday and eating like kings and queens. Wouter let Cassy out about 7.30am and said it was gloomy outside - that after a week of brilliant weather - we thought, never mind, it's cosy here and we have heaps of inside work to do. When I got out of bed I said, "I see snow falling". Wouter leapt out of bed and after a quick breakfast we took Cassy for a walk straight away to check out the snow.

It's funny because we both found/find it really interesting and funny that we've both experienced snow before, in different circumstances, and realise that for a European living in NZ or Australia this is one thing which can be missed at Christmas time - snow in winter. It's now a strange feeling to come back to this after years of humid weather in December and hot Christmas days.

The weather forecast was right - Aude district was the only one predicted to get snow today and we are getting it all right as the pictures show!
Xmas day

Boxing Day
Xmas day
Boxing Day
The weather system has picked up a stream of cold air from Siberia.

The temperature doesn't feel any colder than it has done all week. There is an eerie sense that everything happens in slow motion as you can see the flakes falling from the sky - but because they fall more slowly than rain it feels different. Also there is less noise as the snow seems to dampen any outside noises (although I think we are just about the only ones to go out as the French know better and stay indoors!)
Xmas day
Boxing Day
Wouter called this pic "little red riding hood and the big bad wolf":
I said to Wouter that the snow tastes salty - so as we were walking back home Wouter was walking along with his mouth open and sticking out his tongue to try and catch a snowflake to taste how salty it is - I had to laugh as anyone looking out of their window would see us and wonder what on earth we are doing.... In fact, he reminded me of the guy from KISS (Gene Simmonds?) who would stick out his tongue and wiggle it around.
Xmas day
Boxing Day
Xmas day
Boxing Day
For Cassy this was yet another new experience which he took in his stride. After a little while we think he was really enjoying himself - except when Wouter threw a fake ball (snowball) and it disappeared into thin air. A few tries and he threw a more substantial "ball" which Cassy caught only to spit out in disgust!

We compared ourselves to young children who have never seen rain before and run outside to get wet.... We are lucky to have experienced this. As I type it's still snowing, but melting at a faster rate than it is snowing, so by tonight it will be gone. But to finish, some more snowy pics to complete the festive season: