Two feet under

Britain had been gasping for breath under ice and snow for a couple of weeks before Magura had any - although we'd had a dusting or two in October. Then on 5th December, two feet fell during the day, and I woke on the Sunday to a silent white world.

Hobbs was intrigued but unimpressed as she sank up to her uxters on the front steps. She braved it out, exploring and examining the white stuff until she worked it out.

The snow had taken me by surprise with the car down by the house - by the time I realised it was going to settle, it was too late to get the car up the hill, and it was ten days before I could get out. I was beginning to panic about the lack of green veg and fresh stuff, but I had a ton of dried stores and a ready supply of raw milk from the Banus' cow, plenty of logs for the stoves, and a spare gas bottle for the stove. In other words, I was snug as a roach in a carpet.