Snow (1226 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 1.91 on 37 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Mike the Scottish (View user info) at 2005-01-17 11:42:18 EST
Living at the bottom of a hill could be a real pain sometimes. It sapped your enthusiasm for learning somewhat when you had to toil up a steep incline just to get to school every day- it even made finding a level surface for learning to ride a bike extremely difficult. But for a kid, such things were trivial. We loved the hill with all the passion we could muster. It wasn't just the wee playpark halfway up the hill, where many a summer was spent shooting imaginary Germans from tree-root bunkers. It wasn't the fact that our house backed onto the school football pitch, and a quick hop over the compost heap would guarantee you a kick-about after school. It wasn't even the 'Children please drive slowly' sign, which, in its grammatical faux pas, was a source of endless humour. Better than everything was the fact that, when it snowed (as it often did in North-East Scotland), the hill became a sledder's paradise. Big piles of snow at the bottom of the hill, black ice halfway round the curve... there's nothing as exhilarating as careering down a hill, hitting the front of my plastic orange sled on a snow mound and flying into the soft, cold comfort of the neighbours' flowerbed.
In Scotland, snow was never my enemy. In the car journey to swim practice, I'd watch the snow tunnelling through the blackness, blizzards swarming, Del Amitri on the car stereo. Watching the snowflakes fall onto empty farmland. In school, we'd create ice patches for the purpose of 'sliding', in between throwing snowballs at the girls. Sometimes we'd stay inside, plot elaborate snow-ambushes. Even as we grew older, snow became a symbol of comfort. We relished the hot chocolate that followed a snowball fight. Or waking up on Christmas day to a blizzard outside the bedroom window. In retrospect, it seems lifted out of a Calvin and Hobbes strip, or just ridiculously idealised, but that's how it was. Cold and uncomfortable, but a heaven to a child who held football and his Amiga as the sole reasons for getting out of bed in the morning.
I moved down to England when I was 13. It wasn't the same as Scotland- I missed, amongst other things, the smell of whisky from the local distillery, the local sweet shop and my friends. Sure, England had its advantages; Summer was less of a two-week dash and more of a two-month odyssey, the people were nice enough and our house was a lot bigger. But I never felt at home- there was never any snow. The orange sled gathered dust in the garage, waiting for the day when it'd be called into action. But the day never came. By the time we had a decent snowfall, I was a spotty, angry teenager who wouldn't be seen dead flying down a hill on a plastic sled. Nothing unusual in that, but by the time it came to University applications, I was mellower, calmer. I wanted to return to Scotland. I wanted snow again.
Fast forward to today. In the midst of a cold Glaswegian winter, we had our first snowfall- chunky, uncouth snowflakes following a spat of heavy showers. Cussing and swearing as I tried to battle the elements and get to Tescos. Muttering towards the sky for daring to soak my jeans and turn my jacket into a lead weight; the city little more than an umbrella graveyard, mocking those who would dare to defy the elements. On the slog back to my flat, I passed by a school. Saw children running, chasing each other, laughing as the snow fell- melting into rainwater, forming in puddles that drowned the playground. Eyes staring out of double-glazed windows at the flakes falling. The silence of snow-fuelled wonder: the sound of my youth. For a second I remembered the past, saw the flakes falling into mounds, gathering by the sides of roads and at the end of our old street. Exams and shopping lists removed from my mind by the gawking, doe-eyed passion of childhood.
For now, i'll watch the snow fall. Think about maybe building a snowman and wrapping his neck in my Aberdeen FC scarf. Or running through the student village, throwing snowballs at girls. I find myself staring at the last gobs of falling snowflakes as the wind dies and the skies clear. Still gazing expectantly, waiting for something to cover the mottled skies and empty streets. Waiting for the snow to fall again.
User Reviews
Submitted by indigogecko (user info) at 2005-06-20 04:41:02 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
sir, you have my vote. Nice piece of writing - and I thoroughly agree - I love snow, and we don't get nearly enough of it in England. As a kid I used to spend half my christmasses with the extended family in the states, where it always snowed.
Submitted by jack11058 (user info) at 2005-06-18 23:00:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
great post. just voted for you on UM III. good luck, hope to see you in. if this is any indication, you'd be tough competition for anyone.
Submitted by boneface (user info) at 2005-03-21 07:04:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
this was a damn fine post
Submitted by mrwolf (user info) at 2005-03-21 06:45:20 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
"snow-fuelled wonder: the sound of my youth"
I love the way you write I should have done this a long time ago.
Submitted by Soley_Trinity (user info) at 2005-01-18 06:41:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Any sign of snow and I'm outside with my tupperware ready to construct an igloo.
Submitted by Shizae (user info) at 2005-01-18 00:44:34 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by FuckTheArmy (user info) at 2005-01-17 17:47:31 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
:(
I live in a country where the coldest it ever gets in winter is frost on the grass. Once or twice in the whole year.
Okay, it does snow up in the mountains, and once it 'snowed' in Melbourne too, but I don't have the money for skiing, and I was too young to remember the misnamed sleet.
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2005-01-17 16:05:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by screamfeeder (user info) at 2005-01-17 15:51:25 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Local Scotland Weather; " ...SETTLE ON THE ROADS LATER THIS EVENING GIVING UP TO 5CM WITH DRIFTING OVER THE HIGHER ROUTES AND, 2 CM AT LOWER LEVELS..."
You gotta be kidding me?
Mike, come stay a Febuary with me and I'll show ya blizzards.
Sorry to mock your weather. I will heed the warnings.
Submitted by The_taste_of_Monkeys (user info) at 2005-01-17 15:40:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I can confirm that MTS lieth not, its fucking pelting it down up here.
Submitted by Davros (user info) at 2005-01-17 15:35:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by CookieLass (user info) at 2005-01-17 15:11:05 (#)
Ranking: 2
Dave... so the Tom Jones quotes apply to us both, do they?
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Yes.
It has just been so long since Scottish posted that he hasn't witnessed the "TJ Phenomenon".
-Dave
Submitted by mikethescottish (user info) at 2005-01-17 15:27:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
A side note- the snow did fall again, in blizzard-esque quantities.
GO SNOWBALL FIGHTS WOO!
Submitted by jgreening (user info) at 2005-01-17 15:18:21 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Damnit man...
I'm big.
Rude.
Obnoxious.
Uncouth.
Crass.
And a general curmudgen a lot of the time.
I had to get a tissue and say it was the dry air in the lobby...
Submitted by CookieLass (user info) at 2005-01-17 15:11:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by mikethescottish (user info) at 2005-01-17 12:04:24 (#)
Ranking: 0
A few years back, me and my cousins thought i'd be a good idea to strip to our boxers go pier jumping. Into the North Sea. In Winter. But i'll definately bear your idea in mind for any future snow-based shenanigans.
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That was exactly the mental image that I needed upon waking, sweetheart...
Dave... so the Tom Jones quotes apply to us both, do they?
Submitted by Davros (user info) at 2005-01-17 14:58:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
This brought back some memories.
I grew up in North-East england which had it's fair shere of snow.
I miss the innocence of youth.
Now when I see snow I just think "Fuck I gotta drive in that?"
And as an aside "Baby, It's Cold Outside".
I thank you.
-Dave
Submitted by The_taste_of_Monkeys (user info) at 2005-01-17 12:43:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
50/50? you must live in the posh part of town.
Submitted by mikethescottish (user info) at 2005-01-17 12:30:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Stin (user info) at 2005-01-17 12:25:50 (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm going 4000 miles to find snow, and I could have just come up to Glasgow? Bah
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Provided you don't mind rain 95% of the time and a 50/50 chance of getting chibbed every time you step outside...
Submitted by mikethescottish (user info) at 2005-01-17 12:27:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
LadyPlural, you've been deprived!
http://www.oldmeldrum.org.uk/
That was damn nearly the view I had from my bedroom window as a kid. Damn I love my hometown.
Submitted by Stin (user info) at 2005-01-17 12:25:50 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm going 4000 miles to find snow, and I could have just come up to Glasgow? Bah.
Submitted by The_taste_of_Monkeys (user info) at 2005-01-17 12:24:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Mon the North East wooo!
Submitted by screamfeeder (user info) at 2005-01-17 12:23:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
wow that got all screwed up...
Currently: 18; F
Feels Like: 9; F
And slow flippin rules....again
Submitted by screamfeeder (user info) at 2005-01-17 12:14:34 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
WHOOO SNOW!!!
Currently: 18˚ F
Feels Like: 9˚ F
New Snow: 23"
Snow Base: 81"-85"
I love where I live.
Submitted by LadyPlural (user info) at 2005-01-17 12:14:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Well, 'tis purty. I've seen snow maybe six times in my life, and three of those times it was fake, snow-machine snow. Oh, the humanity of it all.
Submitted by foster (user info) at 2005-01-17 12:07:47 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by GodLovesALittleLovin (user info) at 2005-01-17 12:05:37 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
No Comment
Submitted by mikethescottish (user info) at 2005-01-17 12:04:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2005-01-17 11:50:26 (#)
Ranking: 2
You need to shovel a pile of snow about 4-6 feet tall next to your house, and jump out of a 2nd story window (or roof if it's low enough) into the snow. It helps to be liquored up first.
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A few years back, me and my cousins thought i'd be a good idea to strip to our boxers go pier jumping. Into the North Sea. In Winter. But i'll definately bear your idea in mind for any future snow-based shenanigans.
****
Submitted by LadyPlural (user info) at 2005-01-17 11:51:27 (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh yeah, that's a really beautiful picture. Did you take it, or just find it somewhere?
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Can't take credit, i'm afraid, but it is a pic of my hometown. Reminds me of what real snow is like.
Submitted by KBCommando (user info) at 2005-01-17 11:59:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
I lived in extreme Northern Michigan growing up and I love snow. It was so much fun to dig caves and tunnels into the 8 ft. high drifts thrown up by the snowplows. My brothers and the other boys dug about a 7 foot deep wrestling pit one time too. It became complete with bloody noses and all. Awesome!
Submitted by Dervel (user info) at 2005-01-17 11:56:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I used to live between Alnwick and Amble just shy of the border.
You speak the truth. It did snow a lot and Summer was a fleeting experience.
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2005-01-17 11:55:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
You writted the england words good for a stoopid scot.
Submitted by LadyPlural (user info) at 2005-01-17 11:51:27 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh yeah, that's a really beautiful picture. Did you take it, or just find it somewhere?
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2005-01-17 11:50:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
You need to shovel a pile of snow about 4-6 feet tall next to your house, and jump out of a 2nd story window (or roof if it's low enough) into the snow. It helps to be liquored up first.
Submitted by Sassmasterr (user info) at 2005-01-17 11:50:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
dang mike! this post is dripping with ol' pasttimes.
sledding
snowball fights
Calvin & Hobbes
well, i forgot the rest...
good post, thanks for bringin' back some memories.
Across the pond, in Cleveland Ohio, our winter/summer lengths are so inconsistent. Not even a week ago it was 65 F. That night it snowed close to 6-7 inches! Sled-riding weather indeed!
Good times? yes, they were had by all
Submitted by LadyPlural (user info) at 2005-01-17 11:48:42 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh yeah? I had to walk to school every day. For two miles. In the snow.
Uphill *both* ways.
Who the fuck am I kidding? I'm in Florida, suckers! We have oppressive heat, but we're a flat state, and it doesn't snow. Well, it has once or twice that I can remember, but that was in like 1993 or something. And it was about three flakes that were so far apart you could have driven a 747 through them. And they melted the second that they hit the ground.
BUT IT WAS SNOW, DAMNIT.
Submitted by DeathJester (user info) at 2005-01-17 11:47:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Good stuff dude.
Driving up to Durham last october was insane... Snow coming over the North York Moors snowed me in for 4 hours on the A... A196 I think.
Submitted by mikethescottish (user info) at 2005-01-17 11:46:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Nice, Sassmasterr... my favourite tracks are 'hatful of rain and 'nothing ever happens', but that's pretty high up there too.
Submitted by Sassmasterr (user info) at 2005-01-17 11:45:30 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Look around your world pretty baby
Is it everything you hoped it'd be
The wrong guy, the wrong situation
The right time to roll to me
Look into your heart pretty baby,
Is it aching with some nameless need.
Is there something wrong and you can't put your finger on it
Right then, roll to me
And I don't think I have ever seen a soul so in despair
So if you want to talk the night through
Guess who will be there?
So don't try to deny it pretty baby,
You've been down so long you can hardly see
When the engine's stalled and it won't stop raining
It's the right time to roll to me
Look around your world pretty baby
Is it everything you hoped it'd be
The wrong guy, the wrong situation
The right time to roll to me
Submitted by mikethescottish (user info) at 2005-01-17 11:45:25 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Sorry if the pic's a bit too big. My resizing skills are non-existant.