Cancellations

It has been an extraordinary week! Last Friday, 17th December I had to postpone the transfer to my car of a consignment of lamb direct from a Snowdonia farm. Saturday was bad and so was Sunday. I began to wonder how the meat would ever get through. The main problem was that I could not move my car out of the drive which slopes towards the house. Eventually, with help from a number of people we made arrangements for the farmer to bring the meat over to Holyhead where the bulk of customers live. So, on Monday 20th December, my friend, David and I went over in his car to Holyhead to make sure all arrangements when smoothly. Amazingly, we drove almost to the Britannia Bridge to pick up the A55 and dive to Holyhead. In case you do not know our island this was a circular tour! By 11.00am the farmer had found his way to the church and the lamb was offloaded. David and I then returned to Penysarn with the remaining lamb for local friends.

During this period it had been decided to cancel the morning service at Amlwch Methodist Church as well as the evening Candle lit Carol Service. Our planned service intended to be held yesterday for the residents at Bryn y Mor Residential Home also was cancelled. The next casualty was the Christmas Eve Midnight Communion Service. As the snow had ceased falling we wanted to continue with the Christmas Day and Boxing day services. By this time we realised that the icy state of the road and the steps at the church meant high risks were being taken so these services have now cancelled.

The Carol Service is now re-scheduled for 2nd January but I cannot take part as I am hopefully leading worship at Holyhead Methodist Church. I have never known such a period for cancelling events at church. It is a remarkable end to a pretty awful year. May 2011 be better and more fruitful!

Snow on the island

It was my birthday on Saturday, 18th December. I was due to get a consignment of lamb from a farmer over past Betws y Coed. It was Monday before we could get the lamb. The farmer came over to Holyhead where the majority of customers live and I was driven over there by a friend. We drove almost to the Britannia Bridge and then back along the A55 dual carriageway. Amazingly we took only 15 extra minutes to get there. Eventually we offloaded the lamb, paid the farmer and set off back with the lamb for people living near me. We made it safely home with all customers satisfied.

It is quite rare for Anglesey to see so much snow. It is over 20 years ago since the last time it was so heavy. We are used to telling others who are suffering snow how well we are doing here. Even now, as I write this, the snow is falling lightly! This morning our neighbours were going to the Co-op supermarket in Amlwch in their 4 wheel drive so we hitched a lift to buy final essentials. The only thing we forgot was washing up liquid! When it runs out we shall use the dish washer a little more!

Our neighbours are Bob and Stella who were planning to drive tomorrow to their old home city of Bristol to stay with family at Christmas. They have had to cancel the visit so they are coming next door for Christmas this year! So instead of two there will be four on Christmas Day - GREAT!!! The photo above shows our car covered in snow and unable to travel.

There are many people who live in hilly places in the island and they are stuck until the thaw where they don't own 4 wheel drive cars. But they will have neighbours helping them out and that is the sort of spirit we need in this life. I just wish I could get the car out and take photos of the many snow scenes which abound. Not to worry, we have a good talking point that makes a change from politics and cuts!

Snowy Anglesey

Finally we are under a white blanket! Last winter we had a serious fall of snow on one day only. It was Tuesday 5th January and I was due to come home from a short stay in hospital. The weather closed in and the hospital transport stopped running. I came home that day in my neighbour's 4 wheel drive!
Today we have about 6 inches and more is forecast. Tomorrow I am due to collect a consignment of Welsh lamb direct from the farmer. Our meeting place is Betws y Coed on the A5 trunk road where it meets the A470 which runs down to South Wales. The forecast is heavy snow overnight for Anglesey, Betws y Coed and Bala which is not far from the farm. It looks like we have a problem!
I have no doubt we shall get through OK in terms of food and warmth, so best not grumble. My logs for the multi fuel stove have a coating of snow and they are in a log shelter I built last year! It has obviously been windy during the night. All looks very pretty just now. But wait till the thaw arrives and snow becomes slush!
Tomorrow will see a cancelled market in Llangefni and folks will be battening down the hatches whilst talking about the snow as if they live in high mountains! Yesterdays satellite photo from Nasa showed the UK covered in snow except occasional tiny patches where it had not fallen. No doubt today's picture will be of complete snow coverage.
For now I shall have to ensure that there is food outside for the birds and continue reading my book purchased at a recent Christmas Fair at Amlwch Methodist Church. Tomorrow sees another birthday to remind me how I am getting old! We have guests for dinner and they, luckily, live just round the corner.