Igloo

We've had Hazel and Alex (friends from Cambridge: I was a student with Hazel) staying with us since Monday, when they braved the snow to get to us. After lunch yesterday, we managed to get our car along the lane to near the 'main' road (which is not main, but is at least properly constructed, and gets gritted/ploughed). The car's been at home since the 18th, so we took the opportunity to get it out, as the track will be impassable longer than the road will be. Anyway, that will at least allow us to attempt to get to work next week.

Alex's parents live close to my parents (near Ripon/Northallerton), and Alex and Hazel have been staying with them until coming to us: they went home this afternoon. Not, however, before helping us build an igloo outside the kitchen window. It looks marvellous, and is big enough for the four of us to enter. I suggested taking drinks and mince pies out to it, but I think everyone may have been too cold...

On Sunday, we went out to B&Q, and picked up some 'kitchen' wall cabinets. They're actually going to go in the utility, which doesn't have any storage space, but which would be really useful. Also bought replacements for the lights above the cooker, and some coat hooks to mount in the cloakroom. DIY for another day; maybe Saturday.

We're off to my parents' tomorrow, for the New Year, and then have the weekend at home before work kicks off on Monday.

The cats are unimpressed with the weather: they're barely going out, and are a little bored---and cold.