Ilkeston - So This
Is Winter
w/e 08 February
2009
All
this week's pictures were taken with a Kodak DX6490
After a number of years where we have had fairly mild winters,
snow came to the UK last week with a vengeance and although not
as bad as some other parts of the country, the East Midlands
also experienced some substantial falls. On Monday afternoon
when I captured this image from the footbridge over Chalons Way,
it was still coming down heavily.
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There are a number of seats around the Market Place that are
often nicknamed the "Rheumatic Seats" as they provide
a welcome respite for many senior citizens (as well as other
age groups it has to be said) but there were no takers in these
snowy conditions. Mind you, anyone sitting on them whilst covered
with snow would probably increase their chances of developing
rheumatism!
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The naked cherubs on the old fountain and horse trough had no
choice in the matter though and had all their assets well and
truly frozen.
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The snow had also transformed the landscape at Victoria Park
into a veritable winter wonderland. In all two to three inches
of snow accumulated on Monday but it was enough for children
to be out sledging and building snowmen.
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The following day, the skies had cleared and a weak winter sun
along with salt and grit had helped melt some of the snow allowing
people to go about their business without too much inconvenience
on the Market Place.
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By Thursday however, another two or three inches of overnight
snow had settled and produced the unusual sight of a snow covered
Bath Street.
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It wasn't to last for long however as another unusual sight was
that of a snow plough travelling up the hill to clear the pedestrian
area. To be fair the passage of the plough did little initially
to make the street safer as it left a thin layer of ice and slush
but it soon cleared and by the weekend you wouldn't even know
there had been any snow on Bath Street.
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On Thursday however, most of the main roads were passable with
care but minor roads that had not been treated were still hazardous.
Many schools were closed and bus services were suspended for
a while or the routes varied but even in these adverse conditions
there was a rainbow around nearly every corner even if it was
only the Rainbow 2 bus between Ilkeston and Nottingham.
With temperatures dipping to minus figures overnight and hovering
just above freezing point during the day the cold spell is set
to continue for a while so a trip to Osborne's Pond in Shipley
Country Park with some wild bird food was welcomed by the resident
waterfowl. Snow is still lying on the ground this weekend but
before we go thinking that the other man's grass is always greener
(or should that be the other's man's snow is always whiter) we
should remember our American and Canadian friends who have had
to endure sub zero temperatures and deep snow drifts for several
months now.
On the other hand our antipodean friends are currently experiencing
bush fires and are sweltering in temperatures around 45°C
(113°F). So this is winter in Ilkeston and if this is the
worst it gets, it'll do for me!
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