Snow!!!!

Courtesy of an icy blast direct from the Arctic, temperatures are set to plunge in the UK with them barely dragging themselves above zero during the day and -11 at night and don't say it too loudly but the weathermen are saying snow is expected all over our green and pleasant land, even as far south as the coast where i am sat today wearing the thickest jumper in my wardrobe.
The words 'White Christmas' have yet to be uttered but where snow on the South Coast is usually as likely as finding a bacon sandwich in a synagogue, it is a possibility that we may well get a sprinkling this year and as i have spent the best part of the last 4 weeks up to my knees in the stuff, i can offer a few words of advice to my fellow southerners about the mistakes i made when it comes to the White Stuff.  
Firstly, snow is very cold. Duh, obviously Lucy you may think but it is easy to forget when you are out in the stuff and you pick up a snowball to lob at unsuspected spouses or brothers/sisters and before you know it you have rolled up a dozen and your hands are numb and going a funny blue colour.
Most important is to remember that snow is pretty heavy so aim that snowball a bit higher for a good head shot.
Secondly, making a snowman is not as easy as it looks on the TV, you have to start small and roll it around but as it grows it gets heavy and hard to push around and as Snowmen insist on having a head as well as a body, that's two big balls of snow so don't be too ambitious, i left plenty of half formed snowmen in my wake because hubby had naffed off back inside to warm up and i wasn't strong enough to lift the head up onto the body.
Snow is just frozen water and when it reverts back to it's liquid form, you will get wet so waterproofs are a good idea as are sunglasses and sunblock as snowburn is an actual thing, who'd have thought? Not me obviously.
The best thing for icy pathways is salt or even cat litter but if you see an icy patch and are unable to avoid it, slide your feet slowly rather than step as normal as nothing is as ungracious or as embarrassing as seeing your legs zipping above your head in a busy street. Probably sensible shoes also help, something with a bit of grip anyway.
Sledding and snowboarding is great fun right up until a tree refuses to shift out of the way so make sure that you have a clear run and not too steep because you know, gravity, which is also a problem on frozen lakes, rivers and ponds which may look thicker than they actually are and splashing around in freezing cold water in minus temperatures isn't particularly good for your health.
Finally, if you are not used to snow then whatever you do, don't look out the window and thing Brr, too cold to go outside, grab a coat, your gloves and a bobble hat and go outside and be a kid again because like a truth from a politician, it don't happen very often so make the most of it.