Friday 6 February 2009

February Snow: Ashton

Today, the university was closed due to adverse weather. This was something that has not happened for the past 15 years, or so I was told by a tutor I met out enjoying the snow with his son.

While I'm not too sure if the situation is really 'adverse' or 'dangerous' as they put it in many institution's website, I'm definitely certain that the mood is festive, in every sense of the word, at least in the Ashton Court.

I have not seen so many people, families with children and pet dogs dotting the hills since the Balloon Festival. The street leading up from the Kennel Lodge Road up into the park is full of vehicles. Even around 4pm when the sun was getting lower and the air chiller, cars with enthusiastic children with their toboggans and sledges are still arriving.

Indeed, the thronging crowds must be a testimony to the rarity of such generous snowfall in Bristol. It is almost as if it is Christmas again, with everyone in the jolly mood for fun. The colorful jacket worn by the children look especially vivid in the white landscape.

Fences and bars will not impede visitors who will stop at nothing to take advantage of the white abundance. Even whole family will clamber over tall metal fences over the padlock on the entrance to the deer park just to reach the normally emerald hills. It was not a normal sight to see mothers encouraging their children to 'tresspass'. They must be really desperate for it!

Personally, the greatest gift for trekking all the way to the hill is to remember once more the magic of the winter sky. There is a subtle but very rich palette even in a dull gray sky.

Photos can hardly do justice to it. But standing there, at that very brief moment, with the sun poised near the horizon yet veiled with thick winter clouds, there is a wonderful tint of yellow and pink that I really like.

Now if the Good Lord will grant us a favorable weather to travel tomorrow. Who knows if one day I will live to see snow on the Sahara.

2 comments:

Chris in the UK said...

I want SNOOOOOW!!! :) Are you coming back home this year? How long do you have left to enjoy English weather? :)

hudaG1N1 said...

hai..
so sweet of u still remembering me..
ahahha
when u come back to msia?
i'm graduating dis year,mayb we can have some chit chat time k?tududududu