The Mantle of White

Various types of weather can elicit emotional responses. Mist and fog can be atmospheric and make you think of ghosts or dark deeds. Sun can be very pleasant as long as it’s not too hot. Rain can be refreshing in the summer and disheartening in the winter. However, there is only one kind of weather that is magical and that, of course, is snow.

The picture above shows my 9 year old daughter taking her toboggan home after a day where we entered into the joys of snow as never before. In 2010 we had well over a foot of snow in South East England, something that has never been repeated in the 15 years since. School was cancelled across the county and the day stretched before us full of possibilities. After breakfast we went into the back garden and built a snowman, which ended up staying there for over a week, with both my daughters joining in the fun. We had a snowball fight which was great and we had races in the snow which was about 18 inches deep which were very tiring. After that we went inside for some hot chocolate and decided how we were going to spend the afternoon. The previous day, my wife, who works at the local hospital in an admin role, walked in and walked back in the days before working from home was widely possible. When she walked back she was dragging a toboggan behind her, much to my daughter’s delight! That was what would provide the entertainment for the afternoon. We walked to the local park and I spent the whole afternoon watching the children toboggan down the slope and never tiring of it. Although the park was crowded there was an air of friendliness and happiness that never exists in any other weather. As a community we were brought together in each other’s company and we knew it was something special, unique and magical. When walking home I saw the scene above and thought it might make a good picture. I was absolutely overjoyed when I saw it because it was pretty much perfect and the lighting made it magical as it reflected off the snow. You can’t see my daughter’s face but you know it has a look of wonder at the magical scene. It’s my favourite picture of all the thousands I have taken and would never have been possible in any other weather conditions.

If I have one wish it is that I could experience a huge amount of snow one more time in my life.