This has been a truly strange start to the year – the weather has been so mixed. Mostly wet, it has to be said, but with forcce 8 gales and at least 4 storms sweeping through the country. For the south west to be hit by snow storms is very rare indeed and probably something we should have been taking more notice of. In the century 1900 to 1999, there were a few exceptional weather conditions that were so extreme and rare that they became etched upon the memory. The national news broadcasting companies kept newsreels of events that affected the country and they have become folk lore. In 1947 for instance, there was a major storm that affected huge swathes of the capital city and uplands. 1953, there had been a major problem with a mix of damp weather, polutants in the air and fog. It became very serious. Smog was the result. A choking condition that helped spread flue and illness. Folk sitting near each other on crowded trams, buses, tube trains etc. were spreading germs like wildfire. It was very serious and many thousands of folk perished. Then in 1963 there were snow storms that shook the country to its core. All down the centre of the country across the Downs hillsides and rural pocckets of the country were covered, some areas the drifts were so seriousl that cars and people were covered and not found until it was far too late. The country infrastructure also suffered dreadfully.

This is not something that has happened since – but in the wake of the very wet and story start to the year, Easter approaching and the thoughts of summer beyond is a cheerful one. Shops are now displaying the fantastically colourful array of confectonary and holidays are being advertised much more than has been notice in previous years. The best way to cheer up a community is to bring out the party food and make for a celebration!