Dear Mummy, it’s not often that we see the white stuff in this part of the UK. Being just off the south coast of England temperatures never usually go below 2- degrees, however the “Beast from the East” was on his way!
We got a visit from the abdominal snowman traveling from Siberia to bring us his windchill and fluffy snow. Blizzards, strong winds, drifting snow and bitter cold caused disruption as the weather system nicknamed the “Beast from the East” combined with Storm Emma created some of the most testing weather experienced in the UK for years. Snow that we haven’t seen for at least five years and I have never seen in my lifetime. In fact it’s the worse snow storm since the 1980’s so not even my mummy can remember that far back.
Everyone was advised by the authorities to stay in and not make any unnecessary travel journeys. So we battened up the hatches as my folks worked from home. Schools across Hampshire were closed as children indulged in proper snow days, hidden underneath duvet covers watching telly, occasionally escaping into the great outdoors to explore the white snowy landscape.
I was one of those children and at first the idea of snow was amazing. I glanced out of my window by standing on a stool and watching the flakes fall and the gusts of wind blow the blizzard into our garden. The Met Office issued a red warning – its most severe alert – on Thursday as temperatures plunged and up to 50cm (20in) of snow fell on high ground in Scotland and west of the country. Thankfully much further south we had it less severe.
The snow really was a magical sight. However being outside wasn’t all that practical. It was super cold in the windchill up to minus 7- where we lived. The coldness nipped at my cheeks and into my snow boots (even though we were all wearing thermals and layers) we could only managed venturing outside for under an hour, dashing back inside to warm up with hot chocolate.
In between calls, emails and work my folks took turns to keep me entertained. The majority of the time I pottered around playing with my Schleich toys or baking fairy cakes and watching back to back Disney films.
We did managed to build a snowman and have a snowball fight in the garden. The snow wasn’t icy but soft, fresh, powdery and fine. We found some twigs from the park for arms and stones from the garden to finish him off. As UK became a victim of the northern polar jet stream, which twisted its direction unexpectedly, drawing in cold air from the east, the beast had us in his icy grip.
Both my mummy and I made snow angels on the ground, my first ever which was lovely to watch and capture in the memory bank. Further afield the chaos continued as the storm resulted in hundreds of cancellations and grounded flights and other travel headaches as it dumped snow on major cities. My Grandma got stuck at an airport trying to head back to Belfast!
Even though my folks knew the snow was coming they never expected as much snow as this. We had five inches of snow after the second day and it was still falling…
We didn’t want to shell out of a sledge for the sake of a couple of days, so took our trusty kitchen tray to the park to toboggan on. It worked a treat and both my folks and I had fun riding down the hills on it! Watch our video to see the tray in action (half way through)!
Even though we’ve been stuck indoors the majority of the snow days we haven’t had cabin fever too much due to breaking it up with mini expeditions into the snow.
We’ve gone through numerous gloves hats and waterproofs, loads of tea bags from continuous cups of tea to keep warm and eaten our weight in hot cross buns and mini eggs, well it is March after all.
Have you played in the snow? Has it been snowYAY or sNOway this snowmaggedon?
Love Bella x
dearmummyblog.com 
So cute. Love the little snowman and snow angel x
We didn’t expect as much snow as we got but it was lovely to have two days of snowy fun. We have been sledging and snow painting and we were so grateful for our Lapland thermals
It’s clear you made the most of The Beast from The East and Storm Emma’s influence in your area. I’m sure you had more snow than us, although we did just get enough together to go sledding on the hills. I was skeptical we were going to get some but I’m so pleased we did.
Thanks for linking up with me on #CountryKids.
Looks like you’ve had so much fun. We didn’t really get proper snow until yesterday so have made up for lost time on the fun front today. But boy has it been cold #CountryKids
Such lovely photos, looks like the kids had so much fun. We had a day off school yesterday and have been playing in the snow today. I’m ready for the warmer weather now and I’m not a big fan of snow.
Loving those snow angels, I think you did better than us for snow, that is the blight of living close to the sea. Mich x
Ha ha love that snow”way” snow”yay” comment at the end. I’m a snow way kinda gal! I might feel differently when both my kids can enjoy it. The littlest is a bit young still. We got typical British snow of a sprinkle in the morning gone by the afternoon! You look like you were having so much fun, your snowman is ace, I’m told the snow was really powdery so good effort!! #countrykids
So much fun in the snow! We struggled to get out as my youngest hated the cold! #familyfunlinky
I’m actually so jealous! Here in South Africa we’ve been having really hot weather the last few months… and my little family and I much prefer Winter! It just looks and sounds like so much fun (extreme conditions and all haha) – my little girl would love to make snow angels and build a proper snowman! 🙂
#FamilyFunLinky
We are lucky to experience so much differing weather – it sure keeps life interesting! It’s been lovely seeing and hearing about the fun you’ve had with the snow x
Oh how fun!!! We have a big storm heading our way mid week. I think we will have a snow day. We are measuring it in feet! You know it will be a rough storm! #anythinggoes
Awww looks like you got the most out of the snow, has been so much fun. My boys loved snowball fights and doing snow angels too X #anythinggoes
looks like they had lots of fun. #countrykids
Aw Iove that you were making snow angels with your mummy and made the most of the beast from the east. Beautiful photos too.
Hi, glad to see that you enjoyed the Beast From The East. Sadly we didn’t get that much snow so no snow angles for us #TwinklyTuesday
Ah I’m so jealous of everyone’s snow! We missed out on it up here as usual.
Oh no 😦 We were lucky to get as much as we did!
We didn’t get enough snow to make snowman so feeling a tad envious! You look like you’ve got a keen snow shoveller there lol!
This was the biggest snowman we’ve ever made. Not used to playing in the amount of snow we had!
Aww it looks like you had so much fun in the snow – I can’t believe how much we all had. We visited Wales and it was over our knees!
Lovely pics. We were snowbound for 5 days. It lost its charm by day 5
We opted for a tray over a sled as well. Not that we’d have been able to get to anywhere selling them as we were well and truly snowed in! #TwinklyTuesday
Can’t beat a good tray! It’s feels more dangerous and that’s always more fun to a child!!
So fun you could enjoy the snow over there in the UK too 🙂 Your snow adventures look lots of fun. We go through lots of gloves, hats, and 2 sets of winter outdoor stuff here in Sweden everyday, the amount we are outdoors in the snow at school
Woweeee! We could learn a thing or two off you guys. The country grounded to a halt!
It looks like lots of fun! My girls had so much fun
Beautiful photos! We loved the snow and had tonnes of fun ❤ #AnythingGoes
Beautiful snow photos here. I wish I was brave enough to play in it.
Wow you had more than us ! And I thought we had loads ha . I love the snowman – super cute ! X
It has definitely been snowYAY in our house, even though my gang took turns running high temperatures. They spent as much time outside as is humanly possible, completely oblivious to the cold and falling snow. Definitely a highlight of the 2017-18 winter!
#FamilyFun
We’re Hampshire too – we were beside ourselves when we found out we had some snow coming out way! We’re missing it already and hoping that we don’t have to wait five more years for a snow day again!
Lovely to see you having so much fun in the snow! Five inches is a perfect amount to play in 🙂 Such fun photos! #countrykids
Such lovely photos of you having fun in the snow. Looks like you had a little more than we did! It was very cold though – we had the same problem with only being able to enjoy it in short bursts. Love the snow angels and your snowman 🙂 #countrykids
Bella I love your snowman, he’s the most original one I’ve seen with the windmill. Sounds like you had a great time in the snow x
You had so much snow and sounds like you had such a wonderful day! I wish I’d taken more photos now. I love your snowman!
Ami xxx
I am so jealous of all your snow! You had way more than we did. We didn’t have enough for snow angels, but managed a small snowman. Yours looks amazing!!!! We soon gave up too and went in for Disney films and hot chocolate. What a fun snowmaggdon you had! 😀
We loved the snow in Hampshire too. So much fun and you captured some lovely memories
Looks like you really made the most of the snow and had great fun. I love all the snow angels.
Thank you for joining the #FamilyFunLinky x
Looks like you made the most of all the snow! Thanks for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday, I hope to see you link up again soon x
Looks like you had fun! #twinklytuesday