On snow and its influence on men...

Why does snow turn grown men into 8 year old boys? What is so great about cold, wet, white stuff? I guess when I was younger I enjoyed making snowmen and throwing snowballs, but I can't quite remember when. I now prefer to watch my husband and two sons getting cold and wet and creating strange sculptures out of snow. I hold the camera and wait for those "You've been framed" moments.

Last year my husband was pulling the boys on the sledge down a local hill. We spent ages there. I was cold, bored and taken as many photos as I possibly could of the snow covered trees and landscape. We agreed one last go for each of them and I put the camera away ready to go. Typically, hubby slips onto his behind and slides down the hill behind the sledge and covers himself in mud. The boys fall about laughing and he has to strip layers off before getting in the car to go home. Did I catch it on film? No. I was gutted.

Today, the snowman was built in the front garden, paraded off for all to see. Was this your standard snowman? No. The first attempt grew to above the boys heads. Daddy continued to build. I was summoned to get the step ladder from the garage so that more snow could be added. As the snowman reached the giddy heights of 6 feet it was becoming unstable. Daddy stands on the step ladder to put the head on top. He leans forward and throws the snow on top like a potter throws his clay. Only it wasn't just the snow that went. He follows and lands right on top of the snowman, squashing it to half height and leaving Daddy laying across it's top.
Did I have the camera ready for this one? No. I'd been filming what had been happening during the past half hour and missed the one crucial moment that would surely have won £250.
Did they give up? Of course not. Apparently there is "No such word as can't".

The second attempt saw them use the fallen top half to make the base sturdier to increase the height further. The snowman grew and grew and grew. It reached nearly 9 feet tall with carrot nose and pine cone mouth and eyes. We took the mandatory photos ready to take to school and just as we finish the snowman breaks in half. Its a tragedy but the boys have achieved what they set out to do - the biggest snowman in the road. Both boys are satisfied and want to move onto sledging.

Unfortunately Daddy is not satisfied. The snowman is not standing and the task in hand is not complete. He insists on rebuilding for a third time before sledging. The novelty has worn off for the boys and their input into snowman 3 is minimal. Finally Daddy is satisfied with a 6 foot sturdy snowman that has a chance of lasting until morning.

Who is the child here? The 6 year old, 9 year old or 39 year old? Will he ever grow up? I guess if he hasn't by now he never will.

DOPEY



Biggest Snowman in Welling