The day the snow fell on London

What a magical sight to wake up to. Thick heavy snow on the ground and it's still snowing. London is at a standstill. No buses, schools closed, airports shut and the rail network and most London tube network is not operating. In London we only get light snow and that's only occasionally. This year we have received the full onslaught, 8" apparently blown in from Russia.

Small kids are making snowmen - sort of touched a memory chord of when I was a child. Others are sliding down the hilly road by the shops.

Nobody seems to be going anywhere - most of the cars parked out front haven't been moved and are coated with the stuff.

With so much advanced warning on the news, should have thought to get a spade from the garden shed to clear the front pathway. Had to manage with a small hand pan this evening. With nowhere to put it had no alternative but to throw it outside the gate. Salted the ground by the front door to the gate hoping it will clear by morning. These old pins are not as strong as they used to be and don't want to slip on the ice and make a fool of myself. Local shopkeepers seem to be doing a brisk business with their large salt bags, noticed other residents doing the same thing.

With no post and no rubbish collection - most services have stopped because people can't get to work. Local news reports say that some medical staff in the hospitals are bedding down for the night where they work. With no way to get home or back in the morning it seems to be the only solution.

Looks like tomorrow also not much will happen either though the late news is that the tube is partially operating and for once will be running all night in an attempt to clear the tracks in the parts that run overground.