Phew! What an opposite-of-a-scorcher.

Well, Mrs A did manage to get home safely (see last posting) but reported that the roads and conditions generally were worse in our local town – the departemental ‘Prefecture’ or administrative capital. It did look as if there had been more snow there but the standard of clearing of roads, parking spaces and footpaths was abysmal.

Our post lady, who managed to get through to us 2 or 3 days after the big fall, told us that the attitude and efficiency of the commune is fundamentally important to the quality of road clearing. Our tiny commune (about 175 people) is very good but we are surrounded by others not as effective. So, as Mrs A drove into town, she went from quite good roads here through very poor roads in the next commune and pretty good ones in the one after that, to lousy ones in town.

Temperatures varied quite a bit on her journey too but we can’t blame the communes for that. When she left here the temperature was –10.5°C but she passed through –16°C in some of the more exposed places.

Fortunately our concerns about losing electricity and/or telephone were unfounded. We were very lucky. EDF (Electricité de France, a company which owns a few electricity supply companies in the UK) has come in for a lot criticism for its apparently slow response to the situation. Certainly, people we know were without electricity for at least 3 days; a serious situation in the temperatures we’ve been experiencing.

On our way into town, we pass a small airfield not too far from us and Mrs A reported a larger than usual number of helicopters coming and going last week. We now think we know why. According to the radio, many people in the Limousin and the Auvergne were completely cut off for several days and were having food and other essentials delivered to them by helicopter. What a thankless task that must be! We can hear the housewives now.

“You know, those sheep brains weren’t a patch on the ones I usually buy from our local butcher. The foie gras was rubbish too. I tried to give it to the cat but even she wouldn’t eat it. And don’t get me started on the wine. The Chablis was at completely the wrong temperature and even an Englishman wouldn’t have drunk that claret!”

Well, things are gradually returning to normal. The snow is gradually sublimating and we had a positive, just, daytime temperature yesterday. Much to her disgust, the cat was reintroduced to the outside world last night and the forecast suggests slightly warmer weather over the next few days.

We absolutely love the snow and cold days (as long as they are crisp and clear) but you can have too much of a good thing. It will be nice to recover the normal pattern of our lives.

I must go and cut some wood!