I know, it sounds like the start of a bad joke, but this is what happened when a few of us got snowed in Wednesday...

So, what do we do when we get snowed in?

Work, games, snowball fights, snow forts... Ok, maybe work got a little waylaid... But there was snow! Everyone needs to release their inner child when snow comes down like this!!

Seriously, though. I haven't been home since Wednesday morning. Luckily, I always bring a spare pair of intimates with me at all times. I know where there's a shower, but I don't feel comfortable using it. Sleeping... not an issue. We all had either sofas/chairs/beanbags to sleep on, so that was all good.

Food was a different matter, though. Had to go and get some from the (overcrowded) York House store, which for reference, is halfway across campus from the Physics/Maths Library. So I had nothing but instant noodles (shock/horror) and some baked goods yesterday. I think the biggest danger that posed was the icey paths. But hey, you get better grip on fresh snow and not the compacted stuff.

Now that public transport's up and running again, I really am going home to get clean, have medicine (I haven't had any since Wednesday, either).

Good luck catching up on work, everyone!

One from this evening, at home...

In North Field to be precise. Not much. Just the remains of three snow balls (super-sized). I took this at lunchtime today. The third (much smaller) lump was behind the one on the left.

Off-topic (well off-campus), it's well worth a trip to Rottingdean Beach if you are interested in some slightly more unusual sea birds. The fulmars (the nearest we get to an albatross) are there in quite decent numbers. They tend to hug the cliffs, make lots of noise, and perch precariously in hollows to the annoyance of the local jackdaws and pigeons.

There are more shots of the fulmars over here.

The Meeting House in the sun and Royal Pavilion Gardens at dawn

The Pavilion Gardens photo was taken at first light on Monday when the sky was still heavy with snow and the light was very dull. The Meeting House photo was taken Tuesday morning in sunny conditions. The former is almost monochrome and would possibly have benefitted from one figure in a colourful coat.  However, the semi-monochrome effect has the feel of a Victorian postcard.  Snow pictures can look good in both types of light.  Photos of snow scenes usually benefit from having a bit more exposure than the auto metering would suggest because the unusual whiteness of the scene often fools the light meter into over-compensating. Both of these photos were taken on a relatively new type of camera...a DSLR without a reflex mirror. Instead it has an electronic viewfinder, the aim being to save weight and reduce size. Since it has no 'reflex' some wags have suggested the acronym EVIL for Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens camera.

These were taken around the campus on Tuesday...

Just took the dogs out for a run around in the snow - they loved it!

Took a few more shots - uploaded on Flickr in the 'Dogs at play' photoset.

Doesn't it just look fantastic?!  The snow is several inches thick, fantastic for building snowmen and having snowball fights, and would make some great photos.  It's just such a bugger that I forgot to bring my camera in to work today!!  Still, I'm hoping to see some wonderful shots blogged by people... Yeah, I'm looking at you, Paul! :-)

Actually, today is just another bumper day to a great weekend for me.  Did some productive work on Friday, went for great walk with the dogs and family on Saturday as well as took the little one down to a play area for a coupel hours.  Did lots more productive work on Sunday (this time to the house, such as putting up shelves, cabinets, cleaning, etc.), and had a roaring bonfire in the snow.  And now the snow is still falling, only one other person is in the office (Uni's closed today - woohoo!), so it's almost serene sitting here blogging and watching the snow fall.

Hope you all had equally great weekends and are out enjoying the weather.  Be careful if you need to drive, but avoid it if you can... Stay at home with a nice hot chocolate instead. :-)