Snow in Glasgow

This year's snowfall in Glasgow was inpredictable. The forecast would show it would snow, but in then end it was only rain. Finally, when people stopped expecting snow anymore, we woke up to a blanket of white snow few days ago. That was the heaviest snow we saw in central glasgow for thos winter. It only lasted one day and it was all melted away by the rain.

Come to think of it, the weather all year round in Glasgow has been not normal. There were weeks when it was really sunny. Just like this week, after the snow, it will be sunny for the next few days. There were a fee windy days and plenty of rainy days. But, I think we had more sunny days than rainy days this year. This makes Glasgow the perfect place to stay, not too hot and not too cold.

My housemate and I built a few snowmen behind the halls. Good thing we were early risers. While everyone else were sleeping, we used up most of the snow to make the snowmen :)

Note that the huge snowman buttons and mouth were made of Burger King's ketcup :p One snowman's eyes were capsules.

Evening

A lovely blue winter sky (with the moon and a just-visible Jupiter below it) decorate the backyard of the internationally recognized Icelandic Nikita brand clothing store on Laugavegur. In winter, the store's owner, Heiða Birgisdóttir holds all-ages snowboarding competitions in this yard, and in the summertime the half-pipe in the left-hand corner of the picture lines with skaters big and small. Some amazing concerts have been held here as well, including Icelandic wonders GusGus and the very amazing Agent Fresco.

Graze

GUEST PHOTOGRAPHER: Aaron Young

Aaron writes: This picture was taken within 24 hours of arriving in Iceland, the first of three planned days. I was on my way to see the famous geysers and majestic waterfalls, stopped to have a look at the ponies, enamored by their natural dressage. Two of them came to greet me, flirted a bit and continued grazing. So inspired by these creatures, their air and their view, I have now been in Iceland for a month.

I cancelled my trips to Holland and Paris, scribbled two little movies and sent requests back to Los Angeles for funding with love. Frankly, colleagues were highly concerned. They only knew a smattering of Iceland, but enough to talk me out of the first film due to impetuosity and lighting conditions. And then, the very next night, a full moon lit up the streets of Reykjavik to absolute perfection. My colleagues then deferred to my discretion, which is staying in Iceland until the essence of Her beautiful people are expressed for the cinema.

(Aaron is currently waiting on film funds, while trying to bottle and export magical Iceland air).

Thank you, Aaron, for this graceful image!

Please pop over to the Iceland Eyes Facebook Page and give it a Like, if you'd like. And be sure to cruise through the tabs above for new content and updates.

Regarding Wikileaks and its strong connection to Iceland, The Reykjavik Grapevine currently leads the local pack with current details on the situation. And here is a good read from September on local MP Birgitta Jónsdóttir's relationship to Wikileaks and Julian Assange himself. (For the more daring, here's a link to Birgitta's appearance on Red Ice Radio.)

Good Morning!

Woke up this morning to a window covered with ice. -13degrees outside. No, i did not venture out today. Stayed warm and comfy in my room. At times, I worry I am becoming too comfy in the room ;)

Hot chocolate seems to be a necessity now to start the morning.

A bright side to winter: Uni closed for three days including tmr!
I love the Pink song I uploaded to my music list :)

Wintery winter

Uni was closed today and will be closed tomorrow due to the horrid weather conditions. Reading the news about pensioners found dead (like in parks) and frozen does not paint a pretty picture about the beautiful white winter anymore. The news also reported hungry drivers on the road yesterday as a normal 40 minute journey took up to 13  hours yesterday. Some people even decided to abandon their cars! Staying home wasn't safe either as the news reported a guy shovelling snow at his backyard slipped and fell, knocked his head and died. There was also a 13 year old girl who might be paralysed as snow fell on her from her rooftop, while she was shovelling.

I thought everything would be on a hiatus in Glasgow due to the bad conditions. But, outside my window I saw smoke coming out from the chimney of a factory...

The sun was up and shining but it was about -11 degrees outside.

Notice the number of houses with smoke (i think its steam) coming out of their roofs... Their heater or fire place must have been turned on.... Just to show how cold it was....

We were bundled up for sure :]

After a snowfall

James Blyth Court is the name of the building I am currently living in. It is the stretch of bricked walls on the right in the picture below:

While walking to the lab on Wednesday morning, I could not help but snap a picture of  the beautiful, white, freshly fallen snow, yet to be touched.

As winter progresses

From The Evening Times:
"The continued blizzards today came as the coldest night of the winter saw temperatures plummet to -20°C in Altnaharra, in the Highlands. In Glasgow it was -5°C.


Air travel was also seriously affected.
Edinburgh Airport was closed and early morning flights were affected at Glasgow Airport.
Due to weather problems in south England some flights were cancelled. Glasgow Airport was also handling diverted flights from Edinburgh.
Snow also hit Gatwick Airport, which was closed today and will also be shut tomorrow, leaving thousands of travellers stranded.


There was widespread disruption on the railways, with a number of ScotRail services cancelled. Motherwell and Cumbernauld services were suspended while the Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh line remained a half hourly service. Early trains from Stirling to Glasgow were cancelled.
Trains from Glasgow to England were all running, but with some delays."
The much dreaded time of the year has come! The first snowfall was fantastic, but more snowfall after that is becoming a nuisance. The thing I am not looking forward to is a further drop in the temperature outside. Reading that the Highlands has reached -20 degrees, it is possible for it to be this cold in Glasgow too....
The good thing about winter is that it does not tempt me to go out as much ;)

Tuesday night out

After the class test ended yesterday, I was not prepared to hit the books again for the day. I wished for a heavy snow in hopes for the class test to be cancelled. Lady luck wasn't by my side. It snowed heavily after the test ended!

Since after a snowfall everything usually looks white, clean and pretty, and the fact that I did not want to touch any books, my friends and I decided to do some photography in the city.

It was 4.20pm, when we left the halls. During winter, the sky turns dark at around 4.45pm which isn't very nice because it makes me feel sleepy... :(

Anyway, we headed out to George Square. It was litted brightly with colourful lights and decoration, all set up for X-mas.

There was also an ice rink set up.
1 pound to keep your bags while you ice skate is expensive!

After George Square we headed to Argyle Street. A few of us went to Debenhams to shop, while a few others and I checked out Sugacane, a candy store.

It was really cold that night. My face was almost frozen...

It was a nice evening out.... AND it ended with us seeing the usual fox roaming outside our our halls.

Winter in Strathclyde land

After enjoying the first snowfall at midnight, the snow-filled surroundings when the sun rised enticed many to come out and play.

The plan was to take pictures in the snow, go to places further than James Blyth Court. Unbeknown to us, a light snowfall the night before means icy pathways and roads the following day. Once we stepped out our front door, the walkway was entirely covered with ice, hence, giving us no choice but to brave ourselves to walk on it. The slip-proof Aldi shoe was a definite heaven sent! I should also add that buying a thermal outdoor pants (also from Aldi) does wonders too to keep me warm.

So, the plan to go far was aborted. We settled for pictures within the campus surroundings.

Gloves were essential. Eg: Just in case we decide to make a snowman or snowmen aka play with snow ;)

We built three mini snowmen. It felt like being in a beach building sandcastles.

After the snowmen project, we headed to the garden near the Village office for a couple of scenic shots.

One thing I deduced from all this was the need for a TRIPOD.

I left my brand new tripod back home in Malaysia.