h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Europe has been struck by a second spell of cold weather this winter, before the first one had fully gone away. Although we had temperatures up to 7° in between, it wasn't enough to melt the snow pile in my front garden.

Now it's got cold again, and I've heard dire tales from places such as Kerry and Belfast, but thankfully Dublin has been spared the snow. We have very cold weather, but hardly even a centimetre of snow. Just enough to make the paths look white. Hoping it will stay away and we won't have the mayhem that we did three weeks ago.

Tomorrow's mid-winter's day on the old calendar, although we're only 20 days into the winter on the British calendar and winter hasn't even officially started by the American reckoning.

France is a mess...

About 3 weeks ago we had some severe snow - here in Lyon they had about 2 days notice that it was going to snow, but didn't bother mobilising the gritters until 48 hours after the snow started, so the city got closed down...

A week later we were walking around in bright sunlight and 19°C temperatures whilst Paris (about 240 miles north) was under 18 inches of snow...

This weekend they forecast snow for Friday, so, the day before, the authorities around here panicked! Warned people to stay away from work, closed schools, stopped public transport, even called out the army with tracked, armoured vehicles on the streets of Paris... And about 3 snowflakes fell.

Grand stretch in the evenings already, though

It is literally amazing to have temperatures this low for so long, and so early into the winter. Last night, here in Staffordshire, it was -10°C again. The predicted high today is -5°C

I feel very thankful that I came 'home' for Christmas just prior to the travel chaos that has disrupted many other people's journeys home to their families.

I've been putting off getting my car from beneath the layers of snow that has frozen all over it, but really do need to go to some shops and also visit one of my sisters. I'm told the main roads are clear but the lanes and the pavements are treacherous. One of my friends here fell on the ice during the last cold snap and broke his leg, resulting in 10 days in hospital and is now housebound, with a sick note for the next three months. So, with my lack of balance at the best of times, I am a bit reluctant to risk it. I wish I had a pointy ended walking stick!

Quite a few people around here bought those ski-pole-type walking sticks which are aluminium so they are very light, and have a spike on the end. I think I might get one.

I do see people walking with a pair of them, I'm told they exercise the upper part of your body whilst you walk. They do look a bit odd though along normal pavements. I wonder whether the outdoor pursuits shop in town has any.

Update on the local temperature - latest report was that it was -12°C at 10am. I think I may leave going outside for a while longer.

Just started snowing again in Dublin. Never known the like in all my 62 years.

"I am just going outside and may be some time"

We had about six inches since yesterday.

Cork has had one big snowfall - last Friday, but the ice on the roads has made travelling treacherous on all but the main roads.

Would that be a man's 6", or a woman's?

Send some of that white back here, we barely have 5 inches of fluff and should normaly have well over a foot of well settled stuff by now. It is looking like a reprise of last year, when my area was so sparse of precipitation and yet your side of the pond was swamped.

we have a fair bit but the actual snowing comes in waves...

I heard that Bielefeld had -19°C last night.

Yes, it was -18 in Northern Ireland as well.

Can this be a result of global warming? Well, yes it can http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2010/12/20/cold-burn/