My issue with snow is that — over here in Das Vaterland — you are required by law to clear the pavement outside your house every morning (assuming there's snow from the night before).

Trudging out at 7.00am with a shovel is not my ideal start to a day.

...from snow to the Germans to 'Dave'. Can this post BE anymore English?

...a couple of days ago, dressed for snow, and bumped into Mike Batt, wandering the streets promoting the rerelease of his 'Wombling Merry Christmas' or somesuch.

She has a photo to prove it. If we ask nicely, it might appear here.

A bit of snow might help the Battmeister in his campaign.

I said to Mrs BP it was cold enough for snow, dry too. I don't really have to go anywhere else this year so I don't mind much. The last two years I have had terrible journeys in ice and snow, the snow ploughs don't bother to grit and clear south of Dorking.

Those weather channel folks say it is going to be this surprising temperature right through Christmas. Sadly for the kids, no snow here.

As to shovelling snow, the law in Ohio is a little odd. No liability if you don't shovel, because the snow is considered a natural accumulation, an Act of God. If you do shovel, you can be sued, as you've changed the natural accumulation.

Maybe I should change the subject. That Hitler was a bit of a ****, wasn't he?

*a bit later*

I meant all the political stuff.

Think of all those childhood memories. The excitement of the white blanket outside your front door. Making those first deep footprints. Your street silent and empty of cars. Building a snowman. The local bullies kicking it over and calling you a twat. The snowball in the face. Falling onto your arse. Your hands so cold they hurt for an hour and made your head ache. Mm, I see what you curmudgeons mean.

...which turn to slush oh so quickly" were metres deep here (Newcastle) last year, freezing solid into impenetrable drifts one of which my four-wheel drive had to be abandoned in at midnight. No public transport and the one time I ventured outside the area on a work-related mission, the temperature was 16 below so, er, no thanks. We're hard up here, us, but even some of the underdressed young things in the Bigg Market were being helped by paramedics as they succumbed to hypothermia

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....

I can't argue that a snow covered landscape looks wonderful. The quiet that goes with it is very attractive too.... but it's a right pain! It stops me doing stuff. I have an end of year bash on Friday, and a gig in London on Monday. The easiest week of the year to drive to and from work is that last week before christmas and for the past two years the roads have been covered with ice which has meant going the long way and taking even longer than normal! If it's snowing on christmas day then there will be a lot of lonely people around the country whose rellies can't get to them safely. I'm off work between christmas and new year so it can snow then but somehow I think I'm just being selfish now!

have it starting about 4pm on the 25th, clearing on, say, the 28th?