At the beginning of last week, something strange and unfamiliar happened...
I walked the short distance to catch the bus, and was warm at the end of it. I stood waiting for the bus without a hat on or my hood up over my head, and I was not frozen. My one pair of gloves I was wearing sufficed; in fact, my hands were verging on being almost warm (not a common occurrence whatever the time of year!). I no longer needed to hop from one foot to the other in an effort to stop my body from going numb with the cold whilst waiting for the bus to come. I was able to get on the bus without my nose and eyes running, and therefore could actually see what I was doing.
The reason for these unusual occurrences? The temperature outside was... 1 degree!
One whole degree above freezing!
Before Montreal, I never ever thought such a temperature could ever be classed as warm. Before this winter, 1 degree was a temperature I avoided venturing out in to be honest, but now it feels so pleasant compared to the past few months I just want to go walking in this 'warmth'!
The reason for these unusual occurrences? The temperature outside was... 1 degree!
One whole degree above freezing!
Before Montreal, I never ever thought such a temperature could ever be classed as warm. Before this winter, 1 degree was a temperature I avoided venturing out in to be honest, but now it feels so pleasant compared to the past few months I just want to go walking in this 'warmth'!
The sun had some heat to it for once - it has shone a lot more than I was expecting it to this winter, but on some days the sunshine was almost cold, which was a very strange sensation. Bird-song filled the air as they flew around from branch to branch (which were free from snow!). The droplets of water falling onto the ground were not of rain but melting snow, as the whole neighbourhood started to slowly thaw and the thick blanket of snow that covered everything, shrank back.The whole place had a buzz to it; the Spring excitement.
The end of the long harsh winter is nigh...!
The end of the long harsh winter is nigh...!
But it was still February last week; and before we were able to get any more ideas about being warm the weather was quick to put everyone back in their winter place:
The day after my 'Springtime experience' we had another 10-15cm snow....and it has snowed virtually every day since then. Not a huge amount, but still enough to make everywhere look wintery once again.
It has returned to it's wintry temperatures once more (well, 'milder-wintry' temperatures, thankfully) and feels like minus 13 as I write this, the wind whipping through any gap you have been careless enough to leave when putting your clothes on; striking like a knife of ice on any areas of bare skin.
Yup, winter is definitely well and truly here and looks to be sticking around for a few more weeks...
Yup, winter is definitely well and truly here and looks to be sticking around for a few more weeks...