llywela | snowscapes

You may or may not have noticed that I've been a bit quiet of late - a sudden fit of unchattiness that hit me for no reason whatsoever. I found myself abandoning all my writing projects (which remain untouched) and have also drifted a bit out of touch with my flist. Work has been on the crazy busy side, and in the evenings I haven't really wanted to go near the computer, preferring to curl up with a blanket, the cats and a good book instead!

Rather than bore everyone catching up on stuff that's been going on, I shall bore you instead with another snowscape picspam - with apologies to the

scene_again folk, who are getting this twice.

What a mixed week this has been! It started with continued ice (still going strong since before Christmas) and dire forecasts, then began to thaw, then mini-blizzards and now at last we look to be verging on a proper thaw at last! Fingers crossed it lasts.

As always, click the thumbnails to view the pictures properly.

After my last picspam post, a few people commented on the blueness of the images - which was purely the result of the light quality at the time! To demonstrate, I took a few pictures at the same location at the same time of day, just 24 hours later - and they just go to show what a difference the weather makes! Still a little blue-tinged, it is true, but nothing like the previous day, when it had still been snowing.

On Saturday I took the Small Sis up to Roath Park, near where I used to live, to see how the lake had frozen over. I've posted pictures of this park and lake so many times, but have never seen it looking like this before!

These pigeons looked awfully cold, all huddled up together like that!

Chelsea and I were a little concerned about this swan for a while, as he was just sitting on the ice unmoving for absolutely ages - it seemed such a cold spot to have a snooze!

But as we stepped up to the edge of the lake to take a closer look, he woke up and lumbered to his feet in hopes that we might have food for him.

Some more shots of the frozen lake.

Understandably, the various birds that make their home on the lake didn't seem terribly happy about its condition!

Walking on water

And finally, back to Bute Park yesterday morning, after yet another snowfall.

And the view from my office window.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I've never seen the lake frozen before, either - it's rather an amazing sight! The walking on water pictures are up at the top end around the islands, yes. It is more sheltered and therefore less frozen than the rest, just enough water that the birds can more or less swim, but even there it had frozen in places - hence the walking on water. The birds were very unhappy about it. They are usually extremely well fed, though, and it shouldn't hurt them - they have the islands to take refuge on. Even so, I hope it's started to thaw now.

I have almost the complete set of Chalet School books - I believe there is only one that I never managed to find and so have never read. I've only got a handful of the original hardbacks, though - most of them are Armada paperbacks and, I have discovered via online explorations, are heavily abridged. Apparently, a small publishing firm has started re-printing the books in batches, complete and unabridged and using all the original artwork and everything - fabulous! So now I am trying to figure out if it is worth beginning to invest in a couple here and there to replace my abridged books (many of which are falling apart anyway) with these spiffy new unabridged ones...

I always loved these kinds of stories as a child - plausibility mattered not a jot to me! Even now, however much my inner-editor/critic scoffs at the scenarios and writing, my inner child rejoices. *G*

Feel free to shout if you're down or in need of company.
Will do, ta - as long as you feel free to pop down for a visit whenever you fancy!

I hadn't realised the Armada books were abridged - that means I'll have to search out the originals!

Visiting - it's a deal :)

The original hardbacks are hideously expensive and hard to find! But luckily Girls Gone By publishers have started re-printing some of the unabridged texts, complete with original artwork - they can be ordered through their website, or via amazon (just have to be careful to check that it is them and not Armada or Collins).

Actually...I'm not sure if the Collins books are the abridged or unabridged version. Suspect the former, but will have to look into it.

Edit - someone gave me a link to a spreadsheet detailing which books were most heavily abridged and which were left uncut. Want me to dig it out for you?

Edited 2010-01-15 07:28 (UTC)

Ooh, yes please! No rush though - it'll be a while before I'm buying anything.

It's as well to do it now before I lose the link!

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=p55m29bG0Nz9qL7tz9XVLXw

And Girls Gone By Publishers are: http://www.ggbp.co.uk/ (Again, if I don't do it now I'll forget...)

I've put a few on my wishlist on amazon - it'll be a while before I can justify spending the money, but it's as well to keep them bookmarked for future reference, I felt!

Oh my ears and whiskers! I'd better lock my credit card away before I get any ideas about spending money I haven't got.

*puts credit card in cupboard*
*locks cupboard*
*throws away key*

snowscapes

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