On Sunday the snow started to warm up and at last it was possible to build a snowman.  Unfortunately the snow was heavy and it became difficult to lift as the large snowballs were very heavy.

So instead I built a horse.  (With red onions for he eyes)

Here is the family picture from Christmas 2009

A Mexican woodpecker and a Canadian woodpecker were in Mexico arguing about which country had the toughest trees. The Mexican woodpecker claimed Mexico had a tree that no woodpecker could peck.

The Canadian woodpecker accepted his challenge and promptly pecked a hole in the tree with no problem. The Mexican woodpecker was amazed.

The Canadian woodpecker then challenged the Mexican woodpecker to peck a tree in Canada that was absolutely ‘impeckable’ (a term frequently used by woodpeckers ). The Mexican woodpecker expressed confidence that he could do it and accepted the challenge.
The two of them flew to Canada where the Mexican woodpecker successfully pecked the so-called ‘impeckable’ tree almost without breaking a sweat.
Both woodpeckers were now terribly confused. How is it that the Canadian woodpecker was able to peck the Mexican tree, and the Mexican woodpecker was able to peck the Canadian tree, yet neither was able to peck the tree in their own country?
After much woodpecker pondering, they both came to the same conclusion:

Apparently, a famous golfer was right, when he said, your pecker gets harder when you’re away from home.

The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats and have raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved." Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross." The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies all but ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to a "Bloody Nuisance." The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was during the great fire of 1666.

The Scots raised their threat level from "Pissed Off" to "Let’s get the Bastards" They don’t have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the frontline in the British army for the last 300 years.

The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide". The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France’s white flag factory, effectively paralysing the country’s military capability. It’s not only the French who are on a heightened level of alert.

Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout loudly and excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."

The Germans also increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbour" and "Lose".

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual, and the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels .

The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.

Americans meanwhile are carrying out pre-emptive strikes, on all of their allies, just in case.

New Zealand has also raised its security levels – from "baaa" to "BAAAA!". Due to continuing defense cutbacks (the air force being a squadron of spotty teenagers flying paper aeroplanes and the navy some toy boats in the Prime Minister’s bath), New Zealand only has one more level of escalation, which is "Shit, I hope Australia will come and rescue us". In the event of invasion, New Zealanders will be asked to gather together in a strategic defensive position called "Bondi".

Australia, meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to "She’ll be right, mate". Three more escalation levels remain, "Crikey!’, "I think we’ll need to cancel the barbie this weekend" and "The barbie is cancelled". So far no situation has ever warranted use of the final escalation level.

This time we managed to get the cars home before the snow could cause us any trouble.  However getting up early meant that we were able to create a snow sculpture before heading off to work…

Zach edited the snowman just after this picture was taken….  11 Year olds imaginations, need I say more.

It is done!  I have completed the challenge 400 sit-ups each day for 400 days.  I have lost 20kg, (3stone 2lbs or 44lbs for my American friends) and have reduced my waist by 10.16cm or 4 inches!

The result is that I have almost got a 6 pack, however I suspect that my lack of a consistent diet means that the remaining fat will have to be removed with a different training regime. (lots more cardio)

The result has proved to me that I can maintain a program for an extended period of time regardless of what else is happening.

Has it been good for me?  I suspect that it has not been the best exercise as I have suffered some hamstring injuries this year and while I have a fantastically strong core I could have been achieved another way.

So what is next?  I am planning to undertake the Tough Guy challenge at the end of the month, hamstring permitting.  And I expect to complete a number of triathlons this year.

However the biggest goal is to fix my calf and hamstring issues so that I can remain healthy this year….

Having broken my snow chains this week I went looking for some new ones.  I have found a site that is worth a visit: RoofBox

As you will see on the site it is the simplest thing to find the kit that you need.  Simply enter the car make and model and it will provide you with the products which fit.  For about £60 I can have some new snow chains that will fit my current car.

They also have a really neat product called AutoSock which is used “to give road tyres the grip they need on ice and snow”.

I think that I will be getting some of these, just in case this “global warming” continues…

Having had some decent snow in the last couple of days we are looking forward to it staying until tomorrow so that we can have a white Christmas.  At the moment it looks like that will be the case.  Fingers crossed!

Yesterday morning we were treated to some fascinating winter scenes and some interesting ice formations.

Ice thorns on a rose bush, these seemed to form independently of the actual thorns.

Next to the Church in the village is an amazing tree that looks fantastic when covered with ice…

More ice crystals on ivy

The turkey fence in the dean with extra spikes!

Iced web….

How is it in England that we have collective amnesia every time it snows.  It would appear that drivers suffer this more than most.  We forget the basics of the road, the simple maneuvers and how to park.

Last night we had some really sticky snow and cold conditions, nothing out of the ordinary for most countries, however in the South East of England it as if we had never seen this stuff before.

A simple 15 mile journey became a 6 hour epic battle of wits, fortune definitely favoured the brave. 

Having left the M40 motorway to avoid a major jam that was developing on the southbound approach to Stokenchurch we discovered that the “B” roads were not too bad and reasonably free flowing.  However at the slightest incline the world of driving changed.

Imagine being in motion and knowing that once you stop that getting going again is unlikely.  Now imagine that you are approaching a hill and things are going well, when you suddenly round a bend to discover that the cars ahead have decided to stop for no real reason…..  Agghhh!

At least snow chains work, once you have managed to get them attached.  However they work best if they fit your wheels!  After a few hundred yards they broke, but we had managed to crest the first hill!

There were many moments during the “short distance” when we were not sure that we should be driving or if we should look for a place to deposit the car.  However this was not really going to happen with two guys feeling like caged animals looking for an escape.

After thinking that we had found a clear route involving a trip down the Marlow road for about 3 miles.  We then discovered a bus blocking the road on the Medmenham Hill so it was back again to Henley, (the whole think taking 1 hour to travel 6 miles and go nowhere).  Upon returning to Henley we discovered that the town was deserted.  We carefully followed another Saab over the bridge and up Remenham Hill.  As we gingerly rolled forward we were both willing the car onwards and upward. 

Remenham Hill is quite steep, however when covered in ice and without our snow chains it was quite an experience.  Upon reaching the top our spirits soared and we had images of arriving home to a plate of spag bol in no time.  Not a chance!  How cruel this brief moment of achievement can be.  Having crested this huge hill we were confronted with a line of cars and articulated trucks waiting to go over the next obstacle!

Never-the-less, with a bit of careful traffic management (like leaving lots of space ahead of us, early braking and letting the car in front get clear of a small rise in the road, as well as telling the guys in the cars behind what we were going to do) we managed to make some progress. 

Getting to Rose Hill found another queue with a tractor pulling cars up the hill as we waited for 2 hours to get past, dodging abandoned cars and fallen trees.  The whole area looked like a war zone. 

We picked our way though and by 12pm we finally arrived home.  6 hrs for 15 miles, what an experience!

I am very proud of my parents and how they have provided for me over time and always been there for me.  I have just been sent this picture from Remembrance Sunday when dad was laying the wreath at the war memorial in Horsell. 

Both Mum and Dad served our country and I am very proud of them.