I literally couldn't believe my eyes

At time of writing (7th January) it's snowing outside.

It reminded me of some snow we had when I was a youngster (!!) and on checking discovered that it was exactly 40 years ago to the day that it happened.

We don't get much snow here, being on the coast, but I remember waking up on 7th January 1982 to be greeted with a lovely carpet of the white stuff outside.  My first thought was "great, no school today then" and made my way downstairs and thinking how strange it was that it was pitch black dark while upstairs was lit by the dawn light.

It was then I realised that the snow was a little deeper than I'd first thought.  Around 8 feet deeper to be precise and a huge drift had completely buried the front of our house.

not our actual house - but you get the ... drift!

I'd never seen anything like it (and still haven't to this day) and it was to get worse.  It snowed heavily for 36 hours.  And coupled with strong northerly winds the accumulations got higher and thicker.

The snow stuck around for over a week, with the army being drafted in to rescue people and provide basic necessities.  I remember being astounded at people's demand for bread and milk, thinking that surely tinned or frozen foods would be a better option.  Queues formed at the local farm and village shop, and any supplies were quickly bought up.

The usually busy motorway that ran within yards of our home was deserted, save for the abandoned vehicles stranded and immobilised in the snow.

We got an extra week off school at the end of the Christmas holidays, and I had to make a four mile walk (on the empty M4 motorway) to see my girlfriend (aw - young love!!).

By the end of the month the last of the snow had gone.  But when one evening it started to snow again the whole country went into panic and meltdown at the thought of a repeat.  Us youngsters though craved more and more, but it soon stopped and any crisis was averted!

I don't think I'll ever see a snowfall like that one ever again as the planet warms up sadly. But I'll always remember those cold walks along the motorway, and the warmth of the welcome at the other end.