The first proper this winter snow has today finally arrived to Loughton. As usual, it has brought London underground problems and crawling cars on the roads with it but it’s worse it because it also brings a lot of joy to all people, especially to the children.

It happens every winter. It happens once. It never happens twice. I am still talking about the snow in Loughton. It may snow several times a year during the winter but the “real” snow that does not melt during the day only occurs once a winter. At least it has been during the last ten or so years when I’ve heard about this weird fact from someone and began to take notice.

I don’t know what this phenomenon is caused by but it’s true. So I think that it would be possible to check the effects of the global warming just by checking the snowfall in Loughton i.e. how many times a year, what’s the intensity, what’s the the duration and so on.

But in the meantime I’m very glad we have the snow this year because it is something different. With the snow on, the town looks different too - it looks peaceful and clean, relaxed in a way, like on the old postcard. It’s a shame I have had to go work today and won’t be able to photograph this “rare adverse weather condition”, which turns out to be just fine, nice and unusual weather effect. Someone would not get to work today, some won’t get to school, some would feel colder than usual and someone’s car wouldn’t start, but all in all it’s fun, isn’t it? I mean to see the snow in your own Loughton, not Sweden when on the weekend getaway and not France when skiing there on the mountains.

So enjoy it if you can and while you can - go for a walk in the woods with kids, start a snowball fight, build a snowman. You can also clean your car and your driveway from the snow. All in all, be outside, breathe the clean snowy air and simply be happy because in Loughton it’s only snowing properly once a year.