Well, there is nothing like a severe dose of snow and ice to alter life and work. For the first time in over a fortnight there is actually some evidence of a thaw in the wintry conditions today but with an anticipated return of the white stuff after the weekend.
The last fortnight has seen over 2 feet of snow fall and remain here in North Northumberland and the area has been brought to a near standstill. For many days the only movement on the road was by 4 x 4’s and farm vehicles. Thank God for the air ambulance which was able to transport sick and injured people to safety and for the brilliant work of local farmers, the Highways Department and local people who had earth moving equipment who worked tirelessly to keep essential services, shops and local businesses operating.
The conditions so early in the winter are unprecedented. Building work on our house which should have been completed ten days ago will now not resume until the New Year. Wooler High Street is tastefully illuminated with Christmas lights and shop front and house decorations. Our contribution is a huge, tall, three platform scaffolding, stretching the height and width of our property and providing a fairly ugly feature on Wooler High Street which should have come down this week but will now remain well into January.
Of course, the snowy conditions, blue skies, breath taking sunrises and sunsets are almost alpine, picture postcard material. The reality is, however, one of hard work. And for some local businesses, the severe weather conditions pose an enormous threat to their very existence. Local people have been laid off work and others are in fairly serious financial difficulties as a result of the area coming to a virtual standstill.
It is a salutary reminder that despite our best planning, life is ultimately in God’s hands and the vulnerability that comes with a simple change in weather is a stark reminder of how we are prey to the elements.
All our hopes and plans for leaving Hetton and relocating this month to Acton have gone. Each day that fails to see builders on site, pushes back our anticipated move well into the New Year. Pete, Catherine and Judith have been stranded for over 10 days in the lodge and a holiday let at the back of Hetton Hall. Unable to get out because of the depth of snow followed by severe icy conditions, they’ve had an unexpected and enforced period of rootedness. We are, in terms of the Mother House, for the time being, homeless. The weather conditions and their consequences posing considerable challenges and pressures, e.g. no post for over a week, limited telephone and internet connectivity and the inability to meet up, share and work together, everything is done at an inevitably slower pace, takes longer and is hard work.
The poignancy of the words of the Midday Office liturgy were not lost on me the other day as I cancelled yet another appointment and looked out of my study window onto a street laden with abandoned vehicles immovable in the snow and went through to the other side of our house where we were hoping to host an Advent Evening with people from the area only to encounter a building site with its associated rubble, dust and dirt, Let nothing disturb thee, nothing affright thee, all things are passing, God never changes.
Take care, keep warm and safe.
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