...Hobbes on that one.

The temperatures since New Years have been oppressively cold. I understand why boomers head to Florida on Boxing Day and don't come back 'til Easter. I'd never do it simply because I despise Florida and its culture of giving in to old age. GRIN!

Still, I'm getting tired of wearing an extra heavy shirt indoors, in fact I rather resent it. I'm tired of warming up cars before I want to drive them. At least the extreme cold streak has been dry, so it doesn't really bother my joints; -10C and sunny is fine with arthritis, but 5C and raining just hurts.

Most annoying this winter is the very long stretch of roads uncleaned of salt and grit. Usually that might be a fortnight at worst before a good rain cleans them off and I can get out in a two-seater. Last year I had to put them up for six months because of my back surgery, so a second winter of not driving them, this time because of this year's un-natural stretch of salty roads, has been just an insult. First World problem compared to, say, being warm and dry, but still galling.

On the plus side, our little house is a compact structure; my bill to heat it and the workshop building combined is less than many of my neighbours (who bought into the bit you're supposed to aspire to a bigger and bigger house) who have to heat those typical sprawling American "ranch" style houses, old farm-houses, and "McMansions".

Yep! Grrr is right; we are fortunate to be warm enough in this house, but I'm with Hobbes.