I'm sure many of our overseas members know about the wintery conditions in the UK at the moment and the disruption they are causing. For those who haven't seen any pictures, this link will give an idea of what it's like: <http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/bristol/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8443000/8443483.stm> I had both my children off school/college today - and a 5'6" snowman in the back garden to prove it!! I read that white Christmasses are very much a thing of the past although commonplace in the 18th and 19th centuries. It got me thinking about the kind of conditions our ancestors faced and how they coped with them, given they didn't have the benefits of central heating and well insulated homes such as we have these days. It can't have been fun trying to keep the home and family warm. -- Charani (UK) OPC for Walton and Greinton, SOM Asst OPC for Ashcott and Shapwick, SOM http://wsom-opc.org.uk