Over the Christmas period everyone was waiting in anticipation for the snow to fall enabling us to have that perfect festive feel. Soon, however, Christmas and New Year passed without a snowflake in sight. It looked as if the traditional snowman building was to be put aside and that our umbrellas would be fully utilised. Each year I hope for snow and this year would be no exception, so you can imagine my delight when one evening a couple of nights ago the weather forecast informed me that my desire for snow may well be fulfilled – Snow was to come! However as the weekend progressed thoughts of snow disappeared. Sunday evening arrived and I adhered to my usual routine of sitting on the sofa with my other half, after a rather large Sunday Dinner, submerged into a world of Fringe (a tv series) and not so healthy snacks before going to sleep.
Warmed by my electric blanket I fell into a comfortable sleep when suddenly my alarm started to go off – Monday morning had arrived! I stumbled out of bed and was getting ready to go to work at Norfolk Oak when out of the corner of my eye I noticed a white blanket covering the garden; it had snowed! Panic hit; I needed to get to work and I lived over an hour away from the Sandringham estate! I rushed to find my car keys and after a long 20 minutes I managed to brush the snow off my car and be rid of all the ice. I began the slow journey to work, anticipation was high and my eyes kept acknowledging the clock – I was going to be late to work; not a good start to the week and it was all down to some snow that I now regretted longing for. The roads were icy, traffic was slow and I was nervous. All my thoughts continually related back to how much I disliked snow and that it was an inconvenience to myself and others. What should have been an hour’s journey to Anmer Hall in fact took me nearly double that. It is fair to say that I was unimpressed, that was, until I got closer to work…
Suddenly the snow looked incredible and all my initial loathing to the snow subsided. This only grew stronger as I drove up to Anmer hall and the old stables. This is where the Norfolk Oak office is based and where I work most days. We are a company that specialises in manufacturing kitchen worktops, furniture and a number of other products in a variety of hardwoods such as Oak, Sapele and Walnut to name a few. Everywhere looked sublime, most of the snow remained untouched and the buildings had a glint about them that only snow can provide. As I pulled up to the gate and got out of my car I nearly slipped, as I burst out laughing I reminded myself that this is exactly why I love snow! Not the risk of injury that supersedes it but the spirit and happiness that it gives people – only when it snows would I laugh at nearly falling over! So next time you feel yourself becoming full of anxiety take a breath and remember exactly what it is about snow that you love. We all find that tasks such as driving become difficult and we all naturally worry about how the impending snow will affect us but as long as you can remember why it is that you wanted the snow in the first place you’ll most likely find that these issues become the minority. After a long car journey I was thankful to arrive at Anmer Hall as it offered me everything that I love about the snow and it meant that when I opened the office door I was ready to embrace the day ahead.
Find the beauty in the snow, the happiness that it can provide
and enjoy it while it lasts…
