WINTER WONDERLAND -it has been reported in the news that total snow fall in Dec last year was only 0.8 inches compared to this year's Dec to date of 25 inches of snow and winter has not even officially started yet! (The official start date of winter is this Xmas weekend). We have never experienced winter conditions of this sort (Lu Lei rarely had such problems back in his hometown even though temperatures there average at -20degrees in the winter months) and till now have not even equipped ourselves with a shovel. By the time we realised how bad it is, shovels have been sold out in the few shops we visited. By hook or by crook, we intend to get one this weekend!!