The somewhat good news is that the second snowstorm that was predicted by Environment Canada to take up from the first that struck at mid-day yesterday, did not bring its disgruntled presence to reality. The forecast was for the second in this series of two to make its presence around midnight, and to peter out around noon the following day, today. We awoke to the bright presence of yesterday's heavy snowfall muffling the landscape, but no new burden. Nicely bypassed.

Mind, the original is still heavy enough to make walking and driving difficult if not hazardous. Because of the quality of the snow the ice beneath - which had sheathed the landscape as a result of previous snows and intermittent melt periods - became even more slick. And by mid-afternoon yesterday, municipal and provincial police were warning motorists of the risks inherent in driving in these circumstances, which included white-out conditions. Over one hundred accidents had already been recorded.

The snow was tumbling down so thickly and so speedily that from the time we parked our car in the lot at our local supermarket to the time when we emerged with full shopping baskets, our car resembled a humped white ghost of considerable proportions. Brushing the snow off before driving away took its time, with the gale howling relentlessly during the process.

When we had earlier gone out for our daily ramble with our little dogs, the wind was whipping up a storm of ferocious activity, and before we emerged from our walk, which now takes us about an hour and a half each day on a roundabout circuit, the snow had begun falling heavily, and the wind was delighted with this opportunity to fill in every nook and cranny in the woods, and to cover us liberally with snow, so we resembled walking snowmen.