Within 48 hours of arriving in the UK we were treated to the first snowfall of winter. We awoke on Friday to 3 centimetres of snow on the ground with more falling throughout the morning.

The backyard of our friend’s home was turned into a white blanket and the trees around the edge of the garden started to droop under the weight of snow on their branches. Poppie and Daisy didn’t know what to make of it but soon discovered that snow is really cold – particularly on little paws – and spent the morning watching the snow fall with no real inclination to go out and explore. By mid morning Poppie’s adventurous nature got the better of her and she did a quick swing around the garden. It confirmed her earlier opinion about snow being cold and wet, and she retired to the bed for the rest of the day.

With no wind to speak of the snow drifted slowly to earth. It was enchanting. Apparently it has also led to British bookmakers slashing their odds of a white Christmas. Bring it on we say.