Even our snowman had frostbite. His nosey carrot of fresh organic origin turned black and his apple eyes teared up. With the big chill on the way I thought he would become a permanent fixture in our frozen garden. Then miraculously he melted in double digit temperatures just before the polar vortex arrived. The snow disappeared, and any lingering traces became mini ice skating rinks on the street corners. An eeriness descended on the city and the view from here was as though the vortex was a creature, looking for the fallen ball in Times Square. Personally I think the polar bears were having their own revenge. We have been inadvertently sending them warmer and warmer conditions for ages and now is their time to return the favour. Suddenly farenheit and celcius are as one – we are well below all the usual reference points. Six degrees would have been cold in either language, but minus 15….?!  When you start talking minus, it isn’t simply a matter of adding layers, it is how many clothes can you put on and still be able to walk….or not give the children nightmares…!