The Uphill Freestyle Slalum

"I am unstoppable just now." What utter bollocks that was!!

Winter sports Vitared style. The journey over was "interesting". It is easy to be wrong footed. It's 12 April and I'm just going over to my place to clear snow. There was a clue in there somewhere. "Snow". White slippy slidey, cold stuff. In the Arctic in the summer three years ago I was cautious. A litttle warning bell went off in my head as I drove into the forest and the snow got heavier. It wasn't the sleety stuff any more. It was now proper snowing in a very snowy way. Give it another two hours and it would get positively Scandinavian.

"Was Scandinavia ever part of the British Empire Carruthers old chap?"
"Not that I know of sir. No Tea you see. Too cold".
Ahh. That would be right".
"Why do you ask sir?"
"Not important old boy but we seem to have lost that idiot engineer Winterburn in the woods. Drives on summer tyres you know...................."

I got a good run up at the hill, but the bend slowed me down, then I started to slide, quite a bit. My momentum took me over the first crest, and I gave it a little more gas the next time. I made the turn into Ringvagen OKish but there is a problem. I can't park at my place without burying Darwin! I had to go past and with a sinking "I need a toilet" feeling realised that if I didn't stop then turn around, I was going down the other side which I imagine is now a down hill slalom course for a hapless Brit. I had to think while moving. Tricky for the male brain. I remembered a turning space and found it. Back past my place, beaten I was heading back to Bankeryd mission aborted. I got back as far as the motocross circuit and slowed to a stop. We wouldn't get the pick up in tomorrow. I didn't clear the snow.What ever happened to that British stiff upper lip? It sits just north of a weak and wobbly English chin. I turned around for another go at the Vitared winter hill climb. Mad as an Englishman in the midday Indian sun! This time I used my experience. No points for style but I got to the top OK, and hung a left back into Ringvagen. I had no intention of driving to my house though. No point. My cunning plan was to stop by the post boxes and walk the rest of the way. Summer tyres. Winter boots.

Shovel in hand I manfully made short work of clearing the snow from the whole drive. In my dreams!! It took an hour and a half of huffing and puffing. Honestly I as only shovelling on my knees to get a better angle. That warranted a cup of tea before making my way back out to Bankeryd. The snow fell even heavier. I'll find out tomorrow if I wasted my time.

Meat balls for dinner. Yum!