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| snowdog |
We finally got some snow in Lincolnshire. Just a light covering in our village although I think it is heavier up in the Wolds. The children were out early this morning sledging down Washdyke Lane but the snow wasn’t really deep enough.
When I was a young teenager living in the Yorkshire Dales we used to get ‘proper’ snow. My step-father made me a sledge. It was a hefty beast constructed from wood with steel runners. It was hard work lugging it up the hills but once the sledge started to move it would gather momentum and really travel fast.
One day I grew bored sledging down the modest hill in the paddock behind our house so, accompanied by Bonnie, my dog, I dragged the sledge further uphill until I was up high overlooking the village. The field was clear of sheep and there was a wonderfully long downhill run. It was fun to start with, bouncing along at a gentle speed but I started to go faster and faster and realised there was no run out at the bottom of the field, just a stone wall to block my way. I hung on to the rope in a sheer panic when a yellow flash darted in front of me. I threw myself to the left to avoid hitting Bonnie and we tumbled over in the snow, coming to a stop just a few feet away from the wall. I never took my sledge up that hill again.
Love your sledging story. Sledging in Lincolnshire in my childhood seemed to be every year - where did you live - do tell me. My aunt and uncle lived in Tetford in the Wolds - they had a farm there and I spent hours roaming around that area as a child.
ReplyDeleteI lived in Bainbridge, Pat, and went to school at Yorebridge in Askrigg.
DeleteBonnie to the rescue?!
ReplyDeleteMost definitely. She was a beautiful yellow labrador.
DeleteWhenever my siblings & I went toboganning at the local park, my mum would say “roll off if you’re going into the river, and don’t worry about the toboggan”. There was a long outrun at the bottom of the hill, and rarely did we get within a yard of the drop to the river but it could so easily have happened to bigger kids on waxed (for speed) toboggans. I often laugh about this version of child care...now children would never be allowed to toboggan in such a place; in fact I imagine the town would close the park. Nor would parents let their children walk as far as we did, alone, to get there! Your sledging story brought back very happy memories of my childhood in Quebec in the 50s.
ReplyDeleteI bet you got some 'proper' snow in Quebec.
DeleteLucky you survived intact. Good for Bonnie.
ReplyDeleteI got lucky that day.
DeleteI had a similar experience in Newcastle. I never went toboganning again. Everybody else thought it was wonderful. I was terrified.
ReplyDeleteIt was scary, I just remember the sledge getting faster and faster and not knowing how to slow down or stop.
DeleteYour photo shows a beautiful blanket of snow across your garden. Sledding was always a favorite, good fun activity. We'd gather with friends and used flying saucers, sleds with runners, and toboggans. None were particularly great for steering. What a frightening near miss you experienced. Sweet Bonnie saved you.
ReplyDeleteI think she did.
DeleteJust delightful drizzle and mud here; any sledge would be bogged-down in an instant.
ReplyDeleteWe have had more snow overnight but it is quickly melting in the sunshine.
DeleteI don't think I ever went sledging as a child. There were no hills nearby !
ReplyDeleteIt was only after we moved to Yorkshire that I got the opportunity to do so.
DeleteRick looks very smart in his cheery red coat!
ReplyDeleteCan't remember if I've ever tobogganed, but it's unlikely, as there were few hills nearby, and the snow never seemed to last long.
I don't think Inca, my beautiful yellow Lab., (what Lab isn't beautiful!) has ever seen snow. Sadly if it snowed now she would have to admire it from indoors - no way would I venture out.
As a former Labrador owner, have you seen the Andrew Cottar You Tube videos about his Labs Olive and Mabel? Well worth a look, and they've gone viral.
I haven't seen it, I'll take a look.
DeletePeople have died sledging down hills like that one. I am glad that you lived to tell the tale. How would Paul have managed without you in his life?
ReplyDeleteI think he would have managed very well.
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