I'm sitting here in the warm house with my cat curled up on my lap, purring loudly. It has been snowing solidly all day today and most things here in the city seem to have come to a halt. We are just not geared up for bad weather here in the city. I've been off work for two days now because of the snow - so there are benefits! The autumn term was very long and I was poorly all through the Christmas holiday and then found that this half term was very pressured. So as I was given these two days as a gift, I've ignored most of those jobs which are waiting for me and had a rest. I feel better for it but rather guilty at the same time. I'm really grateful that I had the option to have a rest. Had we already moved somewhere and had animals to look after, then I would have had to work regardless with no choice in the matter.

We are supposed to be going away tomorrow for a few days but I don't somehow think we will be going. I've heard reports of deep snow in areas which we should be travelling through. So we'll wait for a day and look at the weather again.

The hens are really unsure about the snow. They won't walk through it even to reach their water at the other end of their run. I moved the can to the end of the run where they were all huddled and they were so thirsty. They are laying well, though. We had 11 eggs from the 12 of them yesterday - an alltime record. And 9 today. We had eggs for dinner tonight. Now that is a surprise, isn't it!

It has been a busy week with a busy weekend and another busy week ahead. Too many meetings in that diary. I need my hair cut and trying to fit an appointment in this week was quite difficult. I couldn't fit a haircut in last week and my hairdressing friend is off on holiday next week so it had to be this week.

My oldest hen, a grand old lady now, laid me a lovely big egg today. The first one since early autumn. And my young Warren who was poorly all the autumn has laid her first two eggs this week. I was so pleased!

On the other side of the coin, my smallest hen coop has fallen to bits this week and will need serious mending done to it. I've been keeping a weather eye on skips etc for a piece of wood to make a new roof for a while but not found a big enough piece yet. However, now other areas are following suit. Things don't last for ever, especially when they were made from bits and pieces of leftovers in the first place - but why do they always choose inconvenient times to finally fall apart? The occupant of this coop has now got temporary accommodation in the rabbit's run with a box for a nest box and pieces of wood over the wire netting at night to provide shelter. Poor thing had to have somewhere to go for a week until we have daylight to do some repairs.