and more snow!!

It is a bit weird having this much snow around here, let alone in March. Quite unheard of, apparently. Every morning the world looks even whiter. This morning the courtyard was covered in snow. Because it is a gravel courtyard, the snow had generally just melted into the cracks, but by this morning it was covered in a thick carpet. This morning when I walked down here I felt like I was in an old movie where everything is in monochrome or sepia tone. The sky is in shades of white and pale grey, the lake looks steely, the mountains are white and the roads, paths and buildings are brown.

Yesterday afternoon I gave up on worrying about the interviews that I'm not getting done (Traipsing around to villages not the pleasantest option at the moment and vehicles are at a minimum) and started working on the interviews I've already done, creating a kind of database of responses, except that they will be handwritten in a notebook. That way I can pinpoint the longer answers and work on translating them later, but in the meantime try to compile basic answers to the shorter questions. I've done over 60 interviews so there's really plenty to work on. That way I can sit in the restaurant at the guesthouse near the fire with a hot water bottle on my lap and work.

A German girl turned up with a couple of Chinese tourists yesterday afternoon as well. We had a good chat. They had planned to go home today and though I've heard that a few buses are still going through, most people discourage going unless absolutely necessary. The roads are already steep and narrow, being covered in snow and ice means that accidents are very likely. Vehicles around here are not generally equipped with disc brakes, power steering or snow chains- though some people have four wheel drives. So it seems that a number of people are waiting it out here until, the snow disappears. The locals seem to be predicting every day that tomorrow will be warmer, with the result that every day is colder.

I gave up listening to the predictions this morning and went next door for a much needed shower. Tied back my wet hair and hurried back to the guesthouse to dry it over the fire. Luckily the water was piping hot and there was no wind this morning so it was fine. Nevertheless, the washing is piling up and clothing is starting to run out (except for a skirt and some short sleeved tops which are resolutely ignored as I pull out all the thermals I thought I wouldn't need anymore.

This morning the other guests busied themselves building another snowman- or rather snow lady, having decided that the first snowman needed a girlfriend. I stayed inside sipping a coffee and drying my hair.