The night had brought a fresh powdering of snow. You look out of the window at the crisp and untouched landscape to see the tree stump is now the beginning of a great snowman.

It seems so peaceful – magical almost – as the sun rises. The new light shines brightly across the tops of snow laded trees and white-topped houses.

You try to ignore the nagging question in the back of your mind as you have for years now – “when exactly will this winter end?”