The Beast from the East

Thus was the expected weather styled; very dramatically, and we took the warnings to heart. Logs were chopped over the days before, and we brought enough indoors so that we could even avoid a trip down the yard. Online shopping arrived the day before the snow, the bird feeders were topped up and I brought the yard broom and shovel into the kitchen.
The north east wind howled around us, sporadically bringing snow before settling into several hours of blizzard.
Jeff braved it, but hurried back in. The Rayburn temperature drops when the wind's in the East but the woodburner was going flat out and we kept an eye on the news. The next morning there seemed no more snow; I shovelled away a small drift outside the back door and cautiously tested the glazed tarmac that was bare from the wind coming round the corner. It was treacherously slippery. Jeff wanted to go out; although he has 4 legs but he went straight over. He's too old to raise himself up from spreadeagled - I crawled to him (didn't dare to stand up) and pulled him back to the snow, where he managed to get up.  The wind was as icy and strong as ever. The snow had a thick crunchy crust on top. We had more snow during the day; I developed a technique with Jeff; put his harness on and only walked him on crusted snow - I could control where he went, and if he did fall I could more easily haul him to better footing and get him back up.
The birds flocked to the feeders; they were blown this way and that, slipping over on the ice; I watched them from the window. The blackbird crouched every time she stopped; to keep her legs warm or to prevent being blown over?  There was far less arguing; they were all desperate to eat.
We've had a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers coming - they are so smart.

Very blurry picture of the G S Woodpecker

I made a snowman but he only lasted a day before the thaw

Aha, that must be the Beast from the East