An unexpected opportunity to ice skate and a good dead done at the farm on the M62

From the front door all the way down the drive, thick ice lay, threatening to catch out anyone who strode across it. All three of us came a cropper, John-William several times, Paul in spectacular fashion. Ice skating is all we hear at the moment, when can we go, where can we go, can I have some ice skates.

So it came as a huge surprise that we stumbled across four people enjoying a frozen pond right on top of the moors. We were on our way back down to the farm after checking round the ewes on Dean Head when I did a double take across the wintry landscape.

Ice skaters! I pulled over and stared in amazement. As soon as the engine was off John-William was gone, leaving the car door open in his haste. No hat, gloves or coat, just his little fleece hoodie to keep the icy air at bay. The great heather tussocks and stumps of molinia grass lay hidden beneath the white blanket of snow.

He was caught out several times, disappearing into great drifts. By the time he reached the edge of the ice, he was somewhat dishevelled and covered in snow. He took several cautious steps, despite being encouraged from the four gliding effortlessly across the ice. After a firm stamp he was confident the ice wasn’t going to give way under his feet and off he went. For ten minutes I watched them, the sunlight catching the blades of their skates, excited shouts to one another whipped away in the wind. For me, the endless feeding of animals, mucking out, fencing, frozen fingers, forgotten for a minute.

I sat in the warmth of my car and watched these strangers skimming across the ice, with one little ungainly duckling slipping and sliding between them.

I could have sat and watched them all day, an escape from the daily grind, but the bitterly cold wind soon caught up with the little guy and after thanking them and waving goodbye he made his way back across the uneven, blanketed ground.

Not far behind us, Paul was also heading home. He was on his tractor and unfortunately missed the dancing on ice. Fortunately, however, he arrived at the perfect time to assist someone in need. An elderly gentleman had veered off the road after hitting a patch of snow that had drifted.

The majority of the road was clear but the wind had blown the top off a large drift leaving a white streak across the road. The car had slid into the ditch at the side and was stuck fast. Paul pulled into the side and offered to tow him out. The gentleman nodded gratefully and in no time his car was back out on the road.

Paul waved him off and headed home, his good deed done for the day.