What a start to 2010! I just loved that satellite picture that showed the whole of the UK covered in snow - loved it for about a day, perhaps, then started thinking of all the problems people who needed to get out and about, would have.

It took me back to the winter of 1982/83 when I 'found' patchwork and quilting. From the September I had been making blocks for a Sampler quilt and after Christmas there came snow. For 3 weeks my car did not move. But during that time I put together my quilt top, hand quilted and bound it. By the time I returned for the Spring session I had FINISHED my quilt! There was no stopping me after that.

This time I was housebound for about 12 days. Neighbours were getting out but as I didn't have to (freezer and larder were well stocked), I decided not to add to any chaos there might be on the road. For most of the days the main road was clear, but I have a mile long lane to negotiate before getting there. As you can see, the lane was a very different kettle of fish! I made sure the birds were well fed and felt sorry for the farmer having to struggle through to feed the sheep and break the ice in their troughs.

Fortunately technology is such that I could continue editing the magazine from home. How did we manage before computers, scans and email?

I did have one break in that 10 days when my son Martin, (do some of you remember him organising the car park for the first 10 years of Quilts UK?) and his wife Monika came to take me out shopping to do the potential grandma thing - buy the pram - sorry these days I mean 'Travel System'.

Over 30years ago when I had my children, I remember my in-laws buying us the pram. It still looked very similar to the traditional Silver Cross pram, but because we lived in the country and had to go everywhere by car, it was smaller and the pram body separated easily from the base. I used to heave the base onto the car roof rack (good job I'm tall) and the pram body, with Martin (and in due course the girls, Debbie and Jo) fastened in and put in the back of the estate car! I can hear the collective intake of breath as you all think 'Health and Safety'. But that is how it was done in those days until at 8 or 9 months old, the child progressed to a car seat.

Anyway, back to the Travel System. Monika had some thoughts about what she would like - 4 wheels, not 3; rotating, not fixed front wheels; a reasonably sized shopping basket - they live in town. Most importantly she wanted a system that when in pushchair mode, the seat could face towards her with the option of facing away, should she so wish. I was really pleased about this as I have a real bee in my bonnet that at some time in the future, someone will do research on the way we bring up our children and find that one of the worst things we inadvertently subject them to, is pushing them away from us into the great unknown. Imagine what it is like if all you can see is legs and bags, with no real idea of what they are. How can you react to your baby, know if it is awake, asleep, happy or upset; how can you communicate properly when you can't see each other's faces?

The snow has now disappeared, leaving the possible problem of floods. The stream in my garden has turned from about an inch of ice to a muddy torrent, but is still a very long way from the top of the bank. Today the sun is shining and although everything does not look as pretty as it did when covered in snow, at least we can travel with ease.

If you were housebound, I trust you made the most of your time to get some more sewing done. I have a cot quilt to finish by the end of May!

Dianne