WHEN 'the Beast from the East' hit Britain it spread its cold blast across the country.

Any male dog foolish enough to cock its leg near a lamp post was liable to become attached. But it vented its snow fury in the east and north.

So while others were snow-bound and having to dig themselves out, in Cardigan, generally speaking we remained a relatively green and pleasant land.

We weren’t entirely snow free of course as one day we had a dusting, followed the next from storm Emma to create a picture postcard look.

Yet the TV news programmes continued to give dire warnings for the whole of Wales.

So in the future when there are debates about the great snow we will be saying 'but not us'.

It’s a pity that some news organisation didn’t come here to show the contrast between us and the rest of the country.

Of course the snow we had pales into insignificance when compared to the infamous 1947 snow which brought the whole country to a halt; I remember it as a small child.

Then in 1963 we had a fair whack of cold and snow. I have a photo of the Teifi frozen over and large drifts.

I have vivid memories of attempting to get from Aberporth to Cardigan to see my then girlfriend, now wife. My word, a cocktail of passion and hormones makes for stupidity.

The next big snow was in 1983, just months after we had moved to the Ferwig Road. The road was completely blocked and we had to be dug out by local farmers.

I have a photo of Beryl standing and looking dwarfed by snow drifts.

So those of us who think snow is a hindrance – adults – we were lucky. For those who adore snow – mainly children - it was a big disappointment, especially when there were images of children tobogganing just about everywhere else.

Let’s see what the spring brings us.

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COMMENTS and news, false or otherwise, continue to exercise some regarding the Integrated Care Centre, and especially about the stability of the site’s ground.

It seems that springs are present on both the Sainsbury’s and health centre sites.

The main problem with the former was that the contractors who constructed the platform appeared to have put in sufficient drainage. This has hopefully now been addressed and corrected.

The experts who have worked on the centre site have assured us that by using appropriate technology, the centre can safely be built. This has to be accepted.

I wonder if it is a coincidence that only these two site have been highlighted as having springs, with no mention of the adjacent sites.

The site adjacent to the platform is Bron y Dre, which was about 50 years ago. I wonder if any water problems were found then. If so how was her problem solved.

The site adjacent to the centre’s site appears to be currently under preparation for a residual development. What problems are to be faced there one wonders?

If neither of these adjacent site had or have no problems it seems odd that the very two sites that were designated for development are the ones with problems.

As for the existing buildings (the old hospital whose site is far too small to accommodate the new centre) and Health Centre, Hywel Dda has stated that when they come up for sale the local community would be given the first opportunity to purchase them.

My challenge in the last column was for us to come up with financially viable propositions. Any takers?

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WE have been adopted by a robin – yes it’s that way round. Robin (what else could we name him), assuming it’s male of course. If not,it will be Roberta.

As the weeks have passed he/she has trained us to always have a handful of seeds when we open the door. If not he/she stands defiantly on the bottom door frame and looks hopeful.

If the door is left ajar we are invaded and fixed with those beady eyes.

Talk about communing with nature.