It snowed and snowed and better snowed. The winter of 47 proved to be one of the worst in living memory or as the weatherman always put it since records had been kept.

It was 2 o' clock on a Monday afternoon and we had all been sent home from school. It had been concluded it was too cold in the classrooms for work to be done.

Can I go out and play in the snow Nana'. I asked eagerly. This snow was the best thing that had ever happened I thought.

'Just make sure you yet well wrapped up'

Suitably dressed in a thick coat! Wellingtons. Balaclava and a long scarf wrapped around my neck like a snake I ventured out: I was the great explorer. Scott of the Ant Arctic. Arctic seemed a funny name for an aunt.

I stepped outside the back door with some difficulty. The snow was almost up to the top of my wellingtons even though Granda had cleared the path that morning. It was so deep and exciting. Looking down the garden everything was on one level. The snow completely unbroken except for the criss cross pattern of birds footsteps on the very surface. The hedge at the bottom of the garden had completely disappeared beneath the snow. must be six foot deep I thought Gordon of the Ant Arctic will have to venture forth to perform great deeds.

I walked out into the street outside looking up towards the building site at the top of the road. They were building prefabs one of which we hoped to get. The building site was completely deserted the men like my grandfather who was a labourer had probably been laid off because of the weather. Across the top of McCullagh Gardens there was a fence but I knew a secret way through.

I lifted one of the two slats in the fence which we had loosened and then wedged in place. Stepping through I was now in the real arctic. The snow seemed to go on and on mile after mile. Here and there bricks broke through the surface where they had been left in piles by the brickies. It was dangerous because my grandfather had said they were still digging the foundations and there were trenches and pits every where. Scott of the ant arctic would have never turned back and neither did I.

I plodged on through the snow lost in a world of my own. I spotted several polar bears but ignored them. They lay without moving and offered no danger. I picked up a piece of broken wood sticking out of the snow and shot one. It still didn't move.

On and on I went. The snow got deeper and I got wet and very cold. On I went. This was a great adventure. 1 was alone against the wilderness. Surrounded by nothing but whiteness. I knew from the films I had seen how easy it was to get snow blindness. I pulled my scarf up around my face just leaving a small hole through which to see. It was starting to snow again. Slowly at first but the flakes seemed to get larger and larger. Soon the wind was blowing it into a blizzard.

I had left the fence far behind me now and everywhere seemed to look the same. I had a terrible sense of direction. which I had inherited from my mum. I was at this point worried but just pushed on through snow and blizzard. Somewhere I would have to plant a flag to record my bravery and claim this land for my King and Country. It was always done like that in the movies.

Suddenly I fell into a crevasse. The snow momentarily closed over my head. I fought to get out but slid deeper into the snow. I lay very still. My heart was beating very fast. I felt a little frightened. Perhaps I was going to die. Mentally I composed diary events. When they found my body there would be nothing but my gun lying by my side. I was very cold now. My feet and hands were like blocks of ice. But some how inside I felt warm and cosy. I mustn't fall asleep that’s how they all die. Got to keep awake I though got to keep awake. God it was cold.

I must have been asleep for sometime, as it was very dark. I heard voices coming towards me. It must be a rescue party I thought. Hope they bring chocolate and hot tomato soup. I struggled valiantly to get to my feet. Mustn’t let the side down. 'There he is'. a voice cried. It was my Granda. Quickly I was plucked from the deep crevasse saved from the frozen wastes. Soon we were back in civilisation and my grandmother was fussing over me. She put my hands under the hot water tap bringing back the circulation with the hot water. A large steaming plate of hot soup was pushed in front of me. I gulped it down like a true hero. 'I told you that place was dangerous Gordon.' said my grandfather. ‘You could have broken your leg or worse still froze to death if we hadn't found you'.

'Leave the bairn alone.' Said my Nana. 'He's all right now. The poor bairn’s half frozen to death. let him get his soup down 'im. You won't go up there again Gordon will you?” She sounded so anxious. I loved my Nana and Granda very much. I shook my head vigorously between mouthfuls. Perhaps another day.