Unnatural Thaw

People wonder why we love the winter so much and moan when unseasonably warm weather arrives, as is happening just now.
Maybe this picture explains why. The pristine snow is just a memory and these grubby remains are what is left. The pavements are covered in ice and it’s hard to see if the gravel is frozen in the ice (useless) or lying on top of the ice (good).
Of course, all this happens every year and at the right time, in April, accompanied by a warm sun and the promise of spring exactly the same conditions seem uplifting.
In February it just seems unnatural and depressing.
But the weather gods are promising us a return to minus 10°C and some more snow so we must be optimistic and hope for better times.
The extra shows a slightly more uplifting scene...