First proper frost

Yesterday's rain meant that the first frost patterns of this winter on cars in our street were particularly fine this morning - big leaf-like patterns, swirling across bonnets and roofs, looking like some fancy wallpaper pattern (or perhaps a 1970s swirly carpet pattern). Remember those?? (You do, you do...)

When I was little, the house we lived in had an unheated room attached at the back. We called it the Annex. It was lovely in the summer, but could be a freezer in the winter. In my mind, I can still hear the noise of the back door being pulled open (it usually took several tugs as it stuck). Some mornings, in winter, the Annex windows were covered in fantastic frost patterns - trees and ferns had appeared overnight, looking tropically lush. I used to put my coat on to have a look before school, and they were one of my favourite things about winter.

I'm still captivated by frost patterns now, although I'm pleased that central heating and double-glazing have taken them outside the house...