In reply to andyinglis:
My point was more that this winter was (correct me if I'm wrong) neither colder than average, nor longer than average, nor much else. It was a pretty normal winter. Last winter seemed more exceptional than me, what with it staying colder for longer, with ice being climbed well through Spring. So much for 'the next mini ice age' happening in this winter just gone (15/16, based on the article in 15).
Whatever. It will be nice (all else aside) if we get some more winter and I can spend even more time on the slippery stuff in the future.