She’s instantly awake: “Mummy, there’s snow!” Polite and considerate snow, nothing like the nonstop eye-stinging car-skidding snow in New England last weekend. This snow came at night, when the roads were empty. It brushed a gentle few centimetres on trees and grass, then stopped, sensing that this was enough.

We left for school ten minutes early to ensure extra playtime in the schoolyard, she dancing, flying, I smiling behind her. I swept the soft, white blanket off the front steps in time to sit inside and watch the slow dawn.