The death of the midwinter easterly is the measure of proper snow down here. Its been so long since we've had one that I suspect any cold weather fan under the age of 30 would not realise just what they are capable of.
Icicles, powder snow, dark grey/ orangy skies interspersed by days of alpine blue ones. Canals frozen deep, compacted snow on the footways turned grey through pedestrian usage.
I'd imagine we'll never see those orangey skies again - as that would surely have been reflected streetlights. These days the lights seem to be pink or white rather than orange, so I'm guessing we'd get an ominous white glow instead! (And yes, I'd love to put the theory to the test).
As for your under 30 comment, that's a good one IMO. I remember the infamous "blue suns" on the BBC weather and it's been a long time since they, or their modern equivalent, appeared down here. The odd few ice days since the 90s have invariably been due to cloud blocking the sun rather than deep cold advection from the east, so as soon as the sun comes out - bam, temperatures shoot above freezing.
(This screencap is from the end of the Feb 86 cold spell.)
As for chasing the cold, I admit it does get a bit tiresome these days - the pattern of a slight hope (a smattering of -10s at 850) invariably warms up before the time, or the just-about-snowbearing -7s end up as cold rain -5s. I won't stop the chase, for it's part of winter for me, but it has lost its lustre somewhat since 2005.
Talking of which, I think it was Justin W who posted a few years back. He said that Philip Eden, back in 2005 as the easterly was unfolding, said to him to make the most of it as he might not see another. 12 years on and he's been right so far!
I'm sure we will see another midwinter easterly one day (and it wouldn't surprise me if it turned out to be 2 or 3 winters in a row with one), but the way things are going I wonder if it'll be in my lifetime!