I think that in the five years that I have lived out here, today has been the first day that not a single tractor or car has come past the house. There are my foot prints from the house to the barn and back again from when I fetched some logs in for the fire, foot prints of my neighbour who went to feed his goat, but that is the only sign that people live here. We do have a working farm in the village, but I think that they were busy into yesterday evening feeding cattle and sheep in the knowledge of what was to come. The supermarkets were busy on Friday and Saturday with people stocking up to see them through, but with the large stores only open on a Sunday morning until mid-day, it is quite normal to be prepared. I have only been into a supermarket on a Sunday once and am pleased to say that it was very quiet in there, with just two checkouts open. The shopping habit on a Sunday has not caught on in these parts and people would rather spend the time with family or friends. Us simple country folks seem to get by with a bit of foresight, but then we are not caught up in the hustle and bustle of the "real" world.
It's not just the SE of England that goes to pieces. The Snake Pass and other routes over The Peaks and Pennines regularly get blocked and if I recall correctly, the M8 and the airports in Glasgow & Edinburgh were closed last winter. It's a little more complex with airports - what do you do with the planes that cannot take off because their destination airports are closed?
IMO that's part of the problem H - learner drivers aren't being taught how to drive in snowy & icy conditions! Maybe you should open an indoor driving school in an ice rink. It never ceases to amaze me the number of drivers who apparently think they are invincible once they hear the click of their seatbelts & totally ignore the road conditions - be it snow, ice, rain or fog. I think PSH may have been speaking tongue in cheek with his comments about SE England, but there is an element of truth. I live in a small village where it's really easy to spot the English households when it snows heavily - they simply don't bother to clear the snow off the pavement and road in front of their houses whereas the locals do - it makes life so much easier, even for the gritters and especially for the FE loader operators whose job it is to clear the snow away.
I lived in a small village in England that was a mile and a half off the nearest road that was gritted by the CC. We had a farmer on the council who was quite prepared to clear a route through to that road for us free of charge, except he wanted to be paid something towards his fuel. Our Parish Council was fully prepared to give him the few pounds involved. The CC banned him from doing it on the basis that he wouldn't be insured, and if he stopped someone getting their car out they would be to blame.
Yes there are roads that get closed due to the heavy snow but in the SE, it's as if the world has ended shock, horror, snow in winter it's as if it is not expected. This has been the mildest of winters in the Southern half of the UK, but when it does come along people act crazy, panic buying food and petrol FFS. I drove back from Watford via Aylesbury to Gloucester yesterday after the game and yes it snowed and I had to drive at 40mph for the majority of the way. Did I get stuck no, was there idiots still on the road yes! Perhaps if I had tried to return later it might have been a different matter, but I had my son and also I was at work first thing this morning. When I got to the Gloucester side of Cheltenham the snow had turned to sleet and driving had become far easier, I chose the easier approach into Gloucester via Cheltenham because local knowledge says if it snows stay away from Birdlip. My point about my post is that the media hyped this up out of all proportion, if it had been a foot of snow in central London and blizzard conditions at LHR, I would understand it a little more and yes I see the reason for cancelling some flights but not 1/3 which rose to 1/2 for just in case Most people simply should not be allowed out on the road when the weather turns as they panic or try to drive like it is normal driving conditions!
When the snow is 6-8" deep i can't even get the car out of the driveway lol. I'll be teaching tomorrow, coz the roads aren't so bad, and yes, i do teach how to drive in snow, though i have to admit i wouldn't take beginners out in bad weather, or those that have less confidence
Exactly so Al - we all had a good belly laugh at the TV news coverage as it appeared that very little snow actually fell.
I had a lesson in snow and ice. Uni was closed but my instructor could still get to me so decided I should have a lesson. Twas very brave of him! Can't remember if this was before or after I damaged his door and a parked car... Must admit I'm not confident enough to drive in this weather though. My Dad on the other hand doesn't let a bit of snow stop him!
I learned to drive throught the RAF down at RAF St Athan and part of the course was to use the skid pan in a converted car, great fun but gave you invaluable experience. Also you could not finish the course until after you passed the test you had a night time drive and a motorway drive, then you could return to your Unit. I know that civilian instructors do not have access to the skid pan, more is the shame!
I took that and im very glad i did! Its very very scary for me driving on a motorway even after 3 years. i hate being in the middle lane. How people can hog it i dont know!!
For you or for them? About 15 years ago, I undertook a three week advanced 4*4 driving course courtesy of the Australian Government. The first week was spent in the desert learning how to drive up and down sand dunes, the second in a tropical rainforest learning how to drive through swollen rivers, mud flats etc and the final week was spent at Cooma in the snowfields learning how to drive on snow & ice. A typical government waste of public money really - it was considered necessary for the job I was doing at the time, but someone in Canberra forgot to check whether there were any roads outside of the cities! It was fun, but I never needed the skills for work.
Well spotted AK - it's from The Magpies Song - his only poem of note, but it used to be de rigeur for Australian schoolchildren.
Anyone else watching PretzelFest 46? (and before I'm accused of subliminal racism, I'll both be watching and eating said snack)
