A Few Inches Of Snow And The World Stops Options

[Czerny]

Whilst I agree that it's a bit slack for people who can walk to work not to bother to turn up, there are always those who like to make martyrs of themselves by tackling a ridiculous (and possibly treacherous for themselves and others) journey or who seem to believe the country will grind to a halt without their vital, indispensable presence (and no, obviously I'm not including those who work in hospitals / for the emergency services, etc.). Presumably these are the same people who struggle into work with a streaming cold and a temperature of 103 to sit at their desk looking miserable and giving everyone else their germs.

I was amazed this morning how many people I saw sliding around in totally inappropriate footwear or who are clearly not that steady on their feet (elderly people or those with walking sticks) walking along the pavement at a snail's pace, just asking to break a hip / leg / wrist.

As they've said on the telly hundreds of times today, if your journey's not essential, stay at home!!!!

And regarding the gritting debate, while grit is clearly not much use under a foot of snow, the snow on the roads isn't that deep and I haven't seen one gritter out, nor a single piece of grit.

[ellie_the_little_elephant]

Whilst I agree that it's a bit slack for people who can walk to work not to bother to turn up, there are always those who like to make martyrs of themselves by tackling a ridiculous (and possibly treacherous for themselves and others) journey or who seem to believe the country will grind to a halt without their vital, indispensable presence (and no, obviously I'm not including those who work in hospitals / for the emergency services, etc.). Presumably these are the same people who struggle into work with a streaming cold and a temperature of 103 to sit at their desk looking miserable and giving everyone else their germs.

I'm guilty of that. Unfortunately I teach maths in a state grammar school that apparently "is never closed, Miss, ever, not since it opened in 1800 or something", "no, since 33BC" to quote my year 12s today.
I finally got around to going to the doctor for some antibiotics as I've had the same cough/cold for, er, 8 weeks now. Oops. I just feel really guilty about leaving my classes for a day, especially given the number of exams that my sixth form have and the fact that there isn't really enough timetable-time for all the modules - some of the year 13s are doing further maths which means that they have to do the work in (literally) half the time, so missing a lesson here and there makes an enormous difference when you only have about fourteen lessons in which to teach an entire module! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)
That said, I do think that the snow is really, really pretty... I wish I could have had a day off just to sit and watch it!

[liebe_klavier]

well. a fair amount of snow here in manchester, but this doesn't stop the professors showing us with tonnes of work.

[smd]

And regarding the gritting debate, while grit is clearly not much use under a foot of snow, the snow on the roads isn't that deep and I haven't seen one gritter out, nor a single piece of grit.

There was a foot of snow on the roads here.
And the roads were gritted - they have been several times over the last few weeks, but with 12 inches of snow (thats about 30cm to you youngsters) there needs to be a constant stream of traffic over the duration of the fall to make the grit melt the snow.

[Czerny]

And regarding the gritting debate, while grit is clearly not much use under a foot of snow, the snow on the roads isn't that deep and I haven't seen one gritter out, nor a single piece of grit.

There was a foot of snow on the roads here.
And the roads were gritted - they have been several times over the last few weeks, but with 12 inches of snow (thats about 30cm to you youngsters) there needs to be a constant stream of traffic over the duration of the fall to make the grit melt the snow.

And the grit needs to be there in the first place... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[laura-clarinet]

our school decided not to close today.
and i spent the entire day in music (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (oh i do that on non snow days aswell (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) )


x

[hello_cello]

And regarding the gritting debate, while grit is clearly not much use under a foot of snow, the snow on the roads isn't that deep and I haven't seen one gritter out, nor a single piece of grit.

There was a foot of snow on the roads here.
And the roads were gritted - they have been several times over the last few weeks, but with 12 inches of snow (thats about 30cm to you youngsters) there needs to be a constant stream of traffic over the duration of the fall to make the grit melt the snow.

Funny you should say that, as all the people I know, although we are taught in centimetres, all use inches in speech, i bet all of them could show you an inch, but not a centimeter. Its stupid really, and we dont use metrics weights either.

[The Old Lady]

Oooooh, your computer's recovered then Bev. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

At last Susie. Although I got so much done while it was broken (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[sarah123]

And regarding the gritting debate, while grit is clearly not much use under a foot of snow, the snow on the roads isn't that deep and I haven't seen one gritter out, nor a single piece of grit.

There was a foot of snow on the roads here.
And the roads were gritted - they have been several times over the last few weeks, but with 12 inches of snow (thats about 30cm to you youngsters) there needs to be a constant stream of traffic over the duration of the fall to make the grit melt the snow.

Funny you should say that, as all the people I know, although we are taught in centimetres, all use inches in speech, i bet all of them could show you an inch, but not a centimeter. Its stupid really, and we dont use metrics weights either.

I use a mixture (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) Weights are in metric, although I can't think of people's weights in anything other than stones. It gets a bit complicated for distances: for small lengths I generally think in metric (although I would use imperial if it's around about a foot, but would have to convert anything more than 6 feet/ 12 inches), whereas i cannot think in kilometres- a mile is 1600m or there abouts. For volumes, I can deal with a pint, but other than that I can't cope with imperial at all (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

I suppose we're a sort-of in betweeny generation (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

[lizbun]

School's closed today lol

[stevensfo]

We've had loads of snow here in North Italy and we thought our school would be closed yesterday, but no, the buses managed it, albeit about an hour late.

It's obligatory here to carry snow chains in the car during winter and I've learned the hard way just how useful they can be! You can go for years never needing them, but then suddenly the car won't grip and you're so thankful you have them. They're not so expensive, between 20 and 40 pounds for a set, depending on the make.

Of course, the instructions say to practise putting them on during the summer, but how many people bother? Thus, the first time I had to get them out was at the top of a mountain, my fingers slowly turning blue as I struggled to decipher the instructions and unravel the metal 'spaghetti'.

I know they get a lot of critiscism but the local authorities here are amazing. Even after heavy snow, most roads are clear by 7am and you see bulldozers, gritters, snowploughs everywhere.

Steve (Looking forward so much to the summer!)

[BabyBanana]

School not closed today, have to go in, in about an hour and 20 minute ish time.
My brother is really annoyed because he has to go to work haha.
Oh I wish we had more, snow is so pertty and fun to play/look at =)

[Clari Nicki1]

The roads are clear here...... but the schools are closed!!! It's quite nice as we never, ever get snow here (I've lived here since 1989 and this is the first proper snow!!!) My husband works next to middle child's school and he is at work and the school is closed. It's good though as most of the children won't see snow again when they are children probably.......
My kids however has an overdose of snow in Canada over Christmas..........

[barry-clari]

Many side roads here are still very icy - and this is relatively urban South London!

Pavements look rather slippery too...

[Babybird2]

Roads were fine here with not much traffic....

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)