Brilliant photo if you're not stuck in it. Trouble is, we're just not used
to this kind of weather hitting the whole of the country - it happens so
rarely. So we're not prepared for it, haven't got the equipment to cope with
it and everything grinds to a halt. There used to be bins of grit beside the
road where you could go and get a bucket full to spread on your driveway (if
you have one) and the pavement outside your house, but I haven't seen one
for years. People also used to clear the snow off the pavement outside their
house, but that doesn't happen any more. Could be that if you don't quite
clear it and someone slips on a patch of ice that you've left, you could get
sued; if you leave it alone then you've done nothing that could cause an
accident. We now live in a "blame" culture.
When we lived in Somerset, we were regularly snowed in until a local farmer
with a snow plough on his tractor cleared the lane outside out house. We
could get about on foot even before the lane was cleared because there was
always undisturbed snow to walk in as the population was sparse and we were
both younger and I was fitter. I always kept a couple of weeks worth of
essentials.
In Poole, this is only the second time we've seen snow in 13 years. The
first, several years ago, was just a light sprinkle that disappeared by the
end of the day. I can't walk far, and currently can't get out of my drive in
the car because it's on a slight slope, in the shade and the thin layer of
snow froze immediately. DH tried chipping the ice covering the last 10 feet,
without success. I'm always well stocked with milk and other food and DH is
a whiz at bread making, so I'm not bothered yet and am quite happy to stay
indoors. I prefer to do the food shopping alone, but if I can't get out by
Monday, DH will go on foot and restock with essentials.
Loved snow as a child - absolutely hate it now, but it is nice to see
children playing in it - for some it's the first time they've ever seen
snow.
Jean in Poole, Dorset, UK
To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line:
unsubscribe lace-chat [email protected]. For help, write to
[email protected].
