Mumsnet Talk

I was listening to advice on radio for the Big Snow coming on Friday, man was saying not to travel unless "essential".

So - where are you going, how far is it, how do you normally travel there and do you think your journey is Essential?

This Friday I am going to work and school (provided they are open, ha!) - it's not essential but it's only two miles - we normally cycle but tomorrow we will walk!

15 miles, I tried to do as much today that had to be done if I couldn't get in tomorrow. Will get in though, just drive slowly. DC's school will probably be shut, so I can take the 4wd as DH won't need to go anywhere.

I'm battling with definition of "essential".

Snow not forecast to be too bad in North West but am supposed to be travelling to work meeting in East Midlands tomorrow morning.

Not 'life and death' essential but if trains run as scheduled I should go really.

Oh what to do??

The two/three that have to be there are all within walking distance.

Won't be going anywhere tomorrow. However we are house-sitting and they are meant to be returning tomorrow evening, so I hope we can get home on the weekend. Only a few miles away but rural Wales so through heavy snow. Think we may be here a few days now. DD2 is unwell and I just want to be back in my own bed in case she is sick all over some precious item!

My employer seems to thinks so. Working from home was requested by me and refused by the boss...helpful, not.

Work and school for me. Not far at all to either - maybe a mile? - so no excuse really but I'm dreading it. Too scared to drive in the snow but don't like walking in it either. Don't really have suitable footwear, and I don't want to slip...

I will be travelling to heathrow with one of my brothers to go and pick up our other brother.I will be taking flasks !

Work: not essential, I get paid by the hour and as long as I get the work done, my boss doesn't mind when I do it.

Schools: both walkable, they'll be going unless I specifically hear that the schools are closed!

Work, essential I think. I might take clothes and toiletries tomorrow just in case.

It's my day off - had planned to take DS into town, do some shopping, post some bits... Def not essentials so will be staying put if it's bad.

On a normal day i teach in a 6th form. Def not life or death but i would try to get in if the college was open to save students a wasted journey. Wouldn't risk anything to get in though.

Work tommorow is about 2.5 miles away, I think it might be tricky to get off my road so I will be walking I think. I'm non essential NHS but will show willing specially as there are places I work at on other days that are not within walking distance so if it carries on I might not be able to make it.

Tomorrow I shall journey to the shed to get some wood for the fire.
And to the park with the sledge.
And maybe to the shop on the corner.

So glad Friday is a day off, I normally drive a lot for work.

the head teacher thinks that the journey to school is essential...

Thirty mile journey to pick up MIL across Surrey to take her to an outpatient appointment she's waited three months for? Already snowing heavily?

Sorry, MIL, not essential as I don't think I'd get back later.....

Am retired, so don't have to go to work. To keep me active and get out of the house, and I love it, I go dancing 2x weekly in the morning. Friday is my 2nd day, and I go by mini cab as don't drive. Only 5 minutes. < used to go by bus, but now spoil myself>
No snow here in SE, other than the remnants of ice on the grass from Wednesday.
DD drives 40 minutes to work, so as still not snowing she will be going in. Hope she does not have to return in a blizzard. <You never stop worrying about DC>

I'm lucky, work local and Tescos is only 5 mins walk so can hibernate locally if the weather is had. I had planned to have the car today and would only use it now if someone in the family was ill.

My hubby always turns out for work and so far has got through, even got to Bristol via bus and train a couple of years ago when all the local schools were closed. He did drive home through a blizzard when it was bad before and admits he doesn't know how he got home safely as he couldn't see a thing and cars had been abandoned so that's something he would probably try and avoid in the future.

ps.
Dancing for 2 hours keeps me warm, but then so does housework. Much prefer the former, though.

I'm essential

Work tomorrow Early. 12 miles. Usually drive buggered if I can't. Maybe a 4 mile walk then a bus? At 6am. If buses are running.

The only journey I'll be making today, is to the coffee machine

That is highly essential

DS has gone 15 miles on the school bus. I really didn't want to send him but I can't not send him every time it might snow, can be a real pain though when it does.

Our binmen obviously decided that their trip to my bin was not essential today. I disagree!

DH had a business trip to Africa, set off for the airport (fully prepared with sleeping bag/food/boots etc ) but has now turned back as the motorway is closed.

Not 100% essential - but he was looking forward to flying somewhere hot .

Our bin men have also decided collecting rubbish was not essential.
Dd and ds1 school closed as heavy snow forecast for 12pm
Ds2 school open but may require lunch time pick up.
I am at work, but we have been told if its snowing heavily later on we can go home.

My team all arranged to work from home as we've been caught out before and some people ended up sleeping at the office as there was no way to get home. Now if there's a flake of snow we make plans.

Currently tucked up nicely at home with a cup of tea and on mumsnet working hard. The best thing about working from home when it's snowing is that I can go sledging at lunchtime

Dh has gone to work in a school 20 miles away as all the pupils walk in - yes, he's essential but I do not think he will be able to get back which will really piss me off as he will then be stuck on an A road between there and here.

Advice for Hertfordshire is essential journeys only so yes, the schools say they are essential.

My baby's due any day now, so if it decides to come in the next couple of days, I consider the 5 mile drive to the hospital essential

Essential to me means life or death (including livestock), critical infrastructure, emergency services and urgent/important health services.

We've not had an 'essential only' warning here, but all I'm doing today is school run (on foot) and wondering if DH will make it back from work (he went away earlier in the week, has decided against coming back on the roads, and is heading now for a station as the relevant trains do seem to be running).

South Herts here and the tiny pollen-like snow fall has stopped. Still minus 1, so will not melt much if at all.

Car won't start so can't go anywhere till it's fixed. I walked the mile into town and back this morning, mostly clear so not a big problem here. But I need the car to be useable in case MIL needs to go to hospital, as DP is working out of town.

I was supposed to be going to see a friend today over an hour away. I cancelled yesterday, and so pleased I did. Its been showing since 9am, and no signs of stopping!

20ile trip to garage to get leaky window checked. into a town that is notorious for road blockages in snow and on single carriageway a1...
is that essential?

It's say no helles.. Quite a way and sounds like something that could wait?

thanks awaywego1 I phoned the garage and they said I was quite right not to come up and rescheduled for next Saturday.

My journey yesterday was essential ... Finding a hill to sledge down.