To wish people would stop bloody moaning about a bit of snow

[Ryoko]

Seriously in London we get like 2 inches and everyones moaning, the news is full of exclamation marks in triangles and moaning about how are people going to get to work and talking to moaning idiots in the streets complaining that it's cold, (people wearing skinny jeans, fashion boots and normal winter jackets, idiots!).

Anyway too much moaning, too many idiots looking for any excuse to close schools and stay home, too many people who want to moan about it being too cold to go out instead of investing in some proper winter gear and letting some air out the tyres.

And why do we still put up with this countries reliance on out dated third rail systems that grind to a halt at the slightest thing, no one else in the world is still using that 80 odd year old system, they realised it was crap, so why are we still using it?.

I can't help but wonder why year after year we are like this, countries are laughing at us, nation full of lazy moaners.

bit difficult to get out on the street and do something about it when you can't get our your front door....

And reallu I think people who moan about people moaning are no better themselves.

Thank you Sir Boob.

what do you make of people that complain when we have a heat wave Ryoko - surely they should just go and buy a fan and shut up??

Oh do something useful and fuck off, Ryoko.

But some people realise that the COST of having a very robust witner service for EXCEPTIONAL weather just isn't worthwhile.
Grit, gritters, ploughs....and depot's around (eg) central London for storing it all would be expensive. Is it worth it given how infrequently this happens? OK, this year has been TERRIBLE over much of the UK. But it has been excpetional: the years before winter 2009/2010 saw very little disruption, and what there was was very localised.
I would much prefer my taxes to be spent on (e.g) health or education than on preparations for events which are rare and which pose acceptable risks to the population (e.g the majority of people can manage despite struggling to pick up food, or go to work for a few days).
There is provision for getting urgent medical help to people; the people who deliver meals-on-wheels do an incredible job in ensuring the most vulnerable are OK but THAT should be a priority..

personally I am not moaning as we have only had an inch or two. (although I had to drive at 4am this morning - on call nurse - and I was a bit frightened, I must admit. Main roads are fine here - Midlands - but our little close is literally like an ice rink). I was glad to get home at 0645.

Anyway, if I lived anywhere e.g. north/Scotland where there was significant snow then I would be moaning/worrying.

Those of us in the Midlands and some parts of the South with little or no snow possibly can't imagine the extent of the snow in other places?

Well - I've had a lazy hour or three MNetting due to snow day and must say that as usual the best of you are lovely and as ever always supportive. Just getting out of the cleaner's way now to go and do a bit of pampering tidying upstairs and then to trot out to get something really nice for tea as we're all now going to be home tonight because of the snow and DH is expected a day early too - providing his flight can land at Heathrow. After that am going to do the Christmas cards . Enough unexpected rest laziness for one day methinks.

SoupDragon that last post confirmed everything I love about you

In my area there was snow on Tuesday morning but it had gone by lunchtime. Then we had a bit more this morning. Yesterday it was -4, today it's only just freezing. It fluctuates so much and so quickly that if we put snow chains or winter tyres on we have to take them off again almost immediately.

The UK reacts differently to elsewhere because the snow doesn't stick around long enough to justify taking extreme weather measures.

And it doesn't snow for enough days each year to justify going to great expense. Who would be happy to see their council tax going on a fleet of snow ploughs that's only used for 2 or 3 days a year?

FWIW though I'm not moaning. Depending on the road conditions I will decide either to try to get into work or stay at home and take the boy sledging. No biggie. It won't last for much longer for most of the country.

giddypickle - think you made a good point there! people here are legally obliged to make an effort (at cost to themselves) to be prepared for the snow whereas people in the UK arent quite at that point yet.

Last year was reportedly horrific with snow in the UK and people were snowed in. This year is the same. How many years does it have to happen before people take action re winter tyres, clothing etc!

Well I don't know about the rest of you but I pay nearly 200 a month in Council Tax and I would dearly like to know where that goes to?

I have better things to do then spend £200 a month on nothing, all I see is bin men I'd be happy to take the bags to the tip myself if they would like to stop charging me £2,400 a year for it, because they haven't done anything else.

If you think you have better things to do then kick up a fuss about being herded like cattle into trains that die at the sight of a snow flake, due to using a 80 year old power supply system everyone else in the world abandoned years ago, then you deserve all you get.

But Canella from 4 - 14 my ds had only a vague memory of snow. It wouldn't be realistic to expect people to have legally to undertake huge costs to make sure they can get out for the rare occasions we are in this situation.

I'm in London (south east) and we have 15-20cm. I can't open my front door as the snow is piled so high against it!

I'm going to charitable and assume that OP is bored (snowed in maybe?)

There can be no other reason for this fatuous piece of inflammatory tripe masquerading as a thread.

Canella - I presume there the government also prepares??? I bet if the government there did sod all about it apart from the odd half hearted grit chucking and random snow ploughing all the effort in the world from the people would make very little difference.

I would quite happily buy "proper" winter gear - if I had the money. I guess I could save up for them. But given that in my living memory I have only been "snowed in" once it's not an expense I see any point in. (and I wasn't actually snowed in - I just couldn't get the pushchair out in the snow and the pavements were so treacherous that I'd falled over several times the day before so was too sore and scared to go out again - if I'd had no pushchair I'd have been fine)

If I lived in Russia or Sweden, or Canada - then yes it would make perfect financial sense.

yabu
and lazy to start a thread with no idea what the fuck you are talking about.

Perhaps you could put your £200 pm towards the fees for charm school, OP, if you think they're being wasted on council tax?

I feel they would see you as a 'challenge'

Well apart from the failure to grit today Ryoko we have:

Very good schools
Fantastic libraries
well maintained roads and pavements
lovely parks
surestart
refurbished la housing
meals on wheels
good social services
really nice leisure centres
brilliant recycling

I'm sure there's also much more available too. We get all that for about 1/2 what you pay and we're Band G. Why don't you become a local councillor and do something constructive.