to wonder why some people are so pathetic when it comes to their cars and the snow

[Ormirian]

I live 2 miles from work. So I walked. The office is half empty. I can understand that for some of the staff because they live in the back of beyond or miles away and the snow was really bad this morning. But the majority of people working here are locals who drove in against all advice on the radio and in the face of common sense, and then panicked and drove back home again in case they got stranded .

Why can they not get out of their bloody cars and walk! It's perfectly safe underfoot - I walked in OK with a good pair of boots and well-wrapped up.

The factory staff have to work their normal shifts but the office staff have all buggered off when most of them could have found a way of getting in to work safely. I feel ashamed TBH - it's feels as if there's one rule for us and another rule for them.

I think some people can walk on ice and others can't. DH and my DC are fine - whereas I am a jibbering wreck - I slip and fall over - they don't. I am sure I make it worse by being tensed up. So I avoid it wherever possible. I am happy to walk on snow, but if it was really icy and not possible to drive then I would stay at home.

MIL slipped over on ice a few years ago and broke both wrists :(

Sure. But you can take it sensibly - eg., not wearing your normal shoes (I saw some idiot woman trying to walk in high-heeled boots yesterday), not assuming the pavement won't be slippery, etc.

Sorry, I didn't put my post very well, but that's what I was getting at, and also that if someone chooses not to come into work because they're nervous of walking, they might have good reason?

DH just got to work an hour and a bit ago (by walking/train). He's gone all Ray Mears on me and says he'll walk back if it comes to it. I've told him he's not walking 20 miles home and he'll have to sleep on the office floor if it's not safe to leave. At least he'll be the first in tomorrow!

Yeah, I think he'd struggle with 20 miles!

I have asthma and whilst I would normally walk to somewhere if it was too snowy to drive at the moment in this icy wind (I have never known it quite so bitter) it totally takes my breath away. I strugglerd just walking round the corner from my office to the sandwich shop earlier.

Also not everyonw has/can afford proper walking boots.

It's really not that cold here santa. Just snowy. I'm an athsmatic too and I found the really icy weather a trial. Not walking boots, DMs.

GetOrfMoiLand, I'm not far from you either.

DH and I were attempting to drive from the outskirts of Cheltenham through the town centre of Cheltenham figuring it would be relatively snow/ice free in order to get to Gloucester. On the way, MIL said a bus has blocked off the town centre as it was stuck, and the Brockworth bypass had been closed (route to/from Cheltenham to Gloucester)

When we got to the centre of Cheltenham after a scary drive, we stopped at the traffic lights and saw an old lady flat out on the ground. On the other side of the pavement, another person had fallen too. This really upset me. Old people looking so vulnerable

We offered to take her up to the hospital but she couldn't move.

When we drove past the hospital, there were 3 ambulances backed up to the doors with their doors open off lading patients. The bins near the hospital were over flowing.

When we left our village, we really did think the main roads would be clear and they weren't.

So the question OP wanted to know 'AIBU to wonder why some people are so pathetic when it comes to their cars and the snow?' -No is my answer, they are being responsible and sensible. Unless your journey is absolutely essential, why add to the strain of our services?

I'd like to add, why have Gloucestershire County Council left our roads in this state? They should be ashamed of themselves.

DH has had several long walks again - 5 miles to the station, and back - occasionally has had a lift from a good samaritan in a 4x4 passing by

poor love is knackered, he already does long days and works at home in the evenings too

does go out well wrapped up and with a flask and some food, but i worry till he is back in the door

I take it you live where they grit then

I walked the DC to school this morning and it was hellish. Most of the local schools had closed (including the one where I work)but the DC's stayed open. It took us 30 minutes to walk half a mile, through 6-8" snow. In places we walked on the road, but as it hasn't been gritted that is like an ice rink as any cars that have gone down have compacted the snow. It was -10 when we left the house.

Not much fun with a 4 year old, I can tell you.

It was minus 8 when I was coming to work this morning. Think its about minus 5/6 now. But its not just the cold there is a bitter wind that takes your breath.

I work for my parents and run my own business (though have broken up for Xmas) dh is self employed (but again broken up now).

We get to work unless absolutely impossible as no work, no money!

I agree some people might use the snow as an excuse to stay off work. But a lot of people are just being sensible. If you've nothing urgent on your desk and it's going to take you 2 hours walking each way to get in then surely it makes more sense to stay at home and come to some sort of arrangement with your boss (eg take day out of holidays, agree to work a Saturday in lieu). I think the people who go to extraordinary lengths to get to work when there's nothing they're doing that couldn't wait are idiots. (or are afraid smug co workers will call them wimps!).

ps before I get flamed, I'm not talking about people who work for themselves, have unreasonable bosses, work for companies that are in trouble. I mean people who just won't be sensible and stay at home when it's possible for them to do so.

At the risk of sounding like a Daily Mail editorial - Gloucestershire roads are dire at the best of times. I've had loads of near-death experiences on my bike, dodging the mammoth potholes, so the lack of gritting is not a big surprise.

Am about to take the dog for a walk. I may be gone some time...

I have chronic back pain and other health complaints, i usually get the bus, but last week i timed myself walking to and from work for a day to see how long it would realisticaly take me incase the buses stopped running ( happened last yr ).
What would take my DH 20 mins took me just over and Hour.
Im not at deaths door or anything, but i am in pain pretty much all day, so if i can do that, then there must be a lot of people out there who can do it aswell, who have similar problems or not.

I don't even do an important job,, i work in retail FGS, but if i can get to work i will.

Well I could work from home. I often do. But I didn't think it was acceptable to sit at home when I could get into work and man the phones for IT problems if nothing else.

And I think it's a good thing to show some sort of solidarity with the poor buggers that have to come in - ie in the factory, driving forklifts and operating machines, who are obliged to get in come hell or high water regardless of the conditions or the company grinds to a halt.

I too havn't got a huge amount to do in the office. But I work for a heating & plumbing company it is our last official day working before Xmas and I guessed the ohones would be busy.

However once you get off our street the roads are fine here.

AnyoneforTurps yes they are crap. Can you imagine the state of the roads when they snow/ice goes? I am livid about how neglected we are in Cheltenham, I can't speak for Gloucester as I can't see it.

Apparently there isn't any milk/bread anywhere now.

Limara it is ridiculous isn't it?

Gloucester isn't too bad - the real main roads (Eastern Avenue etc) are fine, but the side streets are complete ice rinks.

DP says that Cheltenham is far far worse, he said that Princess Eliz Way and St George's road were completely dangerous. I am utterly shocked that the Brockworth bypass is shit, fgs.

also at old people falling over.

just spoke to in laws - their car won't start, and we have said DON'T go out, we are scared of them falling over. They have plently of family who can take food etc to them. But they are so independent they will probably ignore us and go out anyway, so as not to 'put us out'.

Agree Gloucestershire roads are diabolical. The nearest main road to me has had NO ice or grit since before last weekend I think and is an ice rink. The buses have turned .The pavements are quite lethal as well - I walked to my nearest shop in proper walking boots and skidded and almost fell over numerous times.

GOML - my main road is a continuation of the Brockworth road - no grit etc - a main road and is an ice rink....

Gloucester seems better than Cheltenham, however one of my colleagues lives in Abbeymead (in Gloucester) - it took her two hours to get to work despitre living pretty much just outside Gloucester city centre, on a bus route.

Off the main roads it is lethal. And grit bins are empty.

GetOrfMoiLand The Cirencester Road is a death trap - we passed the National Express Bus on it's way to London and I just closed my eyes as I couldn't bear to watch incase we careered/slid into it. It is thick with compacted ice.

The town centre is lethal apparently.

Where are the gritters ffs? My DH said for a town which is apparently well off, the council treat it's inhabitants so badly.

My mum is just off the PE Way and she said her BIL couldn't get to her in his 4x4

"I think the people who go to extraordinary lengths to get to work when there's nothing they're doing that couldn't wait are idiots"

I'm just curious as to what these jobs are that don't require the work to be done NOW?

Going in to "show solidarity" seems foolish, I expect the people who have to go in would rather you just stayed out of the way.