Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel this country should be able to cope with snow fgs?

197 replies

QueenEagle · 02/02/2009 08:14

Why does everything come to a standstill in this country when we have a bit of snow?

We don't even have half of what we had when I was a kid when we just got on with it even when we got snowed in for days on end.

Are we soft or what?

OP posts:
PuzzleRocks · 02/02/2009 08:19

Soft indeed.

herbietea · 02/02/2009 08:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

WEESLEEKITLauriefairycake · 02/02/2009 08:24

Everyone can cope with snow, it's just that in the southeast we can't cope with a huge volume of traffic going very slowly and skidding. I'm in the town centre and all I can hear is sirens.

The schools are shut here because there would be thousands of parents causing havoc if we all tried to get them to school.

Squirdle · 02/02/2009 08:25

They are all lightweights!! We live near Winchester and all the schools are closed!! There is a fair bit of snow, but not that much!! Boys were looking forward to going to school in it!

smartiejake · 02/02/2009 08:28

They have known about this snow for days. So why haven't the roads been salted?

Original poster
QueenEagle · 02/02/2009 08:28

But the snow was forecast so why on earth can't they get those bulldozers with big scoopy things on the front to clear the roads and then get the gritters out behind them during the night?

We have emergency contingency plans for plane/train crashes which (thankfully) don't happen very often but everyone knows what to do when it does.

Am I being too simplistic thinking there should be something similar for when it snows?

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 02/02/2009 08:29

But if none of the transit system can cope, and nobody knows how to drive in it ... surely it's not unreasonable to close down? (And I grew up in a country with Actual Snow)

Thunderduck · 02/02/2009 08:29

I do think we could be better equipped for it. But snow is a relatively rare event here,certainly heavy snow and I wouldn't expect us to be as prepared for it as a country which lives with heavy snow for much of the year.

badgermonkey · 02/02/2009 08:29

My school always ends up closed because we have a huge, rural catchment area and it's too dangerous for the buses to get in and out of the villages (which often require driving up and down hills). Last time, when the buses came in, one of the kids in my form was excitedly telling me how the full bus nearly skidded off the road - how to turn a teacher's hair white instantly!

It does seem a bit silly when I am sitting looking at about two centimetres of snow, but teachers drive in from about 40 miles around and conditions can vary wildly across the distance.

Hassled · 02/02/2009 08:30

I think people are of the belief that we live in the sunny Tropics. A friend rang to see if our school is closed - the catchment area is less than a mile and there is a light dusting here, so of course it's open; I couldn't keep the "Are you nuts?" tone out of my voice.

SoupDragon · 02/02/2009 08:31

Would salting the roads have made much difference to a foot of snow?

mishmash68 · 02/02/2009 08:33

oh yes it did snow much more wen i was a kid the uk cumes to a standstill now yes we are getting soft now

wheresthehamster · 02/02/2009 08:34

Hassled - I know what you mean but if the majority of staff live miles away and they have heavy snow and can't get in then the school WILL be closed even though it may only have minimal snow itself. So you never know...

Mercy · 02/02/2009 08:34

True SOupdragon.

Our main road and pavements were gritted yesterday afternoon.

southeastastra · 02/02/2009 08:36

oh come on, it's freaky!! soft my arse

IamLeticiaDean · 02/02/2009 08:36

I like the idea of the roads being 'salted' (images of huge salt grinder).

It is the worst snow in many years so I think YABU.

NotQuiteCockney · 02/02/2009 08:42

Salt makes a huge difference, it's not very cold out today.

Original poster
QueenEagle · 02/02/2009 08:48

IamLeticiaDean - THIS is the worst snow for years???? Really???

This is nothing I tell ya! You must only be about 20 if you think this is the worst snow we've had in a while.

OP posts:
herbietea · 02/02/2009 08:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

southeastastra · 02/02/2009 08:49

it is though, i remember one day like this a couple of years ago. i was at a funeral. was awful driving home from it. saw so many accidents.

Thunderduck · 02/02/2009 08:52

It is dangerous for medical staff to get to work, but as they are a truly essential service it means that in their case the risks of travelling is justified.

BouncingTurtle · 02/02/2009 08:52

One of my friends, who is a dental nurse, told me someone tried to cancel an appointment with the dentist because of snow, despite living about 30 seconds away . Anyway she did come because she was told she would be fined if she didn't turn up, so she did... in high heels
Some people don't have the sense they were born with

Thunderduck · 02/02/2009 08:54

Are justified.

HecateQueenOfGhosts · 02/02/2009 08:54

Indeed. There are many places with heavier snow and they don't seem to have as many problems as we do.

I think because they prepare for it, whereas we seem to be surprised. "Oh will you look at that, snow!! Who'd have thought it, what to do what to do?"

despite the fact it snows

Every.

Bloody.

Year.

sarah293 · 02/02/2009 08:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn