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Snow and Ice hits Wycombe (From Bucks Free Press)
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Snow and Ice hits Wycombe
6:51pm Thursday 17th December 2009
Last updated at 16.50pm on 18/12/09
Hasn’t the weather been awful today?
Walking down the High Street on my regular lunchtime walk around the town centre I was glad that I put my long johns on this morning. I had to hold on to my cap in case a sudden gust of wind blew it off my head.
Later in the afternoon a squally snow shower announced the beginning of winter. Indeed this weather was just how it used to be years ago. So much for global warming with such cold winter weather around!
Not only was there snow lying on the ground today but rather appropriately for the weather conditions it turns out that after two failed attempts Wycombe has finally got its own ice rink in the town.
Today I went out of my way to have a look at it and I must say it was a most impressive sight.
Well done to all of those who brought the ice rink to town. It just shows that things can be done in Wycombe.
Just think we could have had a rink similar to the one in the picture accompanying this article on Frogmoor several years ago if the powers that be had been capable of getting their act together.
Perhaps the organisers of this year’s ice rink could have a go at getting a working fountain on Frogmoor too?
Of course the wintery weather brings with it dangers for the elderly members of the community. Before leaving home this morning I dropped in to see an elderly neighbour just to make sure they were all right.
While standing there talking to them I happened to see their shopping list on the kitchen table. With today’s weather forecast how could anyone elderly be expected to go out?
Being a man of action I offered to do their shopping for them after all it was the least I could do.
After arriving home this evening I took the shopping around to them. They were very grateful indeed I shall never forget the look on their face. I guess that is what being a neighbour is all about especially at this festive time of year.
With such a terrible weather forecast for tomorrow I have decided to start my Christmas holiday early. It’s just not worth tramping through deep snow and braving the cold ice after all the last thing I want is a broken leg and end up spending Christmas in Stoke Mandeville.
Do you know I just happen to think that this year we may have a white Christmas.
Wouldn’t a white Christmas be wonderful?
Update 16.50pm 18/12/09:
It seems the heavy snowfall that took place last night has caused severe problems in the town. Lots of roads were impassable and essential deliveries did not take place indeed today there was no milk waiting for me on my doorstep and so far my copy of the Bucks Free Press has failed to arrive.
Once again schools were closed and the children were deprived of a days education while the teachers no doubt stayed at home with their feet up.
Isn't it just typical that at the merest hint of snowfall life as we know it grinds to a halt?
Your Say YourBucks
ivor, says...
7:13pm Thu 17 Dec 09
~
But I was not intending to boast about my good deed.
~
I was merely trying to highlight the plight of the elderly at this time of year in the hope that others would follow my lead and help the elderly member of their community.
demoness, Hades says...
7:14pm Thu 17 Dec 09
Chances are they are not local either. Oh noes - this means they are not townsfolk.
demoness, Hades says...
7:15pm Thu 17 Dec 09
ivor wrote:You were boasting.
Re the comments of demoness at 7:10pm ~ But I was not intending to boast about my good deed. ~ I was merely trying to highlight the plight of the elderly at this time of year in the hope that others would follow my lead and help the elderly member of their community.
All you had to say was something along the lines of... " I popped into see if my elderly neighbour was okay and offered to do his shopping for him."
None of this "man of action" tripe.
demoness, Hades says...
7:17pm Thu 17 Dec 09
You know, hated youngsters in your book.
ivor, says...
7:29pm Thu 17 Dec 09
~
Well, it just goes to show that the students are better at organising things that the powers that be….
ivor, says...
7:29pm Thu 17 Dec 09
~
I am not the sort of man who boasts. I am worried now if you have read my blog as if I was boasting. I hope nobody else takes it that way.
~
But I am a man of action….
ivor, says...
7:29pm Thu 17 Dec 09
~
I have nothing against students.
demoness, Hades says...
7:42pm Thu 17 Dec 09
ivor wrote:I would like you to give me specific examples of why you think you are a man of action. Not any of your "don't worry when there is an emergency I will step in and take charge "rubbish. PROPER evidence!
Re the comments of demoness at 7:15pm ~ I am not the sort of man who boasts. I am worried now if you have read my blog as if I was boasting. I hope nobody else takes it that way. ~ But I am a man of action….
ivor, says...
7:47pm Thu 17 Dec 09
~
Well, I d take the initiative and get things done indeed I gave an example of that in this very blog when I happened to see a shopping list and offered to get the shopping.
~
Besides it was my idea to go and check on the elderly person anyway. Is that not a sign of action?
~
Then there are all the blogs I write highlighting the issues that need correcting in our town. If the powers that be gave me some power myself I would soon get the problems of the town sorted out.
Ulky, Widmer End says...
7:48pm Thu 17 Dec 09
ivor, says...
7:59pm Thu 17 Dec 09
~
Thank you for your kind words of praise.
~
It’s a change to see some action in Wycombe and let’s face it the ice rink was something the town needed and deserved.
demoness, Hades says...
8:06pm Thu 17 Dec 09
ivor wrote:PMSL!!!
Re the comments of demoness at 7:42pm ~ Well, I d take the initiative and get things done indeed I gave an example of that in this very blog when I happened to see a shopping list and offered to get the shopping. ~ Besides it was my idea to go and check on the elderly person anyway. Is that not a sign of action? ~ Then there are all the blogs I write highlighting the issues that need correcting in our town. If the powers that be gave me some power myself I would soon get the problems of the town sorted out.
You saw a shopping list and offered to get some shopping!
Dear god...
Okay Ivor, if that is what you meant then I will smile and nod.
ivor, says...
8:10pm Thu 17 Dec 09
~
But I could have turned a blind eye and ignored the list instead I swung into action and helped someone out.
~
There are many other good Samaritan activities that I have done but I an not someone to blow my own trumpet.
Oliver Newbury, says...
8:10pm Thu 17 Dec 09
demoness wrote:"**** myself laughing", in case anyone's unsure (Ivor in particular)
ivor wrote:PMSL!!!
Re the comments of demoness at 7:42pm ~ Well, I d take the initiative and get things done indeed I gave an example of that in this very blog when I happened to see a shopping list and offered to get the shopping. ~ Besides it was my idea to go and check on the elderly person anyway. Is that not a sign of action? ~ Then there are all the blogs I write highlighting the issues that need correcting in our town. If the powers that be gave me some power myself I would soon get the problems of the town sorted out.
You saw a shopping list and offered to get some shopping!
Dear god...
Okay Ivor, if that is what you meant then I will smile and nod.
-
I'm confused. First you say the snow is awful, then you remark that a white Christmas would be wonderful. Which is it?
-
Snow is beautiful stuff. Not nice to drive through though, grit or no grit.
ivor, says...
8:25pm Thu 17 Dec 09
~
Snow is awful if you have to get through it but the snow looks rather beautiful through my windows when being viewed from the comfort of my arm chair.
~
I want a white Christmas but hopefully the snow will be gone soon after Christmas.
~
If it does snow I think we can safely put all the global warming theories to rest!
demoness, Hades says...
10:04pm Thu 17 Dec 09
ivor, says...
10:07pm Thu 17 Dec 09
~
No doubt it will be the wrong sort of snow when it does come!
~
Yes, I hope it does snow tonight. I can look out of my window tomorrow and watch everybody going about their normal business from the comfort of my arm chair.
~
I feel sorry for those who need to go out thought especially those who have not got their Christmas things in yet….
Plus ça change..., Wycombe says...
10:25am Fri 18 Dec 09
I can just imagine you kitted out to help Santa finish all those toys in time.
Plus ça change..., Wycombe says...
10:44am Fri 18 Dec 09
You ain't seen me, Right! says...
10:59am Fri 18 Dec 09
geewhy, Downley says...
11:54am Fri 18 Dec 09
ivor wrote:Of course! A few inches of snow in Bucks will definitely make the melting polar ice caps all better again. ROFL
Re the comments of Oliver Newbury at 8:10pm
~
Snow is awful if you have to get through it but the snow looks rather beautiful through my windows when being viewed from the comfort of my arm chair.
~
I want a white Christmas but hopefully the snow will be gone soon after Christmas.
~
If it does snow I think we can safely put all the global warming theories to rest!
Craig...., Coventry says...
1:09pm Fri 18 Dec 09
ivor, says...
2:22pm Fri 18 Dec 09
~
I don't think I need to go to Lapland as it seems to have come to Wycombe with all the snow that has fallen in the past 24 hours!
~
If Santa hasn't got the toys finished by now he is cutting it a bit late!
ivor, says...
2:22pm Fri 18 Dec 09
~
Grey bins become white which makes them dangerous as you can't see them against the snow!
ivor, says...
2:22pm Fri 18 Dec 09
~
Could you say anything that was more hurtful?
~
You enjoy reading my blog really....
ivor, says...
2:22pm Fri 18 Dec 09
~
Well, it will take a lot of heat out of the atmosphere to melt all this snow so surely it will be a good thing?
~
No doubt the global warming scare mongers will lie low for a while after all nobody is going to believe them now with all this snow around!
ivor, says...
2:23pm Fri 18 Dec 09
~
But there are lots of positive things going on in Wycombe at the moment.
~
Besides I am in a positive mood looking froward to Christmas!
demoness, Hades says...
10:59pm Fri 18 Dec 09
For a start it was the last day of term and no real work could be done - so no education would be missed.
And speaking as someone who has 2 teachers in her family, I take great exception to your remarks. My sister has barely been in this week -parent's evenings, meetings after school etc.
Her weekends are taken up with marking course work and homework.
Had she had been off today, I can assure you that she would not have been sitting with her feet up.
She would have been making.
lesson plans for next term for a start.
DO NOT say such inflammatory stupid ignorant remarks please.
Priestly, The Vatican says...
11:18pm Fri 18 Dec 09
"Once again schools were closed and the children were deprived of a days education while the teachers no doubt stayed at home with their feet up.
Isn't it just typical that at the merest hint of snowfall life as we know it grinds to a halt? ".
Your words, not mine. I would like to ask you a question. Who are you screwing at Bucks Free Press that your drivel can escape the attention of the Editor AND the production team before it finally makes its ill-deserved way in our direction?
Thank you in advance for your honesty. I hope she/he is not married.
ivor, says...
12:38am Sat 19 Dec 09
~
Why do you assume that simply because it was the last day of term then no real work could be done? In my day we worked right up to the last minute when the bell went.
~
I did not intend for my comments to offend. I was merely passing an observation.
ivor, says...
12:38am Sat 19 Dec 09
~
I am shocked and offended by your comment that you could think I was doing such a thing. Surely you know that I am a honourable and upstanding person who prefers to live by strict Victorian values?
~
I take it you are not happy with my comment. I did not mean to cause offence.
Priestly, The Vatican says...
12:50am Sat 19 Dec 09
ivor wrote:So you're a virgin then? Well, as it happens, I can believe that.
Re the comments of priestly at 11:18pm ~ I am shocked and offended by your comment that you could think I was doing such a thing. Surely you know that I am a honourable and upstanding person who prefers to live by strict Victorian values? ~ I take it you are not happy with my comment. I did not mean to cause offence.
So the Editor of Bucks Free Press is your dad? Come on, spill. How do you get away with it?
ivor, says...
1:08am Sat 19 Dec 09
~
Oh dear. I fear the things you are saying about me are far worse than anything I have said.
~
I am shocked.
Priestly, The Vatican says...
2:03am Sat 19 Dec 09
Think first, then type, eh?
ivor, says...
2:42am Sat 19 Dec 09
~
Well, it depends how you read my comment.
~
My comment could have been merely an observation or a criticism. I intended it to be just a comment however I fear some people have taken it the wrong way.
~
Indeed the teachers are underpaid but then so are a lot of workers in today’s society. I have had personal experience of working long hours for the minimum wage just to make ends meet and I can tell you that it’s not a very nice experience.
demoness, Hades says...
8:55am Sat 19 Dec 09
But this is what you do. You say something nasty or inflammatory, people bite and then you back track saying that it was merely a comment or observation.
As a regular blogger you have a duty and a responsibility not to inflame people and yet you do all the time. And pulling the "oh I am sorry I did not realise" trick does not work anymore because you perpetually do this.
It is a shame actually - but you do not seem to be able to help yourself.
You are entitled to your opinion and your opinion seems to be that teachers are lazy and do not do their jobs. Quite what you base this on heaven only knows. BUT if you are going to say stuff like this, be prepared for those of us who know better to challenge you.
tom.marlow, marlow says...
9:58am Sat 19 Dec 09
.
I suppose he will find something wrong with that, but there you go....
demoness, Hades says...
10:22am Sat 19 Dec 09
tom.marlow wrote:"Ah so teachers can do things by the infernal e mail and technology. But tell me what happens when something goes wrong ,eh? Bring back the blackboard and chalk and while I about it, bring back the birch!!!!"
Ans just to run Ivors nose in his ignorance of how schools work in the 21st century, my daughter submitted some coursework to one of her teachers for review yesterday by email, had a response a couple of hours later and finished the work up yesterday evening. . I suppose he will find something wrong with that, but there you go....
There you go Tom, I have answered for him. ;)
ivor, says...
1:34pm Sat 19 Dec 09
~
Oh dear. It looks like I am in trouble again.
~
But I never said the teachers were lazy indeed I am fully aware of the important part they play society. Where would be be without them?
~
If I do step out of line then please feel free to highlight it to me.
ivor, says...
1:34pm Sat 19 Dec 09
~
Well, I never would have though that the teachers would be receiving work by e-mail.
~
However surely this is a bit impractical? I mean where is the personal touch? As far as I am concerned there is nothing better than actually seeing and hearing the person you are communicating with.
~
Out of interest do the children of today have those new-fangled laptop computers in the classroom to do their work on or do they still use proper exercise books?
ivor, says...
1:34pm Sat 19 Dec 09
~
I am afraid I do agree with part of your comment.
~
Surely by using the blackboard the children had to learn what was in front of them before the boards was wiped? By using electronic methods the children can muck around in class and read the text later on their laptops while at home.
tom.marlow, marlow says...
7:13pm Sat 19 Dec 09
ivor wrote:Its as well as, not instead of...
Re the comments of tom.marlow at 9:58am ~ Well, I never would have though that the teachers would be receiving work by e-mail. ~ However surely this is a bit impractical? I mean where is the personal touch? As far as I am concerned there is nothing better than actually seeing and hearing the person you are communicating with. ~ Out of interest do the children of today have those new-fangled laptop computers in the classroom to do their work on or do they still use proper exercise books?
.
If you don't limit yourself to the boundaries imposed by the traditional classroom you can achieve a lot more.
.
And yes they use exercise books as well as electronic media.
ivor, says...
7:19pm Sat 19 Dec 09
~
I am pleased to hear it is an “as well as”. For a moment I thought the schools were not teaching the basics.
~
There is nothing wrong with a traditional classroom indeed I was taught in one and it served me well. I suppose the youngsters of today have to learn the new skills but we must not forget to teach them the skills of the past for example suppose there was a power cut, how many of today's youngsters would know how to light an oil lamp?
~
How much time do the spend wit the new-fangled electronic things? I hope the majority of the time is spent with proper paper learning to to write normally.
~
Thank you for your valued comment.
tom.marlow, marlow says...
7:52pm Sat 19 Dec 09
.
I must admit that I dont think mine know how to light an oil lamp but I'm sure they could work it out. They do know how to change the batteries in a torch. Power cuts are relatively rare and often occur either during the day or when we are asleep. A torch works just as well, is more conventient, cleaner and safer than an oil lamp. Are you going to argue that an oil lamp is better?
.
I wonder what will run out first - the raw materials for batteries or oil? Perhaps we should be teaching them how to render whale blubber to get oil.
ivor, says...
8:01pm Sat 19 Dec 09
~
I guess the youngsters have better eyesight that us oldies so they can sport the spelling mistakes easier and quicker.
~
Ah, but it takes skill and knowledge to get an oil lamp burning properly. What with trimming the wick and knowing how to adjust it to give maximum light it isn't something that you can just pick up.
~
An oil lamp may not be better but it is more fun. Besides an oil lamp and a 5 gallon barrel of oil will light your house far longer than a modern torch and what's more it is more environmentally friendly that all the chemical concoctions found in a battery.
~
But oil for the lamps comes from under the ground. No animals have to die to light my house....
Oliver Newbury, says...
9:52pm Sat 19 Dec 09
ivor, says...
10:29pm Sat 19 Dec 09
~
As I have said in my comments (above) were merely observations and I did not intend for them to be offensive.
~
I am beginning to think that people are trying to pick holes in anything I write by reading them in a different was to which it was intended.
tom.marlow, marlow says...
10:34pm Sat 19 Dec 09
.
Are you talking alternative histories here, or still not bothering to proof-read?
ivor, says...
11:12pm Sat 19 Dec 09
~
No. I am saying that people read things into my comment that I did not intend.
~
Let's analyse the contentious part of my comment. I said: “while the teachers no doubt stayed at home with their feet up.”
~
Now. I was merely trying to convey that they were not at work so they metaphorically “had their feet up”. Sadly some people thought that I was saying that the teachers were lazy however I was not saying this just that they were not doing the job they usually do. I have been misinterpreted.
Oliver Newbury, says...
11:23pm Sat 19 Dec 09
ivor wrote:Oh dear. Your excuses are getting really pathetic.
Re the comments of tom.marlow at 10:34pm
~
No. I am saying that people read things into my comment that I did not intend.
~
Let's analyse the contentious part of my comment. I said: “while the teachers no doubt stayed at home with their feet up.”
~
Now. I was merely trying to convey that they were not at work so they metaphorically “had their feet up”. Sadly some people thought that I was saying that the teachers were lazy however I was not saying this just that they were not doing the job they usually do. I have been misinterpreted.
ivor, says...
11:29pm Sat 19 Dec 09
~
It's not an excuse. It is the truth.
tom.marlow, marlow says...
9:49am Sun 20 Dec 09
.
I was drawing attention in a light hearted fashion to yet another un-proof-read typo ("way" -> "was") that totally changed the sense of what you wrote.
demoness, Hades says...
12:18pm Sun 20 Dec 09
ivor wrote:Well then, as priestly said, you should think before you type as the written word is often open to mis interpretation.
Re the comments of tom.marlow at 10:34pm ~ No. I am saying that people read things into my comment that I did not intend. ~ Let's analyse the contentious part of my comment. I said: “while the teachers no doubt stayed at home with their feet up.” ~ Now. I was merely trying to convey that they were not at work so they metaphorically “had their feet up”. Sadly some people thought that I was saying that the teachers were lazy however I was not saying this just that they were not doing the job they usually do. I have been misinterpreted.
ivor, says...
6:57pm Mon 21 Dec 09
~
Well, I did not intend to use the word “was”, I meant “way”. It was the spelling checker that made the mistake!
~
Everything I write makes perfect sense to me, allowing for spelling mistakes that is!
ivor, says...
6:57pm Mon 21 Dec 09
~
What worries me is that people could think that I even intended to infer such a terrible thing.
~
Do people have such a low opinion of me that they think I would write nasty things about such an upstanding and vital group of workers?
faisal mahmood, sands says...
8:42pm Mon 21 Dec 09
ivor, says...
8:46pm Mon 21 Dec 09
~
Thank you for your kind words of praise.
Wycombe has its very own ice rink.
demoness, Hades says...
7:10pm Thu 17 Dec 09
Shame you had to come on here and boast about it. :)