The snow has arrived (From Bucks Free Press)

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The snow has arrived

9:54pm Saturday 4th February 2012

By ivor »

The first snow flake of winter has fallen.

Earlier this evening I looked out my dining room window to see a child throw the first snowball and a few moments later yours truly saw the first person slip and fall over.

Watching the poor pedestrian trying to remain on their feet made me chuckle indeed it was just like a vintage episode of It's a Knockout from the 1970's.

The road had obviously been salted and despite a thin layer of snow obscuring the grey of the road surface it was initially still passable.

As time passed and with the constant snowfall the road has succumbed and now the sound of screeching tyres struggling to gain grip on the icy road surface fills the air.

The only traffic is from four wheel drive vehicles and the drivers were rushing past at full speed without the slightest concern for their safety or the safety of others.

Why it is that some people always act recklessly when the situations around them requires caution?

Earlier in the week the nearby grit bin beside the road was raided by a neighbour who just carried off the grit in a bucket for their own personal use. I think taking grit like that should be a criminal offence.

The local wildlife was also aware of the impending inclement weather indeed early in the afternoon the birds were busy stripping the last renaming apples from my tree and they didn't have the benefit of a weather forecast.

No doubt the anger of the masses over the impassable roads will be directed at those responsible for gritting who are themselves at the mercy of the elements.

Providing the powers that be don't try to make excuses by citing the “wrong type of snow” or other lightweight get out clause I have only sympathy for them.

Let's face it we live in the northern hemisphere and snow is all part and parcel of our climate but its how we deal with it that matters.

If the main roads are still blocked on Monday then I fear there will be cause for complaint.

Even if we are still snowed in on Monday then I do hope that we don't start hearing of schools being closed and teachers having time off lounging around at home as a result.

With all the modern technology surely it should be possible to teach children using the newfangled internet?

Its at times like these that we should be pulling together as a community, no doubt more people will be walking in the streets and meeting those who live around them. I always bid good morning to everyone I pass by but not many people reciprocate.

On the subject of the local community please keep an eye out for any elderly neighbours living close by and make sure there are signs of life at their houses such as lights coming on at night and the milk being taken in.

At times like these the vulnerable in the community deserve all the care and help in the world after all they are even more isolated than during normal times.

What do you think?

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Comments(29)

Lawrence Linehan says...
2:19am Sun 5 Feb 12

We still all hate you although this is only a blog about grit, snow and neighbourliness.

(BTW it IS a criminal offence to take grit the way your neighbour did.)