Snow

I think Tanith has exactly the right idea - PPJs and GN.

PJs, that is!

Movedalot You are so right. It is unusual for children to walk school these days and in order to encourage them to do so all sorts of special schemes are put in place, such as Walk To School Fridays and the Walking Bus. Of course there was far less traffic when we were children so crossing roads and walking to school on your own was much safer. It was only after I had posted the anecdote about snowballs that it struck me that it was normal for mothers to let children under seven walk to and from school on their own in the 1950s, but I always walked with absentdaughter in the 1980s and, these days, most children are ferried there by car.

It is Snowing heavily in South Cheshire now. I am not going out with a ruler to measure it and my welly boots are in the Wendy House.

Given that so many schools around here are rural and need transport. Many very small village schools have closed in the last few years. There seems no point in bussing kids out to schools when they could get stranded if they cannot get back.

I think the massive increase in road traffic is part of this problem. more vehicles more small collisions, more congestion because of the collisions. Ad infinitum.
Its far better for all to just miss a day at school.
In the 1960s deep snow the cold remained for months but once the roads were cleared as long as the snow stopped they were passable.

I would love to walk the DGC to school its only 2 miles in the next village, but due to location and tiny country roads its not possible, when the weather is suitable we do park some distance away and they travel the rest on their bikes or scooters which are then left at school in the bike stand until home time.

But there are people who live a stones throw from the school still drive, it must take longer to start the car and seat belt up than it would to walk.

Possibly working Mums do the drop on the way to work.

I think you're right, glass. One of my DS and DDiL lives right opposite a primary school and it's a total traffic jam from 8.30 to 8.50. You can see from the way the drivers are dressed that they are on their way to work. Not nearly so busy at home time, so I think the children must walk home.

lily its possibly local childminders collecting the children and walking, that happens at our school.

Here in the S E its coming down quite thickly and settling.

Bad enough for DD to cancel her visit and me not to be able to go out this afternoon.

Except on foot of course.

Not a flake, so far, in Kintyre. You lot...please take care.

Just tiny flakes again here, not making much difference to the few cms we already have.

Here in North Cheshire it's been snowing thickly for most of the morning. Where we live, only way onto a road going to shops etc is down one of two steep roads. I could possibly get down it but a neighbour has just had real problems getting back up the 'hill'. So looks like we're snowed in. I've had a lovely time in the kitchen clearing out the fridge and making soups / casseroles with what I can find. Felt really cosy with the radio on as well. I was going out to do a big shop when I realised how bad the road was. We're very lucky to be safe,warm and well but I really feel for those whose lives are really disrupted by it all. Hope other gransnetters are tucked up warm.

On radio just said that in the Midlands the worst will be SW Mids - that'll be us then!

Brain fuzzy. Jess unproductive. Coffee didn't work.
I blame the low light levels.
So I am going to try out my new Wintertrax gripper things that fit over shoes and give you grip in the snow. Boots, walking pole and balaclava weather. I may be some time.

Petallus my sympathies, mines cancelled too. I haven't seen DGD since the start of december

'I may be some time' Jess

Pretty bad here in Midlands, just taken me an hour to drive two miles .

Winter tyres. In Germany and Austria a legal requirement from October to April. They work. Oh and front wheel drive vehicles if not 4 wheel drive. And then who cares if it snows. Where I live we get 20 to 30 centimeters every day or so for weeks on end. We carry on. If the schools closed, the kids would get no education at all.

7 cm deep on the front path in South Cheshire.

I keep switching tv channels to try and get a better weather forecast

A rare sighting of a snow plough which is just going past my window (in a small town). I guess we're honoured because there's an Infants' school down the road - it's closed of course. I can't remember my school ever being closed through the bad winter of 62-63.
Still, our 'heavy' snow will give my son in Germany something to be cycnical about. And it's warmer outside than in our house - the central heating pump gave up the ghost yesterday.

Had an email a couple of days ago from Canada in which is was assumed we would be using chains on the tyres. I explained that we don't do that in the UK, we just stay in and moan that no one has cleared away the snow1

rosiebee Tthat is very industrious. Having cancelled a visit to DGS the other side of the Peaks.
I have spent too much time on Gransnet and Facebook and E mail sharing silly Tesco and horse jokes.
See just jokes and a bit of a laugh!

In defence of UK snow-wimpiness, we don't usually get the 'dry', crisp snow that usually snowy places get, the sort that responds sensibly to a snow-blower. Ours is usually damp-squibby sort of snow.

Gadabout you have my sympathies, though mine seems to be behaving at the moment.