Snow causes chaos in Britain! Why?

Despite the forecasts predicting the weekend snow all week, and despite it being accurate in our area almost to the hour, chaos seems to have descended in the UK due to a few inches of snow.

Initially I couldn't work out why it has caused such chaos.  Then I realised that many of the problems on the roads aren't due to the snow specifically, but are more accurately attributable to our lack of ability to drive correctly in snow.  Resulting in jackknifed lorries blocking roads all over the place.

How many people know what to do when your wheels start to slide?

How many people know which gear you are supposed to use in icy conditions?

What maximum speed do you think is reasonable in snow and icy conditions?

Unfortunately I think I can predict the answers to these questions for the majority of drivers in the UK.  But why not prove me wrong?  Feel free to add a comment here, or use the hashtag #cannotdriveinsnow on twitter.

How should we drive in snow?  Or should we cancel everything and all stay inside?

Oh, and as an aside, how is the snow causing disruption on the tube?  It's underground....?

January 2012 arrives! And boy, is it cold!

It's freezing today!!  My computer tells me it's 7 degrees Celsius in our town this fine morning, but I don't believe it.  There must be a windchill factor that the computer is ignoring.

Brrrrr..

In light of the return to work, and the (sheds a tear) dismantling of our Christmas tree, I have removed the festive background and baubles from this blog.  Sorry!  You'll just have to wait until next year for more Christmas sparkles! 

Let me know what you think of the replacement background.  I can't decide if it's too busy?

And I've added a picture over on the right from last winter, to remind us that no matter how cold it is today in the Midlands it, at least, doesn't look like this.  The picture is of our back garden in the first week of December 2010.  Sooo much snow.

Again... bbbrrrrrr.

Happy New Year!

Corrie, The X Factor, Ironing, Ballet, Christmas work do..... interesting month?

It's been a funny old month.  (70s flashback....hmmm)

I still can't shift the X Factor obsession.  I keep trying to convince myself I'm not at all bothered about watching the main show, and really....what's the results show but a repeat of the main show? But I keep getting drawn into it.  Who will make it? I'm expecting Mr Cardle to win, but what do I know.  I always liked Diane Vickers until they gave her the wierd popstar-forgot-to-buy-any-trousers-try-these-hotpants-instead makeover after the show.

This week I'm desperately trying to avoid Corrie at all costs.  Controversially I don't do soaps.  Never watched them.  Oh O.K., don't shout...maybe a few episodes of Neighbours when Kylie was still in it.  But the English soaps, Eastenders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale, are not, and never have been, for me.  If I ever went on "Who wants to be a Millionaire", they'd ask me a question on one of those soaps for the £500 and I'd have to use a lifeline for it.  I much prefer my TV entertainment to be less depressing.  Unfortunately I occasionally listen to the News and so am struggling to avoid the current story that apparently there will be a major Corrie accident this week involving killing off some of the main characters.  It's fairly safe to assume I couldn't care less.

I'm also struggling to look yummy when I've got a huge.  No, gigantic.  No, enormous - pile of ironing as usual.  It's definitely bigger than I suspect most people's ironing piles are.  I imagine you've all got one little basket, that is only ever an ironing basket for 24 hours, and then, when the ironing is done, lives an empty life.  Go on; tell me it's not true!  I've got four baskets.  Very rarely are any of them empty. Currently the ironing takes up two, washing takes up the other two.  To be fair I can't complain.  They are full because we've been to Center Parcs to see Santa and, what with the two feet of snow we had during our stay, turned out to be a fantastic winter wonderland break.  Hat's off to the staff there.  Absolutely brilliant.  Taking shifts to grit the site all through the night.  Much better than our local North Derbyshire Council, who can't appear to keep a dual carriageway clear of snow, let alone a hilly school road.

Finally, November involved a re-introduction to the joys of Ballet in an attempt to continue to exercise despite a disillusionment with Pilates classes.  Yes, I got bored.  One Ballet class, and my calves were screaming every time I so much as twitched a leg.... for a week.  The joys of being unfit.  Enjoyed it though, and the second class was an improvement. (screaming for about 48 hours).  Pity I can't go now that life has been almost driven to a halt by a few flurries of snow.  I do so wonder how people living in Norway ever get anything done?  Perhaps if we put the Center Parcs management in charge of snow clearing across the whole county, we'd be getting about a whole lot easier!

Now I'm gearing up for the work Christmas do.  I haven't been for four years and have no clue what to wear.  Typically I've left myself plenty of time for purchasing something should the contents of my wardrobe not suffice.  The do is on Friday!  Any outfit suggestions - let me know!