London Paralyzed by the 'Wrong Kind of Snow'
Feb 3rd, 2009, 07:49 AM
#41
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This is the worst snow in London for 18 years, and most years there is no snow at all. Most of London's bus drivers have never driven a car in snow, let alone a bus.
Do you think now is a good time for them to learn?
Do you think now is a good time for them to learn?
Feb 3rd, 2009, 07:54 AM
#42
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Trouble with snow ploughs is that they are not suitable for our cities. OK on the motorways, but in London... Where is all the snow supposed to go? You'll either block the pavements or block the road up to a single lane anyway, which I don't think would be very helpful. We don't have 40' wide roads here 
Feb 3rd, 2009, 08:00 AM
#43
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I'm feeling quite proud of my little car.
Took a colleague home last night as public transport in our town was cancelled. Little did I know he lived in a village down a tiny country lane. I really thought we'd get stuck but we didn't. At the village I dropped him off outside the pub (which basically is the whole village) so he could walk through on a footpath to his house. Loads of cars stranded and people in the pub where they couldn't get back up the icy hill. Apparently someone slid backwards down it and nearly took out the pub doors at one point.
Well...just like the little train that could...my car huffed and puffed and slid a bit but got back up to the top again.
And then when I got home I just about managed to coax it through the piled up snow, and up the icy drive to our car port. Mr N was right behind me in his much nicer car and got totally stuck. It just wouldn't move - wheels spinning on the spot. A bunch of neighbours helped dig it out and push it out of the way.
Feeling smug this morning. My car looks a neglected mess, and it's only a wee little thing...but it gets the job done!
Took a colleague home last night as public transport in our town was cancelled. Little did I know he lived in a village down a tiny country lane. I really thought we'd get stuck but we didn't. At the village I dropped him off outside the pub (which basically is the whole village) so he could walk through on a footpath to his house. Loads of cars stranded and people in the pub where they couldn't get back up the icy hill. Apparently someone slid backwards down it and nearly took out the pub doors at one point.
Well...just like the little train that could...my car huffed and puffed and slid a bit but got back up to the top again.
And then when I got home I just about managed to coax it through the piled up snow, and up the icy drive to our car port. Mr N was right behind me in his much nicer car and got totally stuck. It just wouldn't move - wheels spinning on the spot. A bunch of neighbours helped dig it out and push it out of the way.
Feeling smug this morning. My car looks a neglected mess, and it's only a wee little thing...but it gets the job done!
Feb 3rd, 2009, 08:32 AM
#44
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There is no reply in this pingpong match. the UK is an island and has very fluctuating weather because of the influence of the sea. This means that it can warm up quickly and as happened over these days you get melt followed by freeze which makes walking and driving treacherous. Transport staff have to get to the depot to start work. We know it will normally be short so it is safer for people to stay at home. If you look at the films you can see we don't wear suitable clothes. The current Accu weather forecast for London is rain over the next 2-3 days followed by more snow. The weather is not consistent as it is in landlocked areas you find in North America. To get a feel for the situation look at these videos on the bbc news website. Click on one after the another like You tube. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7866402.stm To repeat what others have said even the Underground is out in the open quite often, even the Circle Line which is cut and cover, those of you who favour Gloucester Road should remember that.
Feb 3rd, 2009, 09:18 AM
#45
hi Pal,
well if 6 inches is a lot of snow for clapham, it's a whole heap more for Cornwall. goodness knows when the county saw this much of the white stuff. our road, normally pretty busy, saw only one car an hour - and they weren't making very good progress, so we've stayed home and made snow-men - that's the adults, not the kids. after all
we have to make the most of it when we can - the forecast is for rain which means it won't last long.
I for one would not be in favour of our local council spending huge amounts on snow-ploughs which spend all but one week every 10 years moldering in garages.
regards, ann
well if 6 inches is a lot of snow for clapham, it's a whole heap more for Cornwall. goodness knows when the county saw this much of the white stuff. our road, normally pretty busy, saw only one car an hour - and they weren't making very good progress, so we've stayed home and made snow-men - that's the adults, not the kids. after all
we have to make the most of it when we can - the forecast is for rain which means it won't last long.
I for one would not be in favour of our local council spending huge amounts on snow-ploughs which spend all but one week every 10 years moldering in garages.
regards, ann
Feb 3rd, 2009, 09:25 AM
#46
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annhig- i agree 100%
when a freak storm comes turn it into a nice festive event
And unlike here where we've had over a foot of snow on the ground for what seems like time memorial you know that your snow will be a pleasant memory only in a few days.
Q - Do football matches get called off in such a snow?
Cheers
when a freak storm comes turn it into a nice festive event
And unlike here where we've had over a foot of snow on the ground for what seems like time memorial you know that your snow will be a pleasant memory only in a few days.
Q - Do football matches get called off in such a snow?
Cheers
Feb 3rd, 2009, 09:27 AM
#47
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Then there's the job-supporting issue.
We lead the world in whingeing pillocks who fill up acres of newsprint moaning about how nothing works here. Correction: whingeing, insular pillocks to lazy to ask why the mainly French-owned Eurostar broke down yesterday (in France !!!), and why Orly and CDG were closed for most of yesterday.
If we kept London clear of snow (the useless toerags have no frame of reference outside London) what would these tosspots find to write about?
They've run out of uncritical fawning over Obama, and Big Brother's not on the box right now. We can't have them hanging round idle, now can we?
We lead the world in whingeing pillocks who fill up acres of newsprint moaning about how nothing works here. Correction: whingeing, insular pillocks to lazy to ask why the mainly French-owned Eurostar broke down yesterday (in France !!!), and why Orly and CDG were closed for most of yesterday.
If we kept London clear of snow (the useless toerags have no frame of reference outside London) what would these tosspots find to write about?
They've run out of uncritical fawning over Obama, and Big Brother's not on the box right now. We can't have them hanging round idle, now can we?
Feb 3rd, 2009, 09:27 AM
#48
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Feb 3rd, 2009, 09:41 AM
#49
"Where is all the snow supposed to go? You'll either block the pavements or block the road up to a single lane anyway."
That pretty much describes the way Boston looks for a month or two every year. Lots of places without forty foot roads. Much of Boston was laid out on cow paths.
That pretty much describes the way Boston looks for a month or two every year. Lots of places without forty foot roads. Much of Boston was laid out on cow paths.
Feb 3rd, 2009, 10:19 AM
#50
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Flanner - you, of course, had that quote spot on (from Boris) as i heard when it were repeated later on BBC
that said what is a dog like flannerpooch to do in the high snow - where does it go to do its dirty work? I'd think the fireplugs are even inaccessible?
cheers to you and pooch
that said what is a dog like flannerpooch to do in the high snow - where does it go to do its dirty work? I'd think the fireplugs are even inaccessible?
cheers to you and pooch
Feb 3rd, 2009, 10:43 AM
#51
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''If we kept London clear of snow (the useless toerags have no frame of reference outside London) what would these tosspots find to write about?''
Very true.
The main roads (A and M) in Herts, Essex and Cambs were the best I've ever seen them in bad weather. Clearly, there has been some considerable thought and planning put into this, despite the claims of the whingers who think that if the council aren't round gritting their patio they'll probably end up with a glacier carving it's way through their garden.
Also, the parents complaining about closed schools and having to take a day off to look after their sprogs need to get some perspective - their your kids and it's not a babysitting service.
Very true.
The main roads (A and M) in Herts, Essex and Cambs were the best I've ever seen them in bad weather. Clearly, there has been some considerable thought and planning put into this, despite the claims of the whingers who think that if the council aren't round gritting their patio they'll probably end up with a glacier carving it's way through their garden.
Also, the parents complaining about closed schools and having to take a day off to look after their sprogs need to get some perspective - their your kids and it's not a babysitting service.
Feb 3rd, 2009, 10:51 AM
#52
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We reliably have several feet of snow piled up for about six months a year, blocking roads, etc. Often it is stacked up so high in the middle of roads so you cannot see over the piles. Try keeping driveways/sidewalks clear for that long! You are often shoveling snow onto piles way above your head.
But we are prepared for it and expect it. It would be a shock if we did NOT get feet upon feet of snow. Most of our infrastructure dollars go towards winter (cold temps and snow) issues.
In smaller places big trucks literally haul and haul and haul the snow to the countryside.
Whilst it is difficult to imagine such a tiny amount of snow causing so much havoc I do understand as there are millions of people in London and the rest of the country is so much more populated than where I live. Things never shut down here but we are sparsely populated.
The daily newsletters from Wales are interesting. Yesterday's headline was "School Closures in Anticipation of Snow". In anticipation of snow? That made me chuckle. Plus temps were to "plummet down to -2C and -3.5C at night". Plummet? Man, we are not even close to those lovely temps for six months of the year. It makes me wonder how some people would survive our real winters!
But we are prepared for it and expect it. It would be a shock if we did NOT get feet upon feet of snow. Most of our infrastructure dollars go towards winter (cold temps and snow) issues.
In smaller places big trucks literally haul and haul and haul the snow to the countryside.
Whilst it is difficult to imagine such a tiny amount of snow causing so much havoc I do understand as there are millions of people in London and the rest of the country is so much more populated than where I live. Things never shut down here but we are sparsely populated.
The daily newsletters from Wales are interesting. Yesterday's headline was "School Closures in Anticipation of Snow". In anticipation of snow? That made me chuckle. Plus temps were to "plummet down to -2C and -3.5C at night". Plummet? Man, we are not even close to those lovely temps for six months of the year. It makes me wonder how some people would survive our real winters!
Feb 3rd, 2009, 10:53 AM
#53
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PS - I probably didn't quote the most appropriate section of Flanneurs post to illustrate my point, since what I'm agreeing with is the whiney negative tone of the press - I don't actually mind the reporting being London or South-East-centric since that is the most densely populated area of the UK, with nigh on 10 million living in and/or commuting to London.
Feb 4th, 2009, 01:52 PM
#56
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"that said what is a dog like flannerpooch to do in the high snow "
He's distictly underwhelmed.
We've only had just enough snow to make driving on untreated roads challenging - but most other things are no different from normal. From his short-arse point of view, that means just enough snow to create cumbersome and painful mini snowballs all over his paws and legs if he goes for a proper walk - but not really enough to have really good rolls in a foot of white powder. So if he sees a pheasant or a rabbit, he can't chase after it properly.
He'd like some of these "atrocious conditions" Bosses in London are whingeing about. He sat on a drive to a local town today getting seriously peeved there weren't any round here.
He's distictly underwhelmed.
We've only had just enough snow to make driving on untreated roads challenging - but most other things are no different from normal. From his short-arse point of view, that means just enough snow to create cumbersome and painful mini snowballs all over his paws and legs if he goes for a proper walk - but not really enough to have really good rolls in a foot of white powder. So if he sees a pheasant or a rabbit, he can't chase after it properly.
He'd like some of these "atrocious conditions" Bosses in London are whingeing about. He sat on a drive to a local town today getting seriously peeved there weren't any round here.
