Schools Out
 

Just copied and pasted the list of schools closed in Oxfordshire off of the local radio website and into Excel to save counting them.
It currently stands at 299, must be some sort of record

I made the 20 mile journey into work today, got to the gate where I usually enter the site to find it closed, so had to drive to the Main gate to be told by the policeman that officially the site was closed and essential personnel only. (This mainly applies to the Government personnel and not to the Private Businesses like ours)
I made my way across site to find four cars in the carpark, mine made it 5 and the Plant manager later turned up after covering the 30 miles he needs to travel, so all in we have 6 people in out of a day staff of 15.

I find it strange how the guy that lives 2 miles from work and whos road where he lives I pass by the end of on my way in can't make to work.
Still thats the mentallity of some of the British workers these days and then they wonder why some firms would rather employ foreign labour.

Not surprised that people can't be bothered to venture out to work, the nanny state says it's not "safe" to do so, so the drones obey.

'Bout time the driving test included a few sessions on a skid pan like it does in Finland.

Junior was well hacked off that his school was the only one that bothered to stay open on Monday up here, big up to the headmaster and his staff.

On the work front your story reminds me of a colleague who's house I had to drive by on the way to work many years ago. They wouldn't come in when we had some snow and I did have to chuckle to myself when they said to me "I suppose today will come out of my leave then" rather that expecting a freebie. Too right it will.

Ray.

It's not helped by the fact that the Company I work for have turned around and said that people who didn't go in on Monday AND Tuesday will get paid as normal and will not have to take it has holiday. This is a kick in the teeth for the people who did go in. Maybe Monday yes but Tuesday was fine in this area for travelling.

It will be the same here, those that didn't turn up will get the day off without having to book leave, while those of us that did make it in get nowt.
The longest journey in is made by the plant manager and he's in, the next longest journey is mine and I made it here before 8am.
I bet alot of dedicated staff working in the Emergency services such as Doctors and Nurses have made it in to work today.
A bit of snow and the county grinds to a halt

Its been pretty tough in Nottingham today as even the main roads into town were bad first thing. Certainly most schools closed. The upside for me was a completely empty carpark when I got here so I had fun practicing handbrake turns. Would have been much more fun with a rear wheel drive though!

Keith

I've been in all week (here now). Have to. If i don't open i don't get money in the till and don't get paid,quite simple really. It's only 4 1/2 miles so could walk in if i really had to.

Some years ago I was working with a Finnish colleague, and I mentioned that the Finnish weather seemed to me to be one of the reasons why a country with only about 5 million people produced most of the top rally drivers. He agreed. He also pointed out that every year in the winter when his lake froze over he went out to practise ice-driving again. So, just like the stay-at-homes here, it's an attitude thing too!

I do a 52 mile drive in, Monday was scary at times, but when I got there, there was almost no-one in. Tuesday was fine but some people were still missing.
This morning was just downright frightening - took me 20 minutes to get out of Tring, 3-point turns on snow covered roads aren't easy in a big car I found when the roads blocked at the end.... but I still made it in... and these people who live close-by can't get here... makes my blood boil.... :mad: :mad: :mad:

Most of our computing equipment is located in California, with very little stuff in London, so we are able to work remotely from home. The company is pretty good about us working from home, but it does mean that "not being able to get into the office" doesn't get you a free day off!

My office is at home anyway so all that the weather has meant for me is 3 days sitting at my desk............Monday was hopeless-loads of roads closed, Tuesday was just sheet ice round here, I was out Wednesday, then woke this morning to 6-7 inches of snow-the wet stuff that packs into ice as soon as you look at it. It took Jo 35 minutes to travel the 2.6 miles from my house to hers this morning-and that was after I had dug her car out of the snow on the garage forecourt. All the local schools are closed, no buses, few trains, A14 blocked, M1 blocked, A1 Blocked-basically I am hemmed in-I would have loved to have gone to play in an empty car park-but there are none suitable round here.

I am supposed to be going down to Kent tomorrow-and guess what-they are forcasting another 6-8inches of snow tonight!

John

Yeah,no school for our Lizzie today.
Most of the village kids were out snowballing at 8.30am,....they were having a great time.
I had a hospital appointment today and the journey took over an hour instead of the usual 20mins.The fen roads were just passable and the Peterborough parkway was down to one lane.Very quiet at PDH so in and out again in record time.

When I were a lad...
We had snow, school was about 4 miles away, stayed open, we walked in. Uphill both ways it was too!

This week, monday/tuesday, plenty of snow here but still went to work even though my only transport at the mo is the 996 (which REALLY needs cleaning now!). Didn't notice anyone absent from our office - a few people were late, but all seemed to make enough effort to get there, so I can't understand why there's millions of people not showing up elsewhere. I can only think it's laziness, along with the 'nany state' culture we have to endure.

Fortunatly here in Denmark we have missed all the nice white stuff you guys are having, but watching the news and seeing all the kids and quiet a few adults managed to make their way to sledging areas, how come they could not make their way to School ? And if someone made it to all the schools to place hand written "School Closed" signs up, why could they not have stayed with the school open to do their job and teach the kids that got to school.

One clip i saw was of a news reporter outside a school saying that many children who turned up today found they were having a day off when they found the school gates locked and a notice that the school was closed, If the news reporter and camera crew got there and the kids they filmed turning round and going home got there why was the school closed?

Interesting point raised by somebody in the press over here Paul, along the lines that by not opening the schools it gives the kids the idea that anything that takes a bit of effort should not be bothered with. We don't have snow like this very often on the other hand, apparently in many parts it is the most for 20 years so many of the kids will never have seen the like.

Half the kids at our local skools are ferried in half a mile max in the 4X4 in normal circumstances, I'm not sure that some of them know how to walk :).

We went to the bank in the high street today and they hadn't bothered to open. Now they are telling us that the salt for the roads is running out.

More snow forecast for tomorrow in our area.

I've worked from home for the last 8 years, so I've been working everyday since I don't need a snowplough to grit the landing so that I can get to my office.

I did have a 110 mile round trip in about 4 inches of snow on Monday to see a customer and I got there with very little trouble, even though even roads like the A40 between Denham and Beaconsfield were ungritted and covered in snow. I don't really care that people who live closer didn't make the effort, but what really does get me about the snow 'crisis' is the amount of whinging that goes on and the blame culture that this country has fallen into.

Everybody moans about the council's and their inability to keep the roads clear. These same people would probably also be the first ones to whinge about the ludicrous waste of taxpayers money spent on snowploughs and dirty great piles of grit that are only ever needed once every 10-15 years.

In other countries I've worked in, people actually have to take some responsibility for themselves rather than take the flimsiest excuse to lard around and take the day off. They have to fit winter tyres, by law, which I'm told are narrower so they cut through snow, have a big old tread and are made of softer compound rubber. They'll also carry snow chains.

Here, the public psyche (and the media) just seems fixated on spinning round pointing fingers for being ill-prepared at anyone other than themselves.

The trickiest bit of my journey on Monday was going through Fulmer, Bucks. It's in a valley so you go down into the village, round a couple of S bends and up the other side. The road out obviously goes back up hill, it was covered in packed snow and it has a right hand turning off the main drag half way up. As I came to the bottom of the hill, a group of about 5 cars were trying to get up it. Did they take a nice steady run up at the hill? Did they buggery. The first car set off, and all the other cars started to follow it at the same sort of distance they would have done on a dry day. As the first car got virtually on top of the right hand turning he gave a couple of flicks on his indicator to turn right and stopped, half way up the hill to turn right (even though there was no approaching traffic). Second car completely failed to anticipate that the first one was turning right (hard to do when you're following it 4 feet behind) and stopped too. So now, you've got 5 cars all trying to pull away from a standing start, halfway up a hill, no throttle control and big old rooster tails everywhere as they slithered with spinning wheels and no steering control into the nearest verge. It was hardly rocket science to take a long steady run up on the flat, keep the momentum going up the hill and do no more than breathe on the gas and I got up there quite easily.

I don't 'spose any of the drivers who found themselves stuck in the verge halfway up the hill would admit "Ah yes, I got stuck because I'm a fecking cretin that hasn't got a clue how to drive in snow" no way "It's the bleedin councils fault"

Jools, both my cars have had winter tyres fitted since November, winter tyres are not restricted to snowy conditions and actualy come into their own when temps drop below 9 degrees, summer tyres do not function correctly in temps under 9 degrees. watching the UK news i have heard pleanty of moaning from motorists who blame the council for not gritting or salting enough, i have yet to hear any of these people state they have done their bit by using winter tyres

Something that would really help the UK market is legislation. A number of other EU countries have made the use of winter tyres a legal requirement and many offer specific winter recommendations

In the UK, however, there is no legislation and very little in the way of advice. The main authority on the subject, the Highway Code, is less than forthcoming. In fact the official guide, which describes itself as "essential reading for everyone," has nothing on the subject of winter tyres, and only contains three entries on the subject of tyres in general. The addition of a line explaining how improved grip could be attained by using winter tyres, would improve consumer perceptions of winter tyres no-end. But as we have seen, a legal requirement would be even better.

The fact remains, as far as the UK government is concerned there is not likely to be any new legislation unless the EU introduces it first.

It certainly does seem as if there is an increased tendency to a) skive off and b) blame someone else for it. Is that having your cake and eating it , or am I just a grumpy old man?
Still, on the upside, at least the roads are not clogged by the 4x4s parked on the double yellow lines outside the schools.

Lucky gits, our Hr department have said that people that could not get to work, even if they tried, will have to tale leave or flexi time, mind you he is an ar*ole!

I think that's fair - it's the same here - I get paid to be at work. I've made it in every day this week, through some tricky conditions on a bl**dy long drive - why should people who can't make the effort be rewarded for staying at home??

I learnt to drive in snow when I had an Austin Morris Allegro in the 1980's. It snowed quite often each winter then and much fun was had in the lanes, doing hand break turns and the like. So it didn't matter if I pranged an Austin Allegro, which happened quite often. Its easy to pull the wings straight on a tin box. Great Fun.

Nower days people get hot and flustered at the sight of snow. I have made it to work and colleagues of mine who travel much further.

My Kids have also been to school which is hard on them when they see others on the tele enjoying the snow. I am hoping it is still here tomorrow so we can take them to Allestree park near Derby. There are plenty of hills there to slide down.

So the moral is, its only weather and as with all weather we should learn to cope with it. The media however are always looking for a dramatic story and someone to blame.
Well if I were a religious news reporter would I blame him up stairs?

Todays grand total in at work is two, myself and one other, I didn't find the drive to bad but maybe having two new tyres fitted to front driving wheels two weeks ago has helped

Only 261 Schools listed as closed today

for the sake of perspective
 

The good people of Maine have a different view on these things - in Fahrenheit of course!
:)

60 above zero New Yorkers try to turn on the heat.... People in Maine plant gardens.

50 above zero Californians shiver uncontrollably....... People in Maine sunbathe.

40 above Italian cars won't start..... People in Maine drive with the windows down.

32 above Distilled water freezes..... Moosehead Lak's water gets thicker (for non-Mainers, this is a lake in Maine)

20 above Floridians wear coats, gloves and woolly hats..... People in Maine throw on a sweatshirt.

15 above New York landlords finally turn up the heat.... People in Maine have the last cook-out before it gets cold.

zero degrees People in Miami cease to exist.... Mainers lick the flagpole.

-20 below Californians fly away to Mexico.... People in Maine get out their winter coats.

-40 below Hollywood disintergrates..... The girl scouts in Maine begin selling cookies door to door.

-60 below Polar bears begin to evacuate Antarctica Maine's Boy Scouts postpone "Winter Survival" classes until it gets cold enough.

-80 below Mt. St. Helen's freezes... People in Maine to ice skating or skiing.

-100 below Santa Claus abandons the North Pole..... Maine-iacs get frustrated when they can't thaw the keg.

-297 below Microbial life survives on dairy products.... Cows in Maine complain of farmers with cold hands.

-460 below ALL atomic motion stops..... People in Maine start saying..."Cold 'nuff for ya?"

-500 below Hell freezes over...... The New England Patriots win the Super Bowl!

Well after a day off school yesterday,Lizzie was hoping for more of the same today.She was denied as the bus turned up on time.:lol:

Just had a call from the school,....they are closing at lunchtime.The snow is really hammering down here.Local news also reports loads of problems on local roads.Time to batten down the hatches.

It was snowing pretty hard here early on so we nipped out in the Terrano to pick up a few essentials in case it carries on. It was quite good fun out on the back roads and we managed to tow a bl**dy great big bread lorry out of the snow. Herself made a video on her mobly, looks really funny with the little car lugging a lorry backwards. :lol: :lol: