It’s -3 here and we’ve had maybe a centimetre of snow and people are acting like the world is ending.
I am amazed by the number of schools that are closed. I can only think that this is down to schools and authorities being scared of being investigated or even sued should a child get injured on the play ground. I do not recall, back in the 70s, ever having a day off school for snow and certainly not on a day where we have an absolute maximum of two inches of the stuff.
The biggest issue for many schools is the drop off at the start of the day.
In the 70s, many, many more children would have walked to school. Now, very few children walk, especially at primary schools (this is despite attempts by schools to encourage more children to walk).
A lot of the roads around schools struggle to cope with the volume of traffic at the beginning and end of the day. This is exacerbated by people parking inconsiderately and driving impatiently. There are far too many schools where the beginning and end of the day are a bit hairy even in good weather. Add icy roads to the mix, and it's a genuinely dangerous situation.
It's never an easy decision for a head to close a school, but they will be aware that they are potentially putting children at risk if they open a school in snowy or icy weather. Added to this are the considerations that some staff may not be able to make it in, and that there are some parents that simply won't send their children in if there's snow on the ground.
It's also worth noting that, despite all of the above, school closures remain rare.
I would have guessed @Gillis the biggest issue is determining staffing. Most kids live local but the teachers may well not and I suspect it takes a while to determine who can get in and who don’t. The two primary schools I have dealings with the vast majority seem to walk ( different if the school has certain physical / special needs focus, then people seem to travel further).
I suspect quite a few schools that closed today could / should have been open if they had the staff. Suspect that wasn’t the reason they closed.
Croydon picking up again now, dont want to stay in a hotel again tonight so will aim to get back to Sevenoaks. Pool night too so a bit of incentive to go back for the eve
Worst days weather to load in at the Apollo but love the way things like this pull people together all helping each other twenty different crews fucking love this country and it’s why we will always succeed
I’m surprised that The spurs v Rochdale match hasn’t been postponed. I’m sure the pitch is okay but for spectators getting there from up t’north is likely to be a mare.
Record low attendance for a Wembley match tonight me thinks. Nailed on for an upset.
I’ve just seen some Rochdale fans in Cricklewood/Kilburn. I hope the match goes ahead for two reasons; it’s going to be an arduous long hike back to The North West in these conditions especially if the match is postponed and more importantly, there’s football on the box tonight.
What are they doing in Cricklewood or Kilburn, I could think of better places to hang around in London!
#killerandflash It’s normal when teams play at Wembley to stay around this area; cheaper hotels and only 5 stops from Kilburn to Wembley and 12 mins to Bond St.
I’m surprised that The spurs v Rochdale match hasn’t been postponed. I’m sure the pitch is okay but for spectators getting there from up t’north is likely to be a mare.
Record low attendance for a Wembley match tonight me thinks. Nailed on for an upset.
I’ve just seen some Rochdale fans in Cricklewood/Kilburn. I hope the match goes ahead for two reasons; it’s going to be an arduous long hike back to The North West in these conditions especially if the match is postponed and more importantly, there’s football on the box tonight.
What are they doing in Cricklewood or Kilburn, I could think of better places to hang around in London!
#killerandflash It’s normal when teams play at Wembley to stay around this area; cheaper hotels and only 5 stops from Kilburn to Wembley and 12 mins to Bond St.
Sorry, I thought you meant they were hanging around the pubs of Kilburn and Cricklewood!
It's perishingly cold out there, I wouldn't want to be either playing or watching football tonight
Had to laugh this morning walked by a fella digging his car out, clearing his driveway and the footpath, it took well over an hour and and he was just finishing as I returned home to collect a different set of dogs. Telling me he was going to shower before taking his good lady shopping, I returned to see his car gone, exercising the dogs and returning once again past his house to see a snowplough doing the rounds had chucked it back again while he was out.
Yes a familiar experience over here in Canada, plus the fact that you get a nice fine if you dont clear the pavement outside your house of snow after a heavy snowfall.
I didnt go into the pub today but they normally do good business on Wembley days. Kilburn being gentrified and lots of good pubs but pricy. Cricklewood not so much but there’s a weatherspoon near a big hotel. If we ever get to Wembley I’ll advise more on the boozers but I’d go to West Hampstead.
I have just run up the fire station for a nothing call out, went out just after five pm and just got home. The walk back was treacherous as everything is now solid ice. I am 43 and rather rotund, not built for running or falling over.
Mr Tatters is due to make a rare visit to his old Mum on Thursday. She lives in Tayport so he needs to get to Kings Cross then train to Dundee. Im looking forward to a weekend of peace. How likely is this? I can't drive him to London but could get a cab.
So is Mr Tatters still planning to travel to the red/ danger to life zone ?
Scotland Yard has said that a man, believed to be in his 60s, has died in hospital after being pulled from the water at Danson Park, in Welling, south east London.
Feckers have cancelled my weekly football booking as the groundskeeper doesn't want to work in the snow... All he has to do is unlock and then lock a gate! That is literally it as it's an all weather pitch
Scotland Yard has said that a man, believed to be in his 60s, has died in hospital after being pulled from the water at Danson Park, in Welling, south east London.
Comments
I suspect quite a few schools that closed today could / should have been open if they had the staff. Suspect that wasn’t the reason they closed.
Hope everything is fine.
It's perishingly cold out there, I wouldn't want to be either playing or watching football tonight
RIP
Be a real shame if he died for nothing.
Friday looks like it's going to be worse than so far if the forecasts are to be believed
RIP
RIP hero.
Heartbreaking.