Snow in the UK

Earlier this month, we finally had some snow in Solihull. The roads became icy and we could no longer drive, the buses stopped running and everyone stayed at home rather than going to work. The school all shut and the children had a day playing in the snow.

It never ceases to amaze me how a little bit of snow paralyses the UK. Could you imagine if this happened in the Alps – no skiing because it is snowing!

However, a few years ago I was working in Norway during the winter. I recall explaining to a Norwegian how badly snow affects the UK and when it snows the roads are thrown into chaos.

His reply was surprising as he said that it happens there too. I asked him how this could be so when Norway must be used to that type of weather. He explained that although they are quite used to driving in snow they will only prepare their cars for snow after it has actually arrived and so on the first day of winter snow they are as unprepared as people in the UK.

Perhaps some problems can be universal!


Dave