why does Britain come to a standstill because of bad weather?

juneh no, you're absolutely right. I remember everything you've mentioned, including the flashing man and never coming home, except to eat. I am fairly fearless now, happy to travel anywhere alone etc. I wonder if children now will be, having been so protected? Yes Mishap school closures are justified if children have to get to school on windy country lanes, but how many do? I travelled 5 miles to school when I was a child and can never remember the school being closed. I remember the joy of the snow, snowball fights en route and making slides in the playground.

You are right of course, my comments are merely comments.

I think the school closures are justified here in the country - the travel is so unsafe on windy country lanes. Teachers also have trouble getting in; and the HT needs to consider how the children are going to get home if the snow continues. No-one in the village has been up the lane to day.

Tis true we have become far more litigious than we used to be, no wonder with all the ads for insurance companies and lawyer ads saying
'Have you had an accident at work?'
I agree that schools are afraid and also, I suppose we are a more fear conscious nation for our children, fear they will be hurt, abducted and so, want to hold them close because of what we see on the media. We are perhaps too over protective now. Isn't it sad that today a child can't go out on a bike without an adult, I remember cycling out and about on mine, my legs and face brown and drinking water from a bike bottle thinking myself the bees knees.
I remember the days when we kids would go out to play in the mornings, nip home for a buttie and then out again. I can remember hearing my mother shouting my name a field away or a block or two away when it was time to come home for tea and bed. In the school hols it seemed sunny all the time and even in the snow we would be clad in wellies and wearing ld soaked mittens and rag arsed back sides from slidding on bits of wood or old trays down the snow drifted roads.
We were lucky I suppose in that way. My mum's warning to me was never speak to strange men and don't take sweets from anyone.
I remember laughing with some of my friends when a man flashed in his crubby old raincoat in the park, it wasn't scaring just funny. nowadays not really funny of course and certainly could have been much worse.

If it was our DGC who cracked their head open or broke a bone on an icy playground we might think differently!

However I think it is the 'the general public' who have complained, moaned & threatened to sue over genuine accidents etc that have caused some people responsible for the safety of others (e.g.heads, doctors etc) to be over-cautious.

When I was a HT I always felt if it was something I would be happy for my own kids (latterly grand kids) to do then I could go with it! But many occasions I had to deal with angry parents..why did I not ban chase games at playtime/ why do the children change for PE in the same room (oldest child was 7)/ why did children play in the snow.... I could go on!

p.s statistics show that very few threats to sue actually get anywhere and those that are pursued are rarely successful. It is only the cases of true negligence that should get to court.

One head teacher was on radio & said if a teacher fell and broke a leg or a child fell and broke an arm it was an 'unacceptable' risk. I think it is fear of being sued rather than 'elf and safety driving this apparent wimpishness.

I do think we think it is just Britain!

In areas of the world where snow and ice is a regular and longstanding feature of the climate then the infrastructure is well prepared to cope. People in these places automatically prepare themselves to manage the weather conditions (chains for car tyres, clear /salt their own paths/frontage to property & business etc etc). Local government dept. have invested in snow ploughs/gritters etc.because equipment regularly used.

Because annual severe snowy weather is not a given across GB we find it harder to cope. Think we are getting better..more proper snow shovels and grit available on the high street..this was not the case years ago!

I was at boarding school in the 1963 snowy winter and was jealous to find out my cousins at day schools had extra days off school due to snow..so not new! Perhaps because we all live under greater pressure re work, more families where 2 parents work, greater use of transport: planes/trains etc we notice the disruption more? Also media brings it into our home whereas in the past it may not have been reported so widely.

i

total strangers, of course!

Why not? It gives "Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells" something to harrumph about, it is much more fun to play sardines with toal strangers on one of the few trains out of Euston in a snow storm than have a seat all to yourself, it is much more fun to be stuck indoors on GN instead of being out and about - Oh, that one's true!

If it's any consolation, I have heard that Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport was closed this week and public transport was off the road in Paris, though I don't know about the Metro - several lines are overground.

it certainly gives the country something to talk about! The last time I visited my brother in Spain he cautioned me NOT to talk about the weather over there because we British get so 'boring' going on about it (his words, not mine). Personally I believe the weather's a very interesting phenomenon and as such SHOULD be open to discussion:-) When the next lot of sunshine happens, in the summer (maybe) I certainly will be telling everyone I meet what a lovely hot day it is, it'd be considered rude not to...

I think it is a lot to do with "The 'elf & safety Brigade" not the fact that we are wimp's.