On 2010-01-02 20:24:26 +0000, Simon Bennett said:

On Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:30:42 +0000, Trevor Harley wrote:
To think I used to yearn for a "real winter". I've learned the lesson of
my ways. Can no one give me a glimmer of hope for a thaw?
I thought Scotland snowy winters under control. If not, why not?


I'm sure it is better than the south of England, where a few flakes of
seem to cause chaos and consternation. But the quantity of snow, the
harshness of forst, and the persistence of the cold is remarkable, even
for Scotland. You have to go back to February 1986 for something
similar here, wo we're talking a greater than 20 year return period.
Given that, I think the authorities do a pretty good job. The main
roads are open most of the time, and the city centres relatively clear
(although Dundee city centre was a sheet of glass last week; even I
didn't feel safe).

But when you get off the B roads to the minor roads and the tracks,
it's not realistic to expect local government to be able to keep
everything clear. Local farmers are impressive, doing their bit with
tractors, but there are limits on what they can do. On the road where
our car is stuck even tractors can't get a grip.

No, shops are running out of luxury white chocolate, civilisation is
starting to break down, and I've had enough.

Trevor
Fed up in Dundee
Weather: http://www.personal.dundee.ac.uk/~taharley/