Ken Peak

Well, we have just had the Worst Winter for’ thirty years, they say; so anyone younger than that will just have to guess what 1963 or 1947 was like! 1 do remember it, actually - but I don’t recall as much chaos on the roads as we experienced this time! Perhaps we need more practise in ice-driving and skid control, because more trouble was caused by prangs than by modest gradients where tyre-grip failed. Of course, there could never be enough salt/sand for spreading everywhere - so all yellow bins ran out, and we could not then help ourselves on side roads unless kind people hacked the snowfall away, Why were teams of recidivists not out in force clearing streets, if not their names? And if helpful residents did remove slush from outside their homes, why quibble that they may be legally liable for an accident to another party? Surely, this recourse is more likely if no action was taken to improve pedestrian conditions? Then again, with vultures for lawyers, what do we expect these days??

Which Way Monty?
Yet the snow-scenes were quite lovely, and cameras were much in evidence all around the village. There were dramatic views in all directions that will become treasured memories of people with snowmen and sledges: just don’t photograph any children or some kill-joy will make snide comments! The soft whiteness enticed many from virtual hibernation to trudge the tracks across rural fields, or to feed the desperate ducks by the river, and this created a pleasant feeling of goodwill towards other walkers. My picture shows Monty waiting for directions at the Blind Lane signpost, The snow thawed to reveal the ugly sight of scabby roads strewn with all manner of detritus, like a river after a flood, A dismal mess made worse by lack of refuse-collecting services - and the fact that some people do not care how they dispose of their rubbish, nor where they leave a car, How soon the nice side of human nature melts away with the snow! So will YOU help with the Spring Clean-Up this year, when dates are advertised? We can then exert some moral pressure on the Highways Departments to get our roads improved, provide better parking, and clear blocked gullies-if only we are determined to show more pride in our home village!
“If Winter comes - can Spring be far behind?” We can we discuss Global Warming in the Summer -, with our gloves off!