Monday, January 21, 2013
meaningless words.
Should we venture out in the car?
Would it be safe? Unwise?
Should we listen to the media?
Now don't get me wrong - I am aware that snow can cause hazards; sometimes for a short while, sometimes for longer.
I have every sympathy with people facing real problems - not just my kind of grumble about not being able to go to a car boot sale!
British folk mock themselves because the country comes to a halt with a small fall of snow.
But has it come to a halt?
Well, it hasn't come to a halt for us.
Local authorities have done well. All major roads are completely clear. Side roads and country lanes must be difficult, especially on hills.
We drove to Dorking today - no trouble at all.
It was exceedingly cold in the shop. You have heard this before of course; today I took a thermometer with me. My section managed to see the mercury stand at 5 degrees centigrade. It did climb a little and by the end of the day it crept into double figures.
I was wearing and outfit of many layers and didn't feel too bad, though.
As expected, there were few buying customers - well, 2 actually. One bought a model car from Bill.
But there were quite a few through the door.
We busied ourselves with eating, drinking, sudoku puzzles and counting the pigeons on the building opposite.
We did close up an hour early. It really didn't seem worth staying there for an extra 60 minutes and it would be good to travel home in the light.
Still no trouble on the roads.
There are roadworks on the A264 close to Faygate and that can slow things a bit sometimes - hardly at all today.
Just after we had passed that point, the local radio travel news came on the car radio describing that stretch of road as "treacherous"!!!
Some nervous motorist may have phoned them with that opinion - not sure how they could have formed that opinion actually.
It just strengthened my belief that the media create our thoughts and behaviour.
Having heard about a treacherous road - the word alone is enough, no need to be specific about where - then so many people would say to themselves that it would be foolish, unsafe and unwise to venture out.
Lets have warnings that really mean something!
Would it be safe? Unwise?
Should we listen to the media?
Now don't get me wrong - I am aware that snow can cause hazards; sometimes for a short while, sometimes for longer.
I have every sympathy with people facing real problems - not just my kind of grumble about not being able to go to a car boot sale!
British folk mock themselves because the country comes to a halt with a small fall of snow.
But has it come to a halt?
Well, it hasn't come to a halt for us.
Local authorities have done well. All major roads are completely clear. Side roads and country lanes must be difficult, especially on hills.
We drove to Dorking today - no trouble at all.
It was exceedingly cold in the shop. You have heard this before of course; today I took a thermometer with me. My section managed to see the mercury stand at 5 degrees centigrade. It did climb a little and by the end of the day it crept into double figures.
I was wearing and outfit of many layers and didn't feel too bad, though.
As expected, there were few buying customers - well, 2 actually. One bought a model car from Bill.
But there were quite a few through the door.
We busied ourselves with eating, drinking, sudoku puzzles and counting the pigeons on the building opposite.
We did close up an hour early. It really didn't seem worth staying there for an extra 60 minutes and it would be good to travel home in the light.
Still no trouble on the roads.
There are roadworks on the A264 close to Faygate and that can slow things a bit sometimes - hardly at all today.
Just after we had passed that point, the local radio travel news came on the car radio describing that stretch of road as "treacherous"!!!
Some nervous motorist may have phoned them with that opinion - not sure how they could have formed that opinion actually.
It just strengthened my belief that the media create our thoughts and behaviour.
Having heard about a treacherous road - the word alone is enough, no need to be specific about where - then so many people would say to themselves that it would be foolish, unsafe and unwise to venture out.
Lets have warnings that really mean something!
