SNOW: WHAT else could I possibly have to write about this week.
It seems we spend months before Christmas praying for snow, so that we can have a White Christmas.
But as soon as some snow does arrive, everyone’s freaked out by it.
Weather like we’re currently experiencing seems to me to bring out the best and the worst in people.
For every tale of someone walking nine miles through the snow to rescue their neighbour’s dog, there’s someone being airlifted to safety from the top of Snowdon in a blizzard.
Why do people insist of ignoring the warnings and not only venture out, but try and climb mountains.
Now don’t get me wrong, there are people out there (one sat about three feet to my right) who are more than capable of getting fully prepared, well wrapped up, and taking to the hills.
Hills where they probably know the routes anyway, and more importantly know what they’re doing if the weather suddenly turns a bit wild.
But inexperienced walkers are just crazy to take to the hills in this weather. The emergency services have better things to be doing surely than plucking idiots of the side of mountains. People who suddenly thought ‘I bet it’s pretty up there today’. Yes, pretty dangerous so don’t go there...
As soon as there’s the slightest rise in temperature the idiots get back on the roads. I’ve lost count of the amount of times in the last week I’ve been overtaken on a road that’s icy and driveable with care. Care to me does not mean overtaking people who are far from dawdling. It does not mean taking ridiculous risks.
Especially with grit in short supply.
And as for the shortage of grit. This weather was forecast as early as the first week of December. It was not a shock to anyone in the weather world - maybe it’s lasted a little longer than anyone expected but I think it’s fair to say most people say it coming.
So why were things such as road salt and grit not massively stockpiled?
And the weather’s not going to get any better. Six more weeks of this I have been told by local farmers.
It’s all something to do with a mild snap followed by a Siberian front bursting through. They’re just not sure whether it might be pushed north. Presumably it’s been pushed south by this Scandinavian block that’s taking me cold right now. I’m starting to sound like John Ketley...
THE AFRICAN NATIONS CUP: THE saddest story of the week for me was the attack on the Togo team bus on the way to the African Nations Cup in Angola. For most people it will be the first time they’ve ever heard of the want-away region of Cabinda.
It’s always very sad when politics and sport collide, particularly when innocent sportsmen end up dead or injured as a result of a political situation that has nothing to do with them.
But questions must be asked.
Why were games taking place in this region? It’s like if England had held the World Cup in the 1970s or 1980s and had decided to play a group game in Northern Ireland. It was just asking for trouble - and it got it.
And what are the implications for the World Cup to be held in South Africa?
It also seemed a little harsh the way the team was then disqualified for failing to fulfil their first fixture. If ever there was a case where common sense was needed, that was it.