Virgin Trains Don't you just love em.

Just got back from 24 hours in London. I was surprised at how quiet and civilised our great Capital City was and clean! And people were even chatting on the tube. What is going on? Even more confusing to a hardened old cynic, the train was bang on time on the way down and on the way back, though Virgin Trains toilets leave quite a lot to be desired. Even the SAS on one of their little training jolly's in the Brecon Beacons would have baulked at using them. While I'm about it I really hate the announcements that they make over the PA system. Not satisfied with listing out all the ways of failing to meet the high and exacting ticketing standards that Virgin require from their customers and the various penalties that you will incur for failing to hold your ticket in the right way when requested to do so by the ticket collector (they have a fancy name but I can't remember it) the announcer then proceeded to tell everyone what the complimentary food was in first class. This was fine for those who were travelling in first class but for the rest of us it was really rather rubbing it in. Especially as all we had to look forward to was a trip to the "shop" where if we were desperate we could purchase one of their sandwiches, which looked like they had been made by a bunch of ham fisted half wits on work experience. I made the mistake of opting for the cheese burger. I eventually found the cheese clinging soggily to the underneath of the plastic carton that the meal came in. It looked like someone had chewed it and spat it out and then tried to hide it. ( Yes I did eat it and no I didn't complain, I'm bloody English for god's sake) Nor do I want my listening to the Fry Chronicles interrupted by the pillock with the PA telling us that there had been a serious accident in the toilet located in coach A. I mean we didn't need telling, anyone with a sense of smell could work it out for themselves. Apparently someone had kicked the door in and the patronising little jobs worth on the PA wanted anyone with information to come along to his office, situated next to the "shop" and spill the beans. I thought he was going to add "and no one is to go to the toilet until the perpetrator has owned up." Apparently they had it covered with CCTV. Shame they couldn't have an on board plumber, then maybe no one would want to kick the door down.

Anyway I am now in recovery mode. It may take some time.

Snow Chaos Forecast.......

I am sitting writing this looking out of the window at the hills about a mile away. The sun has set behind them. They have a dark cold look about them. Much of our garden has been frozen all day so I would expect it to have been pretty cold on “the hills”. It has been a glorious winters day, sunshine, the sky a deep blue. The weather forecasters are predicting snow. Whether it will reach the Peak District is not certain. The youngest B/W has just assured me that it will, but whether that is based upon wishful thinking or scientific analysis is unclear. The forecasters are predicting a “good dumping” for much of England and Wales. I actually heard that phrase used on the BBC, albeit on Radio 5 (Radio bloke as Mrs BW calls it.) Whether they will get it right remains to be seen.

So there is an air of anticipation. A frisson in the atmosphere. It may be me but it seems as if people feel lifted by the expectation of snow. At last something to talk about that is not Global Terrorism, wrongful arrests, the cash for honours scandal or the impending extinction of the human species due to Global Warming. We have the good old British weather to distract us.

I suspect that for anyone on the European continent, or living in the US of A, or Canada, the prospect of 5cms of snow (even 10-15cms in the hills) would cause hardly a ripple of interest. However to us Brits it’s Armageddon time!

Our transport system will shortly be overwhelmed by the impending blizzard. Motorways will grind to a halt. Already the Railway companies are cancelling trains in anticipation. At the University students were being advised about the forecast and there was a number they could ring. (For counselling?) At work people were debating whether or not to come in.

If it does snow, then the papers will go overboard, especially if any of it falls on the precious South East and London. “Britain shivers in winters icy grip.” “Snow Chaos – England Grinds to a halt” (Meaning snow fell inside the M25 corridor). The TV news will send its intrepid reporters to far away parts of the home counties to stand in a couple of inches of snow and talk about isolated communities being cut off. And by Friday it will all be gone. Another unaccountable over reaction to our weather forgotten about until the next time.

So will the hills be glistening white this time tomorrow? I hope so! So does the youngest B/W. A day off school, and sledging with his dad. Bring it on!