United Kingdom is a country known for its rainy, mild weather. I personally find the constant greyness absolutely depressing. They also say that the weather is unpredictable which is actually false. It'll rain for certain every time of the year!
That's why it's with growing amusement I've been watching poor Brits face this exceptionally cold and snowy weather. In Wales the temperature even plunged 17 degrees below zero whereas in Manchester things were pretty okey with mere -5 or so. We saw some serious snowing during about a week in the end of last month. It hailed as well and roads were covered with, if not thick layer of snow, so called black ice. Train and bus services were delayed or cancelled and people got stuck on the roads and airports.
The most amusing bit is yet to come! (I don't see anything funny about sleeping in a cold car because it broke down. Although you fellow-Finns might think to yourself why that kind of thing even happened in the first place!)
Delays in public transport caused tardiness and people complained. I asked myself if somebody has that great a job? Number of schools were closed because of "the freezing weather" but of course mine was open all along. I read a story in the paper where a teacher said that they sent pupils home around noon because of the weather. But if they've already made it to school what's the point sending them back home? I suppose heavy snowing is so shocking for kids that they're better off at home.
I don't envy car owners either. Car can be rather a curse than a blessing. It's such a pain to boil the kettle and go out pour water over the windscreen. And wipers! Dear god, they're completely useless in removing frost!
It's utterly stirring for a Finn to see how people simply aren't use to the cold or the white matter. For the whole duration of the "chaos" I felt weirdly fresh and brisk and enjoyed my cuppa tea and mittens more than ever. Some people seemed to actually get quite excited about. I smiled at students playing with the snow. Teenage girls were "soooo embarrassed" when falling over in their UGG-boots and leopard-leggins. (Please, notice me, am I not cute just like Bambi?)
The funniest thing is that media, and people, too, see "extreme" cold and snow as a large-scale nature disaster. The word "chaos" is seen in papers more often than comma and people are urged to "tell their stories and send their pictures" on the snowy hell. I'm sure the media is not exaggerating. What I don't understand is why people have to try to go to out in the first place.
Don't get me wrong, dear Brits. I'm not trying to make you look like whining wimps. I think you've been very brave. Keep stocking up that bread and milk!
P.S. The police got nearly hundred reports on kids throwing snowballs. I guess you always need someone to blame.
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