This week Milton Keynes resembled the frozen tundra of Siberia, as a cold front from Russia brought wintry conditions to the UK. They say we’ve not seen so much snow for at least twenty years. I for one hope it is at least twenty years until such wintry weather returns.
It has been horrible. I may sound like a killjoy. Why was I not out making snowmen and igloos, or throwing snowballs at unsuspecting children?
The truth is I have an unfortunate condition, which makes walking on a bright sunny day a small challenge. I currently wear a splint on my right foot, which stops me from falling flat on my face every one hundred yards. In icy conditions it is even worse. Even with the splint, ive found it incredibly difficult getting about. I’ve tried to follow the suggestion made in the Boston Globe to walk like a penguin. I have to say it worked very well, although I got very funny looks from anyone I happened to pass. Perhaps if the council had chosen the grit the pavements, it would have made getting about easier.
I’m quite proud I’ve only fallen over twice!
However as much as I complain about my condition I recognise I’m actually incredibly lucky. I could have been left severely disabled but am actually quite mobile. There are many people who aren’t as lucky.
It was a shame that news reports chose to focus more on the traffic disruption and less on the human cost of the wintry weather. What about the disabled person, unable to go out to buy food? What about the elderly person, too poor to properly heat their home?
The fact is my difficult journey to work was insignificant when compared with the difficulties being faced by some of the most vulnerable people in society. I guess it’s always important to remember that even when times are hard, there will always be many out there having a much harder time.
