OOh Greenshoes, you are soooo lucky to get snow.
Last time we had snow in Leeds, was New Years Eve, 2003.

Louise xx

We had snow the year I moved into my present house, 1995 that was. My mate and I walked round the back of the house before I had got the keys so I could have a nose through the windows once the former owners had moved out and we got paranoid that someone would call the police thinking someone had tried to break in because of our footprints!

I don't think the elderly will think they are lucky when they are isolated and cut off from all contact with any friends. neighbour or even the Postal delivery service (who for many people can be their only contact, and the PO also provides a lifeline to many small communities) because of the snow in the northern areas of Scotland.
Hopefully they will have enough provisions until the roads get cleared, and they will also be able to withstand the cold when the power for their heating goes off, and it will.

Will the farmers think they are lucky when their livestock in the fields die.

Will hospital staff feel lucky when they see the huge increase in patients due to accidents (slips, falls, RTA's etc) elderly with flu & chest problems etc because of the weather.

Almost 3000 excess deaths were recorded in Scotland during the last winter period of 2004/2005.

Sorry to be a killjoy, but I though that you should know that there is another side to the pretty picture of snow covered hills & glens.

I have to say that I was thinking along the same lines as Graham but didnt want to be a kill joy either. I live in the central belt of Scotland, not up in the wilds, and when we get snow here everything tends to grind to a halt. A couple of years ago my heating broke down in February and it took the gas man 4 days to get to us because of blocked roads etc. It was a nightmare.
It seems we as a nation just cant cope with bad weather.
Bridd

Eloisa,totaly agree with Bridd Aviemore is definatly the place to go The Coylumbridge has had a lot of work done to it recently and is a great hotel to go to if you have kids. It has 2 indoor swimming pools and is central for loads of out door activities. The venicula railway up the mountain is a must.As for Kiltman Graham words fail me,no one thinks about that when they book their sking break in Austria etc.If you live in a place like Scotland then bad weather and snow is part of the deal,without the winter tourists what would Scotland do.I live in Scotland and have been blocked in by snow many times you get used to it,but when I look out of my cottage window and see the hills covered in snow its lovely.chill out Graham we should be grateful that people still want to come to Scotland for a holiday in the winter.

I agree we need the tourists. The winter sport industry is a very fragile one and I wish them well. However, countries like Austria seem to cope better with bad weather. I just wish our local authorities were a bit more organised with gritters and road clearing and so on.
Bridd

OOh Greenshoes, you are soooo lucky to get snow.
Last time we had snow in Leeds, was New Years Eve, 2003.

Louise xx

Apart from the massive downfall we had in Leeds (W Yorks I presume) earlier this year!

As for Kiltman Graham words fail me,no one thinks about that when they book their sking break in Austria etc

Exactly the point, no one thinks about that when they are thinking about their own holiday and pleasure, and yes there are problems in other countries too, but here in the UK we seem to be so badly prepered that people suffer more.

Please don't get me wrong I am just trying to show that there is another side to winter in Scotland and not just the hills looking pretty with the snow.
It is not just the hills that get snow there are whole communities that suffer in winter.

Davey............. i dont remember a "massive" downpour of snow in Leeds earlier this year........... refresh my memory please............

Louise xx

I do live in Leeds by the way

Hi Graham, I appreciate your point of view, I do know that there is a downside to snow, I hate the thought of animals suffering, and the elderly and the homeless too, I'm not heartless or selfish, I just want my kids to enjoy a good snowball fight
Am currently sitting here looking at loads of nice hotels and B&B's in Aviemore. It is extremely cold here in Sussex tonight, at least it'll give me a bit of practice!

Hi Eloisa

Aviemore would be a good choice as it has all the facilities required for a winter holiday and I am sure you and the children would have a great time


Graham