Unusual Times in Edinburgh

Usually in Edinburgh if we see snow it's a dusting only. For weeks now we have had serious snow which has been lying and freezing. Not unusual given the state of the rest of the country. Today I notice that the novelty value was starting to wear off and an annoyance with the inconvenience of it was setting in. A bit unfair given that I am still able to get out and about and also to drive to where I need to get to. Not so for so many other folks. The elderly and the infirm are held prisoner and people in essential jobs and services are faced with the additional pressure of having to negotiate their way to work. We have had debates on radio about the safety of children having to make their way to school and criticism of schools for closing and also for not closing - they cannot win. One wise caller suggested that a simple solution was for all teachers to report to the school nearest to them and for children to do the same and that way the country could continue to function. young people would be occupied and maybe even educated, while parents could get on with their work and lives and who knows - perhaps pupils and teachers and others might come to like the idea of working closer to home. Snow has interesting and perhaps unexpected repercussions. Imagine a Scotland where we learn to live with and enjoy snow.