When did we go soft?

This week we have had some 'winter' in Britain. It surprised us a bit because we haven't really had proper winter for a few years.

The news tells us that one day it was estimated that 6 million people failed to turn up for work. Schools closed, transport was crippled. Everyone was talking of 'extreme weather'.

I'm not old enough to remember world war 2, but from what I've heard we didn't write to Adolph Hitler in every winter and ask if he could just ease off for a few weeks while Britain was crippled by normal British winter weather. I wonder if coal miners and steel workers said 'no coal today lads, its snowing' or 'sorry ship builders, we haven't got any steal for you today because we can't get into work, but that's ok because neither can you'. I wonder if the RAF got on their radios when the Luftwaffe were coming and said 'what-ho old chaps, would you mind just going back home and trying again in a few weeks, its just that it has snowed here and the health and safety chaps tell us we can't take our planes out to meet you'. I wonder if front line soldiers shout across to the germans 'hold your fire for a bit lads, its just that we've ran out of ammo because it snowed back home and nobody made it in to the ammo factories'.

There was a time when the British were known for our stiff upper lip, and grit and determination. Now we are known more for our unruly drunks, our 'it's not my fault but yours' attitude, and our health and safety rules. I just wonder when it all changed.

 

Two reasons that I see. 1) Compensation Culture. 2) The power of the Media.

 

You don't have to go back that far even. I have photos of my wifes town (Welsh Valley) in the 1970's where you can't see the cars.

Trouble is everything today is immediate and largely effortless. People expect the world to revolve around them and their life. It's not all our fault as business pressure forces unnatural working distances and timescales, but never the less we don't work in harmony with the world around us and sometimes we hit it head on and lose.

Now I really must go and order my tesco shopping online, can't possibly go out in this rain.:hehe:

 

I think it`s central heating that`s done this to us to be honest.


Left us all marred!!

 

People also travel a lot further to get to work/school/college these days. How many of us work within walking distance of home? I am relatively lucky-I only have a 13mile drive to work, but its along country roads. At my previous company one of my bosses commuted 60 miles EACH WAY to get to work. My ideal would be to get a job in the town where I live-its a 20minute walk into the town centre, but there just isn't much industry there.

As for school, I used to walk to school in the early 1980's a mile there and back. Getting a lift in the car wasn't an option as my parents only had the one car for most of my childhood. Now, children couldn't possibly be expected to walk. What if that dreaded paidophile lurking in the bushes jumped out and grabbed them (Media hype again).

 

I`d have been laughed at tand then clipped round the ear and sent on my way if I`d have had the audacity to ask for a lift to school.

 

What is it with pedos and hiding in bushes ? I thought it was all on the internet these days ? :hehe:

 

No, most child abuse be it sexual, emotional or physical is commited by someone known to the child-family member, family friend or teacher. Very few cases are committed by a complete stranger, which is why when it does happen (think Soham murders) its such a big news item. Frighteningly, the abuse going on is at home is behind closed doors and goes unreported.

 

On the subject of school closure last week, My son's school was the only one in our area to be open all week, Some people were complaining that they couldn't get from Chilwell( where I am) to stapleford(which is about 20-30 mins in car) but our head teacher made it into school and she lives in stapleford. All our teachers are within a reasonable distance from the school and I think that that's the reason we were open, either that or we're Hard round my way

 

You`re probably dead `ard Jo lol.

I live in a village and the roads aren`t exactly clear at the best of times-it is lethal if it snows then rains then freezes. I`ve landed on my *rse before just walking to the farmshop across the road.


It`s different now because instead of my kids going to the school in the next village ( which closed down)they have to go to one in Horwich ( which is miles away and via some even more treachorous roads).

It`s all wrong.

 

You might say they were a cut above the rest, perm-enent staff :D

 

More bosses are needed like you Shiney.

 

The problem is quite simply that we dont have bad weather as regularly as in the past, 30 years back we did and thus it was farr more economically imperative for life to continue as normal.

As a side issue there wasnt the woory of Helalth and safety then, the real reason many schools were closed last week was not due to the fact that pupils couldnt get in but more due to the woory of one of the kids slipping on slush and suing the school.