I can't believe the chaos that has been caused by a moderate amount of snowfall that occured last friday.

Most of the trains in the south east were cancelled today, most country bus routes were operational because the roads weren't gritted. Also the Eurostar and gets stuck in the tunnel because it can't cope with the difference in temperature between outside and the tunnel. Scandanavia has worst temperatures and snowfall than this for 3-4 months of the year and they seem to cope.

Seems to me that a few shovels used on roads and footpaths, plus a few heaters in trains, can make a lot of difference. It doesn't require too much imagination. With all of our modern technology have we forgotten how to perform basic physical tasks?

Emma, I think the answer to your question is a simple "yes".
Having driven between Beverley and Howden late this afternoon - much of the journey stuck behind drivers who plainly believe that 25mph is the maximum safe speed on ice-free, gritted and well-lit roads - I can well understand how Britain has ground to a halt. It remains, however, a mystery as to exactly why.
This happens every year. News reports on the TV show scenes of hopelessly over-revved vehicles struggling to make headway on 5mm of snow, while the reporters wail about "blizzard" conditions, the occasional flakes tumbling lazily about them. I don't understand this. You know you've got a considerable snowfall when you have to dig yourself out of the house. Or at least dig out the path from your door to the pavement. I can't recall the last time I had to do this, and I live in a part of the country that could be described as "remote".
Does anyone in this country possess either snow tyres or chains? Come to think of it, does anyone even bother to learn anything about driving in icy or snowy conditions?
As for Eurostar... I'd simply ask them this;
"You run regular and successful train services all over Europe. Including Switzerland, Austria and Northern Italy, where every year the temperature falls waaaayyyyy below zero and real snow falls are a permanent feature of every winter. Why in God's name do you believe that anyone with even an ounce of sense would believe that your trains are unable to cope with anything the UK or northern France can throw at them? You sure this isn't simply a result of your reluctance to fit proper frost counter measures to ALL your trains?"

This thread should be titled "England can't cope!!!"

This s true...the USA copes with horrendous blizzards and is prepared, which happen often in winter but the UK does seem to go all wobbly when they inevitably happen.

My favourite quote of the drama so far - "Basingstoke is struggling to get back to normal".

I've been to Basingstoke. If that's normal, so am I.

The special news report on the dreaded snow did include Aberdeen which, they claimed, was also struggling to cope.

At last Emma. I've been informed by a colleague in the Highlands that its minus 16 tonight and an average of minus 5 in Scotland. We've had snow up here for as long as down south but we never read or hear about it. Does the English media think its always like that up here? I'm happy to report that all the ski runs are open and enjoying the best business in 15 years. Its not all doom and gloom.