Stop. It’s grittin’ time….
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Snow fell in Dublin yesterday and everything ground to a halt. It seems to happen every time we get an icy spell – gridlock. We’re just not prepared for cold weather I guess, something that probably won’t change any time soon.
There was a surreal atmosphere as I made my way along Bachelors Walk and then over O’Connell Bridge just before 5 o’clock. A lot more people walking than usual, every face a picture of concentration.
It reminded me a bit of those awful scenes we see on the news about some war torn country or other. People having to leave their homes and head to a safer location. The shocked faces of people walking silently through mountains, uncertain of what lay ahead of them.
If it were possible to capture Dubliners thoughts yesterday and project them into the snow filled sky, the word “home” would loom large. That’s all anyone wanted to do. Get indoors , eat some hot food and get warm. Many people had to walk for hours to get home, but home they got eventually. As did I, and boy was I thankful. Thankful that I had a home to head to, and all the modern comforts that go with it.
I’m sure those very same thoughts ran through many minds last night as well and gratitude is something that can only have a positive impact on all our lives.
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1 Comments
January 8th, 2010 at 11:34 am
It’s pathetic, AJ. Considering that it’s winter, snow and ice must have come as a huge surprise to people on these isles.
Why does mainland Europe NEVER grind to a halt, run out of salt and grit, deplete their national gross product on account of snow, deprive pupils and students of much needed education? Where I originate from people happily, every morning, shovel their way out the house and drive to work with their spikey WINTER tyres. No excuse there to take a day off work.
Now living at the South coast of England (golf stream and all that) I feel hugely cheated. I got all excited, looking forward to the snow of my childhood, the BBC weatherforecast promising riches, only to then deliver very little of it.
At least it’s cold and, like you, I too like that snug feeling inside (if only there was enough of the white stuff around to build a good old fashioned snowman complete with carrot nose and coal eyes).
Through gritted teeth yours,
U
PS Mulled wine is better than tea in these conditions