Things have changed, Bernie. But it's not just about people being idle or obsessed with suing. The various other factors that made some of what you describe possible have changed too.1. Teachers, and some pupils no longer live in walking distance of schools - if transport closes down, people can't get to work. How much this applies locally I don't know, but the fact is that certainly outside the cities, in 'the old days' of the 1950s, village teachers lived in the villages, whereas now they can afford to live where they like, and they drive. Ditto pupils and catchment areas.2. Gritting - no fire, no ashes, no gritboxes, and salt is quite hard to find too. As you say, treating it is crucial - around here, the one or two bits that people have tried to do are like glass - transparent and lethal. I'd rather walk on the snow. Your historical comparison is interesting but what it says to me is that there needs to be some public education - you have to bear in mind it's been so long since the last proper freeze that up in the North, even the sheep on the fells have 'forgotten' how to use the stone shelters (they usually learn from the previous generation, but haven't needed them so long that the ewes haven't picked it up from their mothers for years...). People are not much different - once the 'culture' of doing something goes, it needs re-introduction, and banging on about idleness isn't the way to do it. To be honest I'd rather everyone was taught and encouraged to do it properly (like the 'catch it, bin it, kill' campaign for flu) rather than have the odd glassy patch where some enthusiast (without access to the excellent advice here about dishwasher salt etc.) has scraped it clear then let it re-freeze.
Gerald Cabb ● 6105d