If it seems that I've been somewhat tardy in posting to the Blog over the past few days then you can put the blame fairly and squarely on my having had the 'flu bug. Not a nice experience, but I have joined many thousands of other 'flu victims' who have succumbed to the bug since Christmas. Definitely not my recommended way of beginning the new year, that's for sure!
This winter has so far been one of the coldest for many years, bringing frost, snow and ice with it in varying degrees, dependant on where you live in the UK. We are fortunate, lying in a bit of a dip where the snow generally passes us by, but we've nevertheless felt the fury of the freezing weather this week with icy roads and pavements, treacherous to people of any age, but especially so for people who are already unsteady on their legs.
Once again I'm reminded how the world has changed as I see elderly people struggling with shopping as they try to maintain their balance on slippery pavements. Growing up in a small town meant that, generally speaking, people knew each other, and when the weather was bad there was usually help on hand for the elderly from someone younger. In those days the winters were almost always fairly harsh, and it was normal to be scrunching your way along pavements coated in frozen slush, created when snow had been trampled, thawed a little and then frozen over in the temperatures which were usually well below freezing. I've written before about bedroom windows in the house with ice on the inside of the pane --- well just imagine the temperatures outside on days like that.
Currently many of our local news/weather reports are accompanied by great photographs depicting the beauty of the snowfalls or the frosts, and beauty it certainly is, but better viewed these days on the TV rather than experiencing the real thing as far as I'm concerned. Mind you, I still think that a walk in the country or through the forest is a fabulous experience provided you are well-protected against the cold. What better way to fully experience nature than by being part of it?
The trouble is that we have become far too comfortable, and many would say, far too soft. As a youngster I put on extra layers of clothing to combat the cold and there was no additional cost to doing so. Nowadays youngsters, often dressed in little more than a pair of flimsy shorts and a footie shirt bearing the colours of their favourite team, will grumble about the cold and want the central heating notched up even higher. The cost of that is tremendous! Here at home the other day I responded to the comment that one of the lads was cold by suggesting he put on a jumper, only to be met with a shocked expression that I should suggest anyone might wear a jumper indoors!
Of course, one of the main problems these days is that along with the concept of being comfortable people are also far more sedentary than they ever were years ago. With snow on the ground --- and preferably still falling --- as children we would be swathed in woollies, warm coats, scarves, gloves and wellington boots, and would rush out to play in the snow, building snowmen, making slides, throwing snowballs, and so on. In other words, we would burn up our excess energy and have great fun. Of course, that was in the days before the 'Elf 'n Safety' wallahs had dug their tenuous claws in with so many silly rules. Nowadays it's considered unsafe to throw snowballs, or to slide on slippery runs made in the snow, or toboggan down hills, or --- , well pretty well anything that might constitute enjoyment! After all, there is a million to one chance that in carrying out one or other of these activities you might cause yourself some damage. You might even be traumatised because another child is better at sliding than you are, or less afraid, or some other silly surmise. These fears are only adult fears of course in a sensible society. Of course you don't want your child to hurt themselves in their play, but accidents happen the world over, despite (and perhaps in many cases, because of) the 'Elf 'n Safety' rules, and these accidents are usually very minor and are part of growing up.
Personally I think that there is far more risk of long-term damage to a child that grows up in the protective cocoon of their bedroom, interacting with the world primarily via a computer screen, than there ever is from getting out with other children to play games, cold weather or not.
This winter has so far been one of the coldest for many years, bringing frost, snow and ice with it in varying degrees, dependant on where you live in the UK. We are fortunate, lying in a bit of a dip where the snow generally passes us by, but we've nevertheless felt the fury of the freezing weather this week with icy roads and pavements, treacherous to people of any age, but especially so for people who are already unsteady on their legs.
Once again I'm reminded how the world has changed as I see elderly people struggling with shopping as they try to maintain their balance on slippery pavements. Growing up in a small town meant that, generally speaking, people knew each other, and when the weather was bad there was usually help on hand for the elderly from someone younger. In those days the winters were almost always fairly harsh, and it was normal to be scrunching your way along pavements coated in frozen slush, created when snow had been trampled, thawed a little and then frozen over in the temperatures which were usually well below freezing. I've written before about bedroom windows in the house with ice on the inside of the pane --- well just imagine the temperatures outside on days like that.
Currently many of our local news/weather reports are accompanied by great photographs depicting the beauty of the snowfalls or the frosts, and beauty it certainly is, but better viewed these days on the TV rather than experiencing the real thing as far as I'm concerned. Mind you, I still think that a walk in the country or through the forest is a fabulous experience provided you are well-protected against the cold. What better way to fully experience nature than by being part of it?
The trouble is that we have become far too comfortable, and many would say, far too soft. As a youngster I put on extra layers of clothing to combat the cold and there was no additional cost to doing so. Nowadays youngsters, often dressed in little more than a pair of flimsy shorts and a footie shirt bearing the colours of their favourite team, will grumble about the cold and want the central heating notched up even higher. The cost of that is tremendous! Here at home the other day I responded to the comment that one of the lads was cold by suggesting he put on a jumper, only to be met with a shocked expression that I should suggest anyone might wear a jumper indoors!
Of course, one of the main problems these days is that along with the concept of being comfortable people are also far more sedentary than they ever were years ago. With snow on the ground --- and preferably still falling --- as children we would be swathed in woollies, warm coats, scarves, gloves and wellington boots, and would rush out to play in the snow, building snowmen, making slides, throwing snowballs, and so on. In other words, we would burn up our excess energy and have great fun. Of course, that was in the days before the 'Elf 'n Safety' wallahs had dug their tenuous claws in with so many silly rules. Nowadays it's considered unsafe to throw snowballs, or to slide on slippery runs made in the snow, or toboggan down hills, or --- , well pretty well anything that might constitute enjoyment! After all, there is a million to one chance that in carrying out one or other of these activities you might cause yourself some damage. You might even be traumatised because another child is better at sliding than you are, or less afraid, or some other silly surmise. These fears are only adult fears of course in a sensible society. Of course you don't want your child to hurt themselves in their play, but accidents happen the world over, despite (and perhaps in many cases, because of) the 'Elf 'n Safety' rules, and these accidents are usually very minor and are part of growing up.
Personally I think that there is far more risk of long-term damage to a child that grows up in the protective cocoon of their bedroom, interacting with the world primarily via a computer screen, than there ever is from getting out with other children to play games, cold weather or not.
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