Today's recommended reading: "Farewell, free stuff"

I need to get on today, but given all the news about Greece and the IFS's warning about all parties plans to deal with the rising national debt let me recommend reading the article "Farewell free stuff" in the Bagehot column of the Economist a few weeks ago ( I flagged it then - but its worth a read given today's headlines ).

I heard David Miliband repeating Gordon Brown misinformation campaign on the economy on the radio today. Labour will keep on doing this - but look to the quotes I have on the right of this blog to see the eventual consequences.

Lets be clear - the next few months need a strong government to sort out the economic crisis that most people are keeping quiet about.

A hung parliament held to ransom by Lib Dem triple lock internal party wrangling won't do it, and will most likely lead to a political and economic crisis. ( The only question will be which destroys the resulting government first ).

Refuse collection in Woking

If you live in Woking then you need to be aware that the council has cancelled this weeks refuse collection and has made arrangements for next week detailed at their web site here.

Can't say I'm that impressed. Even if they couldn't cover everywhere they could still have tried to get round some areas.

The public sector is not having a good week.

Public sector snowed in - Private sector at work

Yesterday I took some time of work to walk into town to pick up a package from the central sorting Royal Mail Office. ( Interestingly they managed to deliver two other packages that day, by using the common sense "safe place", but this package was obviously in a different delivery ).

The pavements here in Woking are ice, as are many of the roads. However I made it in, passing a post man with his bicycle on the way.

What greeted me at the sorting office ? Closed because of weather. So I took a few photos to show how the people who don't get paid unless they work managed to function.
The Woking central sorting office is next to the Railway Station and in the middle of town. Most other businesses functioned. ( The photo's below are taken just across the road from the closed Royal Mail office).
Normally I have the highest respect for Royal Mail, especially Woking's excellent postmen/women. They do a good job with a high degree of accuracy almost all the time.

But yesterday Royal Mail let the side down.

Snow - heaviest snow fall in Surrey for 20 yrs

Now my apologies to those in parts of the world where this is normal - but in England we like to get all worked up about the sort of snow fall you have every day.

For everyone else - wow ... this is by far the most snow I've seen since living in Surrey.

The kids have just heard the news that School is closed and now their joy is complete !


I'm just wondering if the Ocado delivery is going to make it ? Frankly I wouldn't blame them if they gave up on the day.

After a coffee or two it will be snow man time !

PS If your reading this in Woking - a number of schools have been closed. Might be worth phoning through before frog marching offspring to the school gate.


Updates: 25cm of snow on a garden table and of course the Shed !

Enjoy your snow day if you can !

The kids have loved it - but not quite the right sort of snow for Snowmen yet ....