More snowy tales

Getting in to work yesterday was quite a bit more fraught than it was on Wednesday.

We decided that waiting until daylight was a good plan (in case of ice, or worse, black ice) and eventually left at about quarter past eight when it was possible to see quite clearly.

It was cold :-S But at least QVR was fairly clear of ice and snow.

We got to the roundabout onto the A61, which is the main A route between Derby and Chesterfield and, come to that, Sheffield. The traffic heading north to the north of the roundabout was at a complete standstill. The traffic heading north to the south of the roundabout was at a complete standstill. Come to that, the traffic heading out of Wingerwoth to the west of the roundabout was also at a complete standstill - there just wasn't quite as much of it! There was JUST enough space to swing all the way around the roundabout and to head back into Tupton.

Never mind. I had brought stuff home with me just in case of bad weather and road conditions. There wasn't much in my diary. I could work from home if need be. Or try again later.

No need to give up yet, though. The Builder was more than willing to give it a go heading through the back roads, which weren't looking too bad. Although it seemed sensible to go up Hagg Hill very slowly and with extreme caution (Note to the driver of the Derbyshire County Council van who was sat on our tail - tailgating is NOT driving with care and caution, and especially not when the temperature is minus 8 and the roads are somewhat icy!!!!)

All was well. Until we got to the church at Churchside, where we ground to a halt.

I rang the office. Probably not coming in. Will work from home.

Nonsense, said The Builder. Not giving up yet. We’ll persevere.

Took nearly an hour to get to the Dronfield Bypass (usually takes 10-15 minutes). Any approach road to Chesterfield that we were on, or that we saw, was at a complete standstill. The bypass itself wasn’t too bad, and the trip from Meadowhead was pretty much as you would expect under the circumstances. Took and hour and a half to get to the office. Where they were quite surprised to see me.

But The Builder was determined to get me in. I don’t think he approves of working from home. Mind you, I suppose if you are a carpenter on a building site, or even a prison officer in, erm, a prison, it’s not quite so easy to work from home (take five prisoners home each, and shackle them in the cellar!)

Wasn't so bad this morning, although we had intended to leave around 7, but slept in and didn't leave until ten to eight. We went down the A61, didn't get held up until the Hunloke Arms and took 35 minutes to get to the Dronfield Bypass. Took a mere hour and 15 minutes to get to work. I am hopeful that on Monday we might be able to cut it back to an hour!

The being mostly dry during 2010 is not going well, and the reducing our waistlines whilst simultaneously increasing our running away fund's weight is going disastrously. We clearly have no will-power, no discipline and no moral backbone. I have called an emergency session of Lent, meeting from Monday!