A week of snow/ice and transport problems

OK we didn't get hit by the worst of the snow. We were able to get a vehicle out every day. We only had one day when we couldnt get everyone who should be at school to school. That was more due to the safety issues of juggling transport needs.

Our big problem was caused by the transport for Rosie and Eve refusing to come. They were the only transport company for their school who didnt run at all. They were one of two companies in the vicinity to not run. The main roads were clear apart from the road at the bottom of our lane being a little iced on Tuesday morning.

Yes the estate roads were bad. There was a lot more snow to the north of us. Indeed Lincoln had very significant falls from Tuesday onwards. BUT around here between them and us and school things were not bad at all!

The final straw came on Wednesday morning when the manager of the company rang at 7.30 to say they wouldnt be coming. Our carer had come through with no problem at all and had arrived with us at 6.45. They were not due till 8.15 so many more vehicles would have traversed the roads by then too. David challenged his decision. The roads here are fine, what is the problem.
We were totally staggard by his response...it is really bad in lincoln over a foot of snow last night!

But we dont live in Lincoln!

The boss was not going to be moved and there was an angry exchange before David hung up!

How stupid! The snow is bad in Lincoln so we wont come from Boston, to Holbeach and then to Spalding!

Wonder if he had toast for breakfast and milk in his tea...becasue you kow in Edinburgh there was a problem with supplies and people were running out of bread and milk!

So we took them, and Jonathan and Joshua and Christina...getting them to school was not too bad. Fetching tehm home was more tricky. Usually David picks Joshua and Christina up and has plenty of time to go for Jonathan. To collect Rosie as well meant going in to Spalding, then coming back to Boston for Joshua and Christina then back through Spalding to get jonathan. Trouble is Rosie and Joshua and Christina all come out at 3.15. So I went for Rosie and Eve a little early, left a message for Joshua and Christina to wait inside till I got there, and David went for Jonathan.

The forecast at tea time on Wednesday seemed to say that the snow had moved away from our area and although temperatures were dropping things should not get any worse! So when Joshua went to get something from the workshop at 8 O'clock we were suprised to ehar him say there had been a snow fall of at leas a couple of inches! We went to bed dreading what the morning woud bring. A peek out of the curtains at 5.30 reassured me there had not been too much more. We really were not expecting transport to come, so when the driver rang to say he was coming we were very relieved. Jonathan was doing a day visit to his prospective respite cottage that day and we really did not need the complication of transport to get in the way.

A Social Work visit that morning did nothing to comfort our frayed souls....the future is not looking to safe for Rosie and Jonathan. Things will get more difficult here.

At 11 am we had a phone call from the Transport saying it was snowing heavily in boston and they were going for Rosie now....Hold on! Let me ring school and see what the situation is there. I would rather fumble through transporting our seleves than have Rosie home early with no carer! School were not considering closing and Joshua and Chrisitna's school were hapy for them to be collected a little early so we rang transport back and said dont bother!

As it happened the snow stopped and it was fine by 3 O'clock. David collected Joshua and Christina, went for Rosie then collected Jonathan from respite. All home again by half four!

Friday dawned VERY cold...It was -4.5 when our carer arrived at 6.45. We went through the motions of getting ready for school not really knowing what was going to happen. I desperately wanted everyone at school, I wanted to soak in ahot bath and relax...sleep has not been good recently, my joints really painful and waking me frequently. When I do get to sleep either Eve or Rosie needs me and wakes me. I ust wanted to relax for half an hour in a silent house! Please!

It was with great suprise I tol the call from the driver to say he was on his way. The temeperature was falling, David had tried to move the car and it was stuck on the drive, wheels spinning. He chaged his mind and went for the 4X4. By 8.25 I was on my own and heding for the bath....bliss and peace at last! No need to leave the house today afterall.

And so this morning arrived, milder and damper, fog creeping across the Fens, The ice on the paths turning to grey slush....so now you can laugh at us Tia! The snow on the garden begning to melt, green peeking through in places. A trip out this mornign...the Christmas Fayre at the Girls school. Games to play, cakes to buy, drinks to be had and Father Christmas to visit....only Rosie totally amazed us by being afraid of him! every year for the last 18 years Rosie has loved Father Christmas....this yer she was not at all convinced!