Snow!

We had half an inch of snow during the night. And it was enough to make transport networks grind to a halt. Just like it always does, every time it snows.

This is the sort of time that having the rail line closed for rebuilding for five months really sucks, because the rail replacement buses have to struggle through the area's inadequate road network.

I don't believe the local authority has gritted a single road in the area; as a result of this the local roads were in a state of total gridlock this morning, and the rail replacement bus service simply evaporated altogether. I spent a hour at a freezing bus stop watching traffic crawl past at walking pace, with no sign of any bus, even going the other way. Up above street level I could see a steady flow of trains crossing the bridge on the other rail line to Stoke; there were significant delays, but at least the trains were moving. Unlike the buses.

After an hour I gave up waiting, having almost frozen solid, and went home to make myself a cup of coffee and attempt to thaw out. When I ventured forth again, the traffic on the road was finally moving, and I waited a further half an hour at the bus stop before a bus finally appeared. I finally got to work two and a half hours late.

It's times like this I wish I lived in a country like Switzerland.