The attention of most of the UK was this week focused out the window – will it snow/has it snowed/how deep? And, of course, large areas, including the country’s busiest airport, ground to a halt.
Round here, ‘road clearance’ amounts to two thin strips of tarmac each side of main roads only while those of us in the side streets or on footpaths can whistle. In some countries, clearing the footpath outside your house is compulsory, here the urban myth you’ll get sued if you don’t do a proper job ensures those of us with a driveway clear our territory to a millimetre of the council’s and then grumble. You could be sued but it’s unlikely the ambulance-chaser-sponsored whiner would win.
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In the Revenge of the Winter Tyres, one-time cynic here, now eating humble pie, has a summer-tyred car wedged into what I think is the kerb and a long date later with a shovel after I try and see, on foot, if any snow socks are still on a shelf somewhere in my West Midlands market town. Otherwise, it’s the ol’ doormat-under-the-driving-wheels trick I used to use to get off slick grass in the Antipodes.
Emigrate? Well, back home in New Zealand it’s been either heavy rain, floods or 130km/h winds, at least in places, and southern California is reported to be sliding down the LA River after getting about a year’s rain in a day. At least the snow here has stopped for now. And people are – more or less – coping regardless of what nature, inept airport management and local authority chucks at them, much like the auto industry deals with ever-changing market and regulatory conditions.
Speaking of the autobiz, if you’d like a review of The Year That Was, in two easily digested courses, check out editor Dave Leggett’s effort here and here.
Meanwhile, our Rob Golding cast his unique eye over Fiat’s plans for Chrysler and Jeep in the UK (RIP Dodge), we had more on the Nano’s woes and Toyota rolled out the redesigned Vitz, which, as the Yaris, will become a familiar sight worldwide.
That’s 2010 done, time to find the mince pies and snow shovel. Enjoy your Christmas/New Year/holidays.
Graeme Roberts
Deputy/News Editor
just-auto.com
