h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I was reminded today of an old Peanuts cartoon where Charlie Brown was going around the neighbourhood houses asking if he could 'Shovel the Walk?'. When I first read it, back in Oz, it jarred with me a little.

Today though, I shovelled my 'walk'!

For the first time ever. And while it was hard work, and the ice needing breaking up as I got deeper, it was satisfying.

So, any hootooers out there:

Shovel Your Walk?

Didn't even get any bleedin' snow.

Did you write your name in it?

Over here you're obliged (by law I think) to clear all footpaths around your property (or where you rent your place of residence/work) by 07:30 in the morning.

What I noticed this winter is that fewer and fewer people are doing it. And of those that do, fewer and fewer are doing it properly

(as for me, I live at the end of a row of 3 houses - on the other end is an ancient old lady. Usually I clear the path in front of all three houses, but this winter I've been tempted to skip doing the path by the middle house because they haven't been out once and they're younger and sprightlier than me. Sheesh, I even dug a path from the bins to the side of the road when it snowed after we'd put them out for collection)

but... let someone else do it? nope. I love doing it. Very theraputic - plus I have a very efficient snow shovel which means I'm rarely out for more than 10-15 minutes.

I enjoy shovelling snow too. Things have changed here. No-one clears snow any more for fear of being sued if someone falls!!!! The slightest speck of snow or ice could see you in court!! Which is why we are in our current pickle. The few inches we have had could be cleared in an hour or two with a concerted effort by reasonably fit people, but No, we don't!

Now the Councils are running out of grit and salt. Granted some areas have had it worse than others, like outlying districts but towns and cities could be cleared in no time, saving salt and grit for the areas that are really stuck

Of course, doing it properly is the key! Well done you.

Websailor

That's hilarious - the reson we have to shovel is in case anyone slips on the ice that's still there!

It is rather, isn't it I cleared my drive today, and it promptly dumped another load of snow on it

Websailor