These Romans are crazy!

We have had our first experience of British winter. The weather woman in TV warned that it would get really cold, maybe all the way down to 3 degrees Celsius (Oh, dear. How are we going to cope with this extreme cold, was our reaction). But it was not the temperature that got extreme, it was the wind – as most of Europe, we were hit by winter storms. The worst day was Thursday. This was also this the day we in our division had our annual Vision Dinner. All leaders gathered for a nice meal and then to listen to the DC (Army abbreviation for Divisional Commander, which again is an Army term for a kind of Bishop).

The dinner was held in the corps closest to our home, which we really appreciated when going home. We only had 3,5 KM to go, and during that short trip we saw 4-5 trees pulled up with roots by the wind, as well as several roof tiles blown of the corps where we were. We still managed to get home without any real problem. For many others it took hours – our DC was not home in Leeds before late night, because roads had been closed due to accidents. Several people in our region lost their lives and 13 in all of the UK.

Home in our safe and cosy living room we switched on the evening news and could not believe that the top story was not the storm, not the people dead, not the school in our area, where the roof and most of the first floor was blown of, but the latest development and reactions to a so called reality show (so called, because there of course is absolutely nothing real about it) called Celebrity Big Brother. It was apparently more important and interesting who would be voted of the next day than the reality happening around us.

Sunday evening we had a bit of winter. One of Lukas friends rang the door bell at 20.00 and asked if Lukas could come out for a snow ball fight! We had not seen it, but there really was snow outside, and enough of it to have a fight. It was wet snow, it was not really cold, but Lukas of course were eager to go out and a little later I went out as well, not to throw snow balls (although I did that as well), but to clear the car of snow. While out I thought I might as well clear our pavement, so it would be cleared next morning. It was not a big deal, only needed a broom. Next day in the office we were told that if you leave the snow and someone falls outside your home, you have no responsibility, but if you have cleared the pavement, and they then fall, then they can sue you!

It was at this time we thought of Asterix and Obelix. Obelix looks at Asterix, shakes his head and says: These Romans are crazy, although we edited that line slightly!