Well everyone, this should be the time for rest and relaxation and I had intended to save on blogging over the Festive Season. More so in that I have almost retired and am currently on five weeks accrued Annual Leave before I officially retire in January 2010. Nevertheless circumstances have led to me signing back in to update the Blog Followers and casual readers of events that occurred this week. As Michael and Patricia in Canada will attest, the snow in the United Kingdom is nothing compared to the Big Freeze that they frequently endure in their new home far from the sunny West Coast of Africa. For some strange reason the -2 to -7 UK freeze seems to grind everything to a halt. Our road, rail and air networks don't seem to cope with the change in weather. We are good at publishing an intention to grit the road but a tad slow in completing the act effectively when the snow arrives. As a seasoned worrier, my daughters understand the need for a Snow Kit in each of their cars. Food, water, fruit, extra clothing, hat, scarf, extra socks, gloves, torch, blanket, and a fluorescent jacket. Logistical Preparedness is one of my fortes. Expect the best but prepare for the worse.The middle daughter went off to London for two days and the eldest drove back from Cardiff for a family Christmas. In itself these are mundane statements, certainly nothing out of the ordinary. Except the UK is in the middle of one of its Big Freezes. Both girls probably picked the worse possible time to travel. We were worried about one of them, and the other one went and pranged her car. Not any old prang mind you, but a border line write off. You know; where it becomes un-economical to repair the car. Yes, we are talking upwards of £5,000 of damage. Our Jodi has always been one of those to exceed in everything that she does. So, as not to be outdone by others, she managed a double impact. Leaving the road to hit the Crash Barrier on the left hand nearside of the car, the force of the impact and the shiny non gritted roadway allowed the car to be catapulted across both carriageways and into a wall on the other side. Not any old wall mind you, but one of the stone stack thingies that are covered in mesh to hold back the mountain and mountain debris falling onto the road. I suppose you get the scene? Young woman in lone car on wrong side of the road on a long bend, facing the wrong way, electronics failed and Jodi sat in the driving seat and shaking.
The Bible tells us what usually happens next. Several lovely people travelling in the snow in the warmth and safety of their car, skirt around the 'damsel in distress' who has the nerve to be sat in a badly broken car in their lane and in their way. The audacity of the young lady, "Go and crash elsewhere Woman, we have to get home to our turkey, begone with you." OK, in the Bible the uncaring are usually walking or trotting past on a Camel or Donkey and not in a £10-£30K car.
Of course, if you paid attention to the photograph at the start of the story, you can probably recognise where we are going? Yes, you got it, well done! To the lovely family of Derwen House, Newbridge-on-Wye in the County of Powys who, being the fourth vehicle to come along stopped and rendered aid to the injured and badly shaken Jodi. Using the snow torch they slowed the moving traffic at risk to themselves, called the Emergency Services and rendered first and humanitarian aid. Normally, at this point a story like this would end. But not with the Derwen House folks, who realised that in the snow storm and with a severely damaged un-roadworthy car, Jodi was off to hospital or a hotel. No, these good Samaritans took our lass home and fed her Baileys and Chocolates all night long until I arrived to collect her the next day. There they are folks, if you see them in the street simply ask; are you Mark from Canada? To which he will reply yes, but add "it's not me you need to thank, it's those two, they stopped and helped and brought Jodi home". Quite, all those brave male drivers skirted around Jodi. And two females stop in the driving snow and do the good Samaritan bit. But we musn't leave Mark out, as he also welcomed Jodi into their house and when he wasn't around the three ladies opened and drank his Baileys Irish Cream, and opened and eat his chocolates. What lovely people, my eternal gratitude to the three of you. Like my father and Uncle Len, you are stand up people, well done and bask in the glory that is yours.
