It amazes me; we have some of the coldest temperatures for an extended period, as well as some of the mildest (mild temperatures not so extended though), and when we experience the real, real cold, lethal ice conditions, untreated roads, road deaths and so on, very little if anything, is said nationally.

The North of England is having freezing temperatures and we are hearing this 'news' as if it has never happened anywhere else except the Arctic! Tonight, it is said, there could be readings, as low as minus eleven degrees centigrade around Shap, hill-walking country in the North of England. For hill walkers in the area this is vital information. I would assume that mountain walkers and climbers in the Scottish regions would be able to obtain the same type of information for their activities. The fact that we, in Scotland experienced temperatures as low as minus fifteen to minus seventeen degrees centigrade recently appears to merit little regard.

Since The weekend, we have had heavy rainfalls and the ground is sodden. If an icy band of weather comes in on top of this, movement underfoot and by road will be highly dangerous. We can only pray that the politicians who have taken on board the indignation of the public about the apparent cost-benefit analysis over gritting to save life, will put pressure on the gritting companies to provide a 24 hour service to help avoid some of the carnage we have seen to date.

Today, I heard there was a good covering of snow on the Route Du Soleil to and from the South of France. Skiers have probably had a great time with good snowfalls in the French Alps this year. Much disruption was caused to people travelling the French auto route, who were connecting to airports, some people arriving for planes three days late!!