Wintry Winter

M. Ismail is one of NewsFlashMedia’s team members. Since late October 2011 she has been living in London and will soon be continuing her vacation to France. She shares with us some of her less boring and tedious experiences while abroad.

Since the last quarter of 2011, I have been in UK and I welcomed the eve of 2012 snuggled in bed wrapped in a warm blanket and sipping a mug of hot tea. The endless sleep continued right through to the next day, which was seriously a wet and soggy one. When I’m not sorting out my photo library or writing I plonk myself in front of the idiot box and laugh myself silly over The Big Bang Theory, which I think can easily topple How I Met Your Mother.

The cold winter air is beginning to bite and twice now MET Office (UK’s abbreviation for Meteorological Office) had warned of bad weather complete with thunderstorms and strong winds and the possibility of snow. Snow did fall the very next day following the first warning but nowhere in London; could have been in Scotland, I think. The second announcement came on the first day of the New Year where MET warned possible disruptions to public transportation in affected areas especially North West England when the heavy rain and strong winds hit.

Phonebox In The Snow by Graeme Weatherston

It was predicted that the strong winds were between 75 to 85 mph. And true enough the very next day it was reported that the crazy weather created havoc in certain parts of England. Wind speeds were in fact recorded to exceed 100mph. The strong winds triumphantly fell several huge oak trees in parts of England and there were several deaths. In Scotland people were warned to stay indoors for their own safety.

According to MET “Gales are the most common cause of damage and disruption in the UK”. And this whole ‘situation’ has made me read up a little bit more on preventions and precautions to be taken and put in place should such incidences occur. Well, I may be here only on a short visit but it is never a waste of time knowing how to handle a situation as disasters are known to strike without warning. And when it does, even the most prepared can lose to them.

Winter Crash by Damascus01

It is interesting too to read some of the dos and don’ts before, during and after a storm. Most of what was recommended by the respective departments can actually be adapted to different situations in different countries with different climates. With the rapid change in the weather worldwide, our home country Malaysia has also experience storms although less severe in comparison.

One of the tips given by MET is to make sure all heavy loose objects around the house be properly secured to prevent them from being ‘weapons’ that destroy our home during a storm. That sets me thinking how we Malaysians place ladders and garden furniture carelessly about around our home especially outdoors. Or perhaps if you like me, live in a high-rise and own an outdoor garden we should re-think the next step to take when we see signs of a storm coming. I will be e-mailing home soon to get someone to check my aluminium pot stands in the garden to ensure the bolts have not loosened over the months and that the potted plants aren’t tilting over the edge of the balcony walls threatening to fall four floors down and hurting someone during a storm. I will also need to remind them to remove the smaller hanging potted plants from their hooks and to bring them inside the house instead.

Sunlight by ninefinger

I am hoping that the winter winds will calm down a little. Hopefully everyone will get to enjoy themselves playing snowballs minus the trauma and the sad news when the lives of loved ones take an abrupt end and homes are damaged beyond recognition.

It has not been the loveliest of 2011 for some but the ending of the year still has many significance to each and every one of us. Hopefully 2012 is a more peaceful journey.