In my carboot I packed a stove, sleeping bag...

...and it wasn't for camp. With the bad weather, a trip to Southampton to visit a client could have turned out to be cold, wet and possibly stuck in a queue behind a jack-knifed lorry. So I packed a rucksack with blanket, sleeping bag and pillow; a book; a Trangia, fuel, water and soup. Oh - and a spade. As it happened, the motorway was fine and the emergency preparations were unused. But I was prepared! Now, after two days of snow, making childcare arrangements, mopping up snowy footprints from the hall floor and wrapping up really warmly (actually I don't mind that bit) I would like to return to normal. So I would like all the schools open tomorrow please!