Morning:
14°c
London has looked glorious these past two days. Sunday night found me crossing Westminster Bridge as heavy snow began to fall. The city went into instant slow motion. The skyline disappeared. Traffic was in funeral mode. Big Ben faded behind a haze of orange/white and even its bells were muffled. The river slithered out of sight beneath my feet.
By morning the beauty of London under snow was everywhere. Negative was turned positive, black turned to white. Streets were white, pavements white, roofs white, trees outlined in white. Even London stucco looked grubby in comparison. Such modern excrescences as yellow lines, black signs and motor vehicles lay under a blanket of snow. Above all, London looked astonishingly, incomparably clean.
Hyde Park was adrift with tiny figures so perfect it might have been laid out by Lowry, and St James's Park by Breughel. Gstaad had come to Parliament Hill and Klosters to Brockwell Park. Who needed St Moritz when they had Primrose Hill, its packed enthusiasts in best ski fashions? No outline jarred. No thing went fast. Wordsworth's city wore its garment well and "dull would he be of soul who could pass by/A sight so touching in its majesty".
Yet what filled the morning's airwaves? There was a "snow event" crisis at the BBC. "John from Clapham" whinged about the gritting machines. "Rebecca from Harrow" moaned about no trains. "Tom from Camden" trotted out the old line about "a bit of snow and we grind to a halt". London had failed safe, especially its useless buses. The machine had sputtered and gone to pieces. Its zombified spokesmen howled at their impotence and reached for their excuses.
It is obvious that severe weather can gum up any outdoor public service and any indoor one dependent on people getting to work. There is a limit to how far public spending should go on guarding against infrequent extremes of weather.
We cannot realistically heat every pavement on the off-chance that it might save a few twisted ankles, or salt-spray every road throughout winter should a cold snap occur overnight. I was impressed yesterday that my paper still managed to arrive on my doorstep before breakfast and that the church footpath was shovelled clear by lunch.
Rather than accept that nature will sometimes get the better of us, we complain. I am sure some underemployed bean-counter has calculated that yesterday's snow will have "cost" London millions in irrecoverable product. This will be in days lost at work, cars bumped, pipes frozen, building delayed and, our old friend, accidents caused by a negligent pavement.
Where there is an accident there must be a claim and where there is a claim there must be a blame. I am sure the lawyers were out with the gritting lorries yesterday. When we are snapped from the daily round and forced back on our own devices, there is usually a tort in the offing. When schools close, buses fail to leave their garages and offices go on short time, someone somewhere can surely be sued.
In a godless world there are no longer acts of God, not even the snow falling from the sky. We are so ingrained to act as cogs in the urban machine that when the machine ceases to run smoothly, we are convinced it must be someone's fault and someone must be made to pay.
I therefore cry plague on all these negatives. Outside my front door, residents were shovelling, smiling and joking. They commented on the sheer loveliness of the scene and took pictures of it. They never do that normally. Children threw snowballs and, with no school, dragged sledges and trays to the park. Near the Evening Standard offices, surely London's biggest snowball fight was taking place in Kensington Gardens, with more than 50 people having the time of their lives.
Health and safety went to hell and enjoyment was on every face. There may have been misery aplenty somewhere, but for once it stayed indoors. My London yesterday seemed incorrigibly happy.
In other words the city did something it rarely does. Forced by circumstance to stop working properly it could only look itself in the face and see that face in a new light. With mobility reduced almost to zero - how blessedly empty the streets looked - London had to go local, retreating to its component streets and neighbourhoods. It might have been celebrating a jubilee of nature, with every park given over to some midwinter ritual.
As far as I could see those Londoners who ventured out liked what they saw, a bleached and muffled place where, said the poet of London snow, Robert Bridges, "the ear hearkened to the stillness of the solemn air". They discovered what wanderers, shirkers, buskers, artists and tourists already knew, that this is not a bad city in which to be footloose and fancy-free. Lucky those who can afford the time or money for it.
So take the day off and thank the gods of nature. Give the world a shove and see your part of town with fresh eyes. This will not last. The thaw will come and with it the slush and the dirt. The great thunder will resume and roll us all back on to the rack of work. Black will take the place of white. What they laughably call normal will regain its former rhythm.
So for the time being, just think London beautiful and enjoy it.
Reader views (10)
Your article captured our humility in the face of an elemental event; we were almost child like again in the wonder of seeing such snow for the first time. The shared human experience of the sheer beauty of it refreshes everyone as did your portrayal.I think the city responded appropriately considering the infrequency of such events so no blame for the blessing.
- Sally Bucahan, London UK
The UK would cope brilliantly with snow if it were prepared to invest the same in snow clearing equipment as say for instance Sweden or the French Alpine resorts. However for a once in a while event, it just isn't worth the investment and Norman Baker can whinge his heart out, but to invest in snow ploughs would be a complete waste of the tax payers money and we're all against that!!! Therefore for the once in a while event that is snow in the UK, we have to accept that the UK will grind to a halt!! It just isn't worth the investment and soon people may figure that out, so that instead of whinging about the snow, they get outside and throw a few snowballs!
- Steph, France
I agree a very refreshing article. Weather happens and usaully the Brits grumble but nevertheless make the best of it. Nonsense is talked about Sweden and others I have been trapped in Stockholm for two days after the first snowfall of winter; There were no trains, taxis or planes. Even they are caught out until the snow is compacted and gritted.
- Simon Wells, BRENTWOOD UK
Commuters actually spoke to each other and smiled, people didn't skowl at kids playing in groups and adults remembered how much fun they can have between working. I totally agree and nice to see somebody being positive for a change!
- Mark, London
London was, for all the right reasons, at a stand still. I could not believe how quiet my London was. Silence was golden in the city yesterday, whether people were in shock of how they would get to work or just in complete aw of how nature (the very thing that commuters and businesses are trying to fight) took over a country. I would christen this day an unofficial Sunday, it reminded me of the Sundays when businesses were closed and people just enjoyed staying in. But unfortunately due to these harsh, fast, troublesome times, we are facing in this world, I would like to believe that someone out there wanted us to just....... stop.
- Myrna Davis, East Ham, London
What a refreshing, positive article to read. So much moaning and complaining has consumed the press, looking for people to blame because nature took it's natural course. I think the country looks beautiful and, as long as people behave sensibly and safely, there is no reason for us not to take stock and admire how wonderful the UK can really look and how neighbourly people can be. The cheer on people's faces has been a joy to behold - what a wonderful way to bond with your children, have fun and go out and get some fresh air and exercise! As W.H. Davies aptly said "What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare?"
- Bigal, Beaconsfield
Not everything failed!!!
Ocado delivered right on time.. 
- C, Islington
Very well said Simon. Walking around Richmond yesterday I haven't seen people so cheerful in a very long time. An overwhelming realisation of the beauty of your local area.
Gods, more snow please and please don't let us wait another 18 years.
- Sorrell, Richmond
Did you ask to your new mayer some explanation about this miserable situation? We have had a similar situation in Milan: snow and ice everywhere and no help from the mayer. We asked to our mayer to say sorry for that, but she did not. The snow will cost to the our city 600.000 euros.
Ask Boris! What did he do for the Londoners?
All the best
anna
- Anna Gennari, Milan, Italy
I couldn't agree more. It's winter and it's supposed to snow once in a while. This time we had an extraordinary amount of snow and actually I am proud of how well our city coped and the good humour everyone showed. I went for a walk late on Sunday evening and met dozens of people enjoying the beautiful scenes, chatting and taking photos. I've been in NY when less snow has fallen and there has been greater chaos, snow just does that and we have to accept it. My experiences yesterday were that most tube lines were working (at least partially) but quite a few people I know chose to assume they weren't and stay at home!
- Simon, London
