Eeeeerm thongs ?

Your 'thong' is that low to the ground

We (Wessex 4x4 Response) have been very busy lately. We have had callouts from the Police, Fire Brigade, Ambulance Service, the NHS and County Councils......but we have a Memorandum of Understanding with each of them and are part of the local Civil Contingencies Plan. All of out members are "vetted" (not just CRB) by the police before they can be deployed. We have good working relationships with the organisations (indeed our AGM is usually hosted at Police Headquarters). Until you have this kind of organisation, structure and relationship with the authorities they will not call on you....too risky for them!

Here is what we are http://www.wessex4x4response.org.uk/home.php John
07 HSE Narvick Black
Land Rover Series One
Triumph Rocket 111 (sadly gone!)

"Thong" is the foreign english term for flip-flops

Yes, nobody calls them flip flops here (Australia), they are called thongs. Do you guys have double pluggers over there?

Hi JST. Don't disagree, but extraordinary circumstances demand dynamic action, and if all of the services are overwhelmed, including the 'official" helps, then don't you think common sense should prevail, or is the elitist attitude too prevalent?

Jak's comment about them melting to the tar wasn't far off. It was 48.5C (around 118F) here in Western Sydney the other day. And you guys are talking about snow driving.

Double pluggers - yes, but not called that. (Not sure what we call them!)

Over here a thong is a very minimal type of ladies (usually!) underwear.

Our cars are Brilliant ... But they have their limits, even with winter tyres!

I've just chickened out of going up to the village after the rear of the car started slipping sideways towards a corner of the house as I backed out of the car port! The problem is that the car port is off a steep slope, and there's the best part of a foot of snow on that slope. I seemed to have enough traction, but with that much snow one needs to use a fair bit of power to get through it, and even in GGS mode with winter tyres that was causing the rear wheels to slip sideways (fronts were still on tarmac under the car port at this point). With the corner of the house getting too close for comfort discretion seemed the better part of valour!

No disgrace for the FL2 though - it's a steep slope and other 4x4s have failed with less than half that amount of snow. I wouldn't even have tried it in anything less than the FL2, and it behaved perfectly on Saturday with 3" on the ground! Even now I think it might have made it if lined up with the slope, rather than trying to back out across it.

bish789 wrote:

Hi JST. Don't disagree, but extraordinary circumstances demand dynamic action, and if all of the services are overwhelmed, including the 'official" helps, then don't you think common sense should prevail, or is the elitist attitude too prevalent?

No I know. But having worked in Hospitals for many years, there's renal patients who had to get in by themselves for treatment, and it's frustrating that if they go into failure, then an ambulance which may not get there has to be dispatched.
Much easier to get them there and back in safety in the first place.
In times like this, the police can do a PNC check on you in seconds, and they'd be able to issue temporary documents.
As to roadworthiness, we all have those documents now, or we should have.
Only sounding off in frustration.
it could be a simple process in the times of most need, with other due process being done when time and circumstances permit.

If you want to help out as an individual then do as I do, in weather like this.

I just offer my help local to me in my neighbourhood, like visiting the 'old dear' to see if she has enough food in or if he/she needs to get to an appointment etc. There are bungalows across the road with access ramps that need clearing from the snow, nothing much just a small offer of help is all that's needed sometimes.

You are correct of course. Will have to consider, as now i feel like a criminal as i haven't got the paperwork to substantiate helping anybody for fear of reprisals.

I know, its the society we now live in, I even avert my eyes when walking past a school playground.
Sad times

Hang on a mo....I was just posting about what happens if public sector bodies take action and it all goes wrong! As far as private individuals taking action is concerned, that is great and we should all do it as I guess that is what being a decent human being is all about. So get out there and shovel old folks paths take your FL2 to do shopping for those who can't and get those people to their hospital appointments!  John
07 HSE Narvick Black
Land Rover Series One
Triumph Rocket 111 (sadly gone!)