Cold weather panic

I don't understand why the sight of a few flakes of snow is enough to bring the UK to a standstill.

Flying last thursday to the UK, Sky News did its very best to create a sense of panic and chaos with its constant breaking news ticker about the weather and which airports were open or closed, and constant shots of the same bit of snow falling shown over and over.

My flight was delayed but truth be told I was more concerned by what awaited me once I landed in the UK. According to Sky News, the highways agency was recommending motorists to stay at home and not to make unnecessary journeys, and if driving was required to bring food, boots, a torch, and even a spade.

I pictured myself picking up my rental car and all the staff shaking their heads and thinking I was mad to head out into the severe weather.

Needless to say when I landed there was barely a problem at all. Sure there was a little snow on the edge of the airport and some snow at the side of roads, but that was it.

This news channel-stoked weather paranoia is plain crazy. "Experts" reckon this bout of weather-induced 1-day absence from work costed the UK some 400 million pounds in lost productivity.

When will this kind of news created by the news channels end? It's just daft.