Suburbanmummyuk's Blog

Yesterday I booked my car in for it’s first MOT. I booked at the closest MOT station I could. about 2.2 miles away but who’s counting. I arrived a bit early, we went to the shop, bought the kids a treat (hula hoops), let them ride on the shop rides then we headed back. Eliza and Jerry played and I looked out the window. Snow had started to fall, I was sure it wouldn’t settle after all it had just been raining.

It started to settle and it was getting heavier and heavier and heavier. They told me my car was ready so we went out into the Blizzard barely able to see 2 foot in front of us, the ground was already slippery and the kids started to cry as soon as we set foot outside it was bitterly cold and the snow was falling so fast and huge flakes. I bundled them into the car wet and with all our coats on. We still had a little bit of snacks left so I handed that to them. I said to Eliza “this is bad Eliza, so getting home might take a while” we drove out of the test centre and slowly made our way up the street. I braked early and stopped. No traffic pulled out and then few cars stopped and then the traffic the other way stopped. People started to turn around why I don’t know!

As I edged forward I saw why a bus had skidded hitting a car, all the passengers were being helped off sadly it was mostly old people some with sticks and all while the blizzard was blowing like crazy. The car was dented but the bus was fine. Then People did something that for me defied common sense they stood in front of the bus and tried to push it. The bus at one point slipped and two of the men jumped out of the way,  seriously WTH are they thinking?! I decided that this could only get worse so I turned around cautiously.

I lost control of the car and drifted down towards a wall trying to swing it back and I did. I stopped under a bridge as there was no snow and jumped out to get the sat nav, knowing it would give me traffic updates. It was showing gridlock on all major roads heavy traffic on mine for MILES. I now had 4.2 miles to as I had turned around.

All in all it took me 5.5 hours to get home. I had no blankets in the car in a event of a breakdown. I had no food and no water for myself or the children. I had to ask people walking if they had water as Jeremiah was hysterical. A very kind lady gave me her water and Jerry got a drink. After another hour of screaming he wriggled out of his car seat. He was now free. He climbed into the front. I was worried I wasn’t moving, but I also couldn’t take my foot off the brakes as I was on a downhill slope and even with the handbrake on I still slid. I saw two men walking and Yelled for help. I jumped out the guy jumped in and sat with his foot on the brakes for me. And his friend held the car at the front.

WIth Jerry firmly back in his seat. I endure another hour of him crying which broke my heart, Eliza was a champion she said “it’s OK Mummy, I’ll shsss him, you just drive” She sang silly songs, she entertained him. He reached a point of no return and I asked Eliza to now be quiet. he cried himself to sleep and I prayed he slept for the rest of the trip. Eliza and I chatted about lots of things, she said when we get home we’ll have hot chocolate and cuddles.

I said yes “pray we get home safely sweetie” she asked what praying was and was baby Jesus with us?

We then had a 45 minute chat about god, it was bizzare, almost surreal me and my 3.5 year old. She frequently mentioned after that baby Jesus was with us. Very sweet.

We finally made some progress, just before the main road near where we live is another big road on a hill.

We all drove at 5 miles an hour I lost control twice and now panic set in. I had to stay calm. I had to.

I talked to myself about being calm and staying positive.

We drove around a huge Mercedes jack knifed in the road and then shortly discovered why. My car swerved the car in front swerved. I lightly pressed the brakes and they made a god awful sound and failed. I really didn’t know what to do, I have never had to expererience this before. I pulled the handbrake nothing I threw the steering around and headed for the curb knowing we were going to spin. I briefly looked in my mirror and saw the HUGE van behind me coming down sideways and I thought “this is it, we’re going to get hit and I checked the kids and prayed. I pumped the brakes hoping they would catch and on the 3rd attempt they did. I accelerated,crazy but I did and the van gained control as well. we carried on. Lights reflecting off the ice was bright despite the dark of the night.

I turned into our street and swung into our drive way, shaking due to low blood sugar, Unal welcomed me home and we all went to bed shortly afterwards. I couldn’t sleep, the flashbacks on the hill and my brakes failing me kept playing in my mind. And it did all night. I kept waking suddenly.

No road was gritted, no one knows how to drive in this sort of freak weather.

I am so thankful we made it home with nothing more than some aching limbs from sitting for so long and so rather crappy memories.

This was a familar scene I stopped counting after seeing the tenth ambulance, I heard many, many more. So spare a thought for all the emergency service people. All the nurses and Dr’s and road side assistant people. Working around the clock.

And perhaps the UK will learn and plan ahead. they say there is plenty of salt for the roads, I’m not surprised as they didn’t put any out. I’d like my council tax back please. This country is an embarrasment. If they claim to know about this weather then they should prepare it and look after their people.

Please don’t travel unless you really need to and prepare your car. I for one will be.