Disappointed by a Lack of Traction



This post comes with a health warning: the title reads, "Disappointed by a Lack of Traction." That is "traction," not "attraction." 

Okay warning over, what is Caree blogging on about today? Too old for acne, she can't have discovered another wrinkle, surely? No, let me say again this post is about traction or rather a lack of it.  

There I was after a week of relatively mild weather thinking Spring might be just around the corner when boom another snowfall hit, all 3 inches of it and life was thrown into chaos. It must sound ridiculous for those who live in countries used to regular winter snowdrifts but believe me, it now only takes a couple of millimetres and it seems that the whole of the British Isles grinds to a halt.

As I have written on various previous occasions, one of the great things about retirement is the ability to fit one's life around the weather. So much so that treacherous road conditions throw up two obvious choices: a cosy duvet day or an 'I'm smugly looking out of the window knowing I don't have to go out' kind of day. 

Except this morning I didn't want either of those options. 

It's Thursday and that means I'd booked into 3 fitness classes; kicking off at 9.30 a.m. with a core class in the kinesis studio, followed by 45 minutes of zumba before finishing with a well deserved and usually much needed stretch out in Pilates. Getting to the gym requires a 7 mile drive, much of it along country lanes, providing a period of quiet contentment before and after exercise and the closest now that I ever get to a morning commute.


Ever eager, I decided to set off early in light of the likely road conditions. Miss Scarlet whom you may recall I acquired in March 2015 is still an unknown quantity on snow and having stupidly dismissed Mister E's offer to fit winter tyres a few weeks ago (after all why would I need them in retirement, now there's no obligation to go out in extreme weather?), I set off regardless. 

Did I mention that we live at the bottom of a hill? I must have got all of 6 yards up it before I began to slip and slide relentlessly whilst a little light appeared on my dashboard warning me of a lack of traction presumably on the off chance that I had not noticed that my car was refusing to point in the direction I wanted. I reversed and took a run at it but Miss Scarlet indignantly refused to go any higher up the incline. Head down and shamed, I slowly edged backwards to our drive; typical front wheel drive car, there was plenty of traction in reverse gear but only absolute desperation would force me to use that all the way to the main road.


So there we have it: I didn't get to the gym; I realised why for most of my latter years of working I always had a four wheel drive car; I understand better the virtues of winter tyres and the limitations of my totally inappropriate choice of motor car for the handful of bad weather days we get a year. I also reminded myself that in retirement, I really don't need to drive anywhere. Instead we went on a beautiful walk to a local lake cum conservation area, past the medieval church and castle, and all the time with distant views of the Yorkshire Dales and Moors. Attractions on our doorstep that we don't appreciate as often as we should.




Better still, having cleared the drive of snow, Mister E has just suggested we should have mulled wine like we do up high on blue sky days in Alpine ski resorts. Moreover, he's not going to make me sit on the patio in salopettes to drink it!

Planet Retirement, where life is bliss and you can enjoy your snowflakes.



Comments

Jane said…
With scenery like that why would you want to go anywhere? Oh...and I admit to a good chuckle over 3" of snow :)
maddy said…
That sounds truly scary. I get frightened going up a steep incline in my local mall's car-park and much prefer to find a spot in the street! Love the photos.
Debra Journet said…
Lucky you to be within walking distance of a medieval church.
Caree Risover said…
We inevitably take for granted things on our doorstep. The Church (now deconsecrated) is really interesting inside with one of the oldest stained glass panes in the country, sarcophagus for a knight etc.. and yet I haven't visited for years!

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