I am writing this column, which I hope might become a regular feature of this magazine, for your edification and delectation; but more specifically to counteract the unopposed rampant fascism, defeatism, and whingeing of The Fat Capitalist Pig (hereinafter the FCP, or possibly ‘The Pig’ - depending on my depths of outrage at the nonsense he writes), opines Martin Farrell.

At the outset I must declare an interest, or rather three of them to be more precise. Firstly, ‘The Pig’ presently resides in my house with my wife. Secondly, I find his blend of self righteousness moaning, tinged with a dollop of self pity, to be wholly un-British and even nauseating. Thirdly, being of a centre left persuasion, I find his politics inimical. I rather suspect FCP's reaction to the recent (so-called) inclement weather and its consequences might comprise a series of complaints as to such matters as the systemic failure of Train Companies, Airports, Local Authorities etc. to foresee the weather and prepare as he would wish them to do.

My view is that it is one of almost universal benefit. It shows us, once again, that in the face of the forces of nature, we are utterly powerless. School children, who in this country are force-fed ‘education’ of the wrong sort, and from far too young an age - what of the idea of giving homework to 5 year olds? - are allowed a few days off to enjoy themselves, free from that slavery, and to be children, rather than educational customers - i.e. learning automatons. In passing, I must ask what, in principle, is the difference between our present education system and sending children up chimneys, down mines, and into factories, where at least they learned a skill and earned some money for the benefit of the family? Parents - if they so wish - can also ‘nick’ a few days off work and enjoy some all too rare quality time with their children. Walking about recently, I have seen and heard joy, not just of children, but of teenagers and adults too. What is, or could be better, than that?

The dull suburbs have taken on an ethereal beauty and the countryside has become, quite simply, breathtaking. I have learnt, or rather re-learnt, that we live in a beautiful country, whose natural comeliness far outshines anything that man (or woman) can produce. In my little patch of garden, by dint of putting out water and suitable food - seed, cooked pasta, raisins, bread, cheese, fat balls; or indeed whatever comes to hand - I have, in the last few days, seen redwings, thrushes, blackbirds, robins, jays, starlings, sparrows, a wren, blackcaps, blue tits, long tailed tits, pigeons and doves; as well as ‘others’ that I, with my limited knowledge of plumage, cannot identify. What pure pleasure. And, as a bonus, I can feel that I am being useful and kind, whilst contemporaneously indulging in self gratification and boosting my ego. All around me I see and hear people meeting on equal terms and talking to each other - if only about the weather! All that I seem to read in newspapers is war, murder, famine, stabbings, and general mayhem; whilst what I have seen all around me during the last few weeks are little (and large) acts of kindness. I see people pushing the cars of others; visiting, feeding and shopping for old people; shovelling snow off paths and drives. I also read and see on TV acts of genuine heroism by the emergency services, including particularly the Mountain Rescue teams and Coastguards; as well as almost unbelievable feats of courage performed by ‘ordinary’ (really extraordinary) folk.

Whilst we can moan about the snow, it must, in my view, be admitted that it is an inconvenience rather than anything more serious. My parents told of the winter of 1947 when, let us not forget, rationing was still the order of the day and very few homes had central heating. The snow was on the ground from January until mid-March, and there were feet of it, not merely a couple of inches. Temperatures were the coldest of the Century; parsnips were being extracted from the ground by means of pneumatic drilling; railways and roads were blocked; coal, very much the principal source of power - both domestic and for power stations - was frozen solid; besides which, transporting the stuff was impossible; electricity was cut off for industry and limited to 19 hours a day domestically.

The corollary of this is that millions of homes had no means of heating and, in the evenings, often no lighting. The majority of those in work were laid off, without benefit. Also, lest we forget, whilst State Pensions had been introduced in The National Insurance Act 1946 (at the princely rate of £1.30 a week for a single person and £2.10 for a married couple), the legislation did not come into effect until 1st January 1948! Thus, most people were going to bed in the dark; cold and hungry. Snow, today, bad? I don't think so!