Madam, – While I can only echo Harry Havelin’s (December 9th) sentiment expressing thanks to all those frontline staff, who have worked throughout this snow and ice, as a Siberian living in Ireland, I must object to him blaming Siberia for this bad weather.
In fact, conditions here are nothing like in Siberia. In Siberia, when it snows, roads and pavements are cleared, schools continue to open, airports are not shut down, public transport continues to operate, pedestrians are not forced to walk in the road because the footpaths are so treacherous and the water supply is never interrupted.
After many years living in Ireland, I still fail to understand why, at the first flurry of snow, the country grinds to a halt. I invite any politician to visit Siberia, where the temperature is hovering around minus 30 degrees, and life continues as normal . . . perhaps they may even decide it is better to stay there! – Yours, etc,