Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow...

Our Westcroft Square centre 06/01/2010

As some of you may know, the UK has been hit by heavy snow this week and on Wednesday it hit London. Snow began to fall around lunchtime and it got heavier in the afternoon. Luckily, there are no General English classes at our Westcroft Square centre on Wednesday afternoons so the majority of students were able to travel home safely before the travel disruption caused by the snow and ice. Most students have made it to class today, although some arrived late as the problems on the roads, buses and tube continued.

Picture of the school from Westcroft Square

The big freeze is set to continue for a few more days and temperatures are not expected to rise much above zero. The overnight temperature was -3 in London and this means the streets and pavements are quite icy today. In fact, it has been so cold that many primary and high schools have had to close because teachers and pupils were unable to get to class and the central heating systems packed up. Fortunately, a lot of the teachers at the London School of English live quite close to the school and because our homestay families are quite near, the students have been able to come and the school has remained open.

The outside area at our Westcroft Square school

Personally, I really enjoy the snow. It makes everything look pretty and adds some excitement to the city because it doesn't snow here very often. It annoys me a bit when the snow begins to thaw though, because it turns to horrible brown slush and then makes the city look dirty. If you're planning to visit London or the school in the near future, make sure you bring some warm clothes and some sensible footwear. Hopefully this will be the last of the really cold winter weather and in a month or so, we can begin to look forward to the spring when the temperature will rise and the daylight hours will get longer.

Glossary

be hit by heavy snow - be affected by lots of snow falling and staying on the ground.

snow began to fall - it stared snowing

travel disruption - problems travelling on buses, trains and roads

the big freeze - a period of extremely cold weather

the central heating systems packed up - the systems that heat houses by using radiators stopped working

the snow begins to thaw - the snow starts to melt and turn to water.

horrible brown slush - partially melted snow that has become dirty and turned brown

sensible footwear - suitable shoes, boots etc to deal with certain conditions