People do some crazy things after drinking, especially on our stretch of road in Brixton. But even I was suprised when I received a confirmation email from Lambeth Council one hungover morning last month, asking when I'd like to attend an induction for Snow Wardens.
Let me explain: a winter or so ago I took it upon myself to clear the snow from the step outside our flat.
I hadn't realised I'd start pulling on some sort of icy thread and that I'd end up brushing a channel from our end of the street, right along to a clear patch created by a distant neighbour in the other direction, but by the time I had realised, it was too late.
I remember that despite the lost evening, being happy to have found a way to wrap up the senses of achievement and neighbourly-ness in a very outgoing and directly useful way. Of course I promptly forgot all about it, it stopped snowing, winter changed into spring, etc.
"Not this year" - I must have thought whilst stumbling home. A quick google for 'lambeth snow' will have got me to the Lambeth Snow Wardens page, and then, well I don't remember the rest.
So the first step was to head to the town hall for a brilliant induction from Richard. He imparted some genuniely fascinating salt facts as well as the more standard guidance on personal safety. He also demonstrated some of the equipment that the council would provide, which included a neat snow shovel, gloves, boot-studs, and an official Snow Wardens jacket! If they want to get more people signed up, they could easily just stand on Windrush Square and ask people if they want to wear the stuff. I might have signed up a lot sooner.
This week my grit and shovel were delivered to the flat, so now I'm ready! Come on snow!
