Our namby-pamby nation ground to a halt

Sir, – Having read recent letters about the complete shutdown due to snowfall, I would like to make a few observations. I am 85 years old and have lived 70% of my life in the village of Balmullo.

In my younger days we always had loads of snow but at no time were the school closed as much as they are now, what with in-service days etc.

Education was what mattered most and this is obvious in that Scotland always had a very good name for children having a good knowledge of ‘the three Rs’.

The youngsters in this village all had to walk to school, some had more than a mile to go as not many people had cars in those days.

We also had limited buses: one went from the ferry at Newport to Cupar and returned.

When my mother and I decided to go to the cinema in Cupar, we went out to get the bus. Quite often it was too full so we then set off and walked to Dairsie, about one and a half miles away. If we liked the film and stayed to the end, we missed the last bus so had to walk five miles home.

These were things we just got on with.

I personally think we are more of a nambypamby nation now, being told what to do and when. Not many of the youngsters go out and play for hours after school, they are so taken up with smartphones and so on. I decided a long time ago that I did not want a phone that was smarter than me so my phone makes calls. I have a camera for photos and when I go to a restaurant I sit and speak to my companion, not playing with a piece of equipment at the table.

Yes, thing are all different now but I am not sure they are for the better.

Ina Cameron. Lucklaw Road, Balmullo.

Picture: PA. A man works to clear the grounds of Kinnaird Primary School in Perthshire.