Yes alot of this is true, I agre e, but things have changed. People don't and are unable nowadays to work on their own doorsteps, school kids have to go miles now to schools as the local ones closed down and they have to be ferried in by coaches and school busses. Local shops have closed because of supermarkets taking over, families are not able to live next door to eachother anymore because of lack of housing etc, so the local community has changed completely and we can only try to do our best in situations like this. I am glad my sons school has been closed, He has to travel along way and through country lanes on the school bus and I would not be happy to send him as I don't feel the roads are safe enough to travel. It is only a very short time in kids life to miss out on school for a few days, but its nice that they are also able to enjoy some of the life experiences which I remember well as a child with our cold winters in the snow. I do have sympathy for all the kids with exams etc. bless them.