This week awkward small talk at dinner tables and in office lifts throughout central London will surround the weather, no surprises there.
Central London estate agents, investment bankers and other professionals will congregate around water coolers as usual, and converse about the weather as usual.
But for the first time in years it’s something genuinely worth discussing and not just a back up topic for the socially bland. The weather is in fact making headline news as the coldest winter for 30 years continues to cause a scene all over Britain and beyond.
Central London and surrounding areas are expected to be among the worst affected. Any hopes of a productive and efficient start to 2010 were thwarted after the Met Office issued a severe weather warning, cautioning people to prepare for heavy snowfall.
Owners of property – homes, schools or office buildings – are advised take preventative measures against problems caused by cold weather. Taps should be left dripping to prevent the pipes bursting and chimney’s should be inspected for creosote buildup which is a leading cause of chimney fire.
Hundreds of schools are closed and airport and rail services have been severely delayed and disrupted. A significant percentage of the British workforce is unable to commute, resulting in massive absenteeism which could eventually cost the economy up to £2 billion.
All this is bad for business, but good for revolutionising weatherly chit chat:
Instead of: “Miserable weather outside”
You can say: “Can you believe they cancelled the Carling Cup semi-final on account of the weather?!”
Instead of: “Nice DVD weather we’re having”
You can throw out: “Did you hear that Essex police are investigating a spate of car thefts? People have been leaving their engines running to thaw them out and the thieves jump right in, crazy!”
Instead of: “Pity about the weather”
Why not say: “You know, apparently this is the first time in over 30 years that the ice on the Lake of Menteith in Stirlingshire is thick enough to allow an historic curling competition between north and south Scotland to go ahead .”
All true stories, none of them boring. London estate agents, investment bankers and other professionals are urged to make the most of the cold snap while it lasts.