by Catherine Lear

Created on: November 16, 2009   Last Updated: August 15, 2010

It could never happen to us could it, not into days world after all the roads that we drive on are safe, they are snow free and they would never flood would they. Oh if this was only true, living in Britain you would think that we British would be safe in the knowledge that we would never need an emergency survival kit in the car, after all if we drive on the British motorways there are every fifteen miles motor service stations where we British drivers can get our selves a hot drink and hot food in our bellies. Even on our A roads there are plenty of places were we can safely stop and rest.

Alas, the inadequacy of the British road system and the British funny weather was brought home to me two years ago. What began as a good day turned into a nightmare? One that because of my dad's insistence of being well prepared could have been worse. What could go wrong on this Friday as I travelled to a meeting 200 miles away from my home? After all, I had made this trip many times without mishap.

At 3am Saturday morning, I was glad that I had taken my fathers advice that was given to me all those years ago.

*Advice to what to take with you on winter's day in a car to survive.

*Flask filled with coffee.

*Chocolate.

*A supply of sandwiches.

*Cell phone well charged.

*Warm clothing.

*Good footwear.

* Spade for digging your car out of snow drifts.

*Sand salt Grit for helping your car to get a grip in icy conditions.

*A good sense of humour.

The day began as a sunny day, a nice drive down the motorways of Britain to Bristol, a good meeting with a client, and home in time for supper. If only someone had told the person in charge of the weather, as I left Bristol, the weather changed from sunny to cloudy to rain, by the time I had gone thirty miles, Britain was experiencing the worst rainfall for years. I knew something was wrong as my car along with all the rest of the cars on the motorway came to a standstill.

This is not uncommon on British motorways especially on a Friday afternoon, but this was different, the BBC news told us that Britain was experiencing a more than unusual rainfall, and that if motorists did not have to travels then they were to stay indoors.

After thirty minuets we had not moved, the news came over the radio and it was grim to say the least. Quite a few of Britain's rivers had broken there banks and were flooding the roads, thirty miles from were I was the motorway was under water.

Two hours later and we still had not moved, I phoned

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