I live in a rural area 45 miles from the uni I work in (which is on the outskirts of a city near the coast and so doesn't get really bad weather). I live down a single track country lane and the track to my house is long and goes down a fairly steep slope to cross a stream and then back up the other side. My car got stuck on the first day of the snow at the bottom of the slope but my husband has managed to put snow chains on it and move it to a neighbours a mile or so away which is nearer the "main" (ie proper) road. He has a 4x4 which he needs to take the children to school etc. which he can use to ferry me to my car. For the past two days I have used his 4x4 (went in later today asfter he had taken childrne to school). Tomorrow I have teaching 9-1 which on a normal day means I usualy leave at 7.15 to arrive by 8.30. We currently have 9.5cm of snow (my 12 year old son went and measured it) and coming home tonight the last 4.8 miles I was driving on snow/slush (about 15 mile sof the 45 is on country roads , the rest is on morotway)

My question is should I be going to work or is it bad enough to stay at home. If I go to work tomorrow I will need to leave at 7 and get my husband to drive me the mile or so to get my car. Am I being stupid thinking about going in? (I have visions of there being an accident adn the news reporters saying how stupid I was for travelling) What counts as essential journey anyway (clearly undertaking a heart transplant is probably essential and going to the cinema is probably not but where are the lines drawn)? Will any students turn up anyway? Thie nearest 5-7 miles are the worst. I have a stack of marking (and a load of PhD work to do).

stay at home and make snowmen! (snowman)

I've been workign from home all week. I'm suposed to go in on friday, but will see what its like, as i'm that dreaded train line where people spent all night stuck on a train last night.

I wouldn't go if I were you, will there be another member of staff to cover your teaching? As well as having to leave really early to make a potentially dangerous journey, if it snows a lot when you're teaching you might get stuck! Is there any chance that your uni would be closed anyway tomorrow?

Country roads in the snow are horrible, I had quite a nasty accident on one last winter so I'm more wary now!

If it's dangerous stay at home.

My uni (in north-east Scotland) has been closed for most of this week, and has told its staff and students not to come in as a result. My husband (Research Fellow there) had already decided he was working from home all week. He's a software engineer, without teaching responsibilities at the moment, so it was an easy decision to make.

He needed to get more food today and really struggled to get the car out of the drive. Our neighbours had to help push at one point. Then hubby spent 2 hours digging out the drive and road ... He's not going out any time again soon.

Though on the counter-side students will try to turn up in my experience. They certainly have been at my uni, and have only been stopped by the uni telling them not to come, and that it's closed.

We've had an awful lot more snow than you as well. Constant since last week. And it's not over yet!

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Last year we were completely snowed in (but we didn't have the 4x4 then) & I didn't go in on one day and felt as though no one believed how bad it was - the next day the university was closed for a few days so it was OK. Trouble is the uni is in a part of the country which doesn't get much snow so everyone over there (who are also in a city where the roads are clearer) doesn't really get what it is like in a rural (and hilly) area. If we had a bit more snow I wouldn't be questioning it.

I wouldn't risk it if it's clearly not safe to be turning out in it. Like said, it's alright for the students who will be local to the uni, but a lot of staff travel quite long distances these days. At work today, we're in an area where it's okay, but they shut one of the other offices up North - more because most of the people don't live locally so couldn't travel in easily.

So don't worry about trying to get in - the students will survive , I'm sure!

I hope you didn't go in!!! Take photos if necessary to show how bad it is ;-) There's no point risking yourself, your health, not to mention the inconvenience of a totalled car. My hubby did that earlier this year, did the martyr bit, went to work, nearly killed himself when the lorry in front stopped and the car behind him didn't, he was alright but battered and the car was a write off - utter nightmare! The students will survive. Those within walking distance who can be bothered to get up will, the others won't. I'm working from home today - the kids' schools are shut and I've asked my boss (if she gets in and finds the email) to send me work to do. I'm on a temp contract so only get paid if I work but I figured the excess on the insurance is more than I'd make anyway so not worth it a long and difficult journey

Yes, there is no point risking it. The university should understand.

It's better to be safe, plus the Uni may itself shut today. Mine does at the first sign of snow (well is a hilly campus and the buses struggle to run there)

I don't mean to sound harsh, but 10cm of snow??is that all??!! we have well over 50cm where I live, and I still manage to walk for an hour (normally takes 30mins) to get into work. That said, if you really feel that it is dangerous, then don't travel. BUT if your kids can make it to school.... really you seem just to be unhappy about having to get up earlier than usual - not a big deal, since most of the country is doing the same.

I got up at 6am hoping that there would have been either no more snow or a ton of it. As it was there was about another inch. So I left home at 6.45 and drove for 6 miles on ungritted roads so was driving on compacted snow which is pretty scary and VERY slow - that's the trouble with living in a rural area - the roads are hilly, narrow and ungritted and there is no public transport and while I admire those of you who walk to work there is NO WAY even in good weather I can be expected to walk 43 miles each way. Had to take my husbands car (4 wheel drive) which meant he had to phone round to get a lift for the children to their school (6 miles away).

Made it in ok and had 12 students (out of a class of 55) in my first class (but the student who is 30 weeks pregnant made it) and 7 out of 17 in my second class so not sure it was worth it. Meant to leave early but it didn't really work out like that. Am working at home tomorrow (no classes).