There is something very British about how we cope with snow. Life just stops. It is not just the landscape that looks different but we all act differently too. It is said that Eskimos (can you still call them that?) have 100 words to describe snow. We Britons have 100 reasons to describe why snow won't allow us to get to work.

The country is briefly paralyzed as if the stuff has never appeared before. And for a spell, we talk about nothing else. The snow blankets our landscape, as well as our news as reporters beam back images of crippled planes, trains and automobiles isolating people in their weekend communities.

The economic cost to Britain in lost man hours is likely to be over £1 billion. But for many of the 10m Britons forced to stay at home, the very isolation has led to a temporary but dramatic cultural blip in behaviour that in these dour times might arguably be seen to be worth the price.

As I witnessed running through an unusually busy Battersea Park this morning, the novelty of this enforced holiday, coupled with knowledge that the stuff will not be around for long, overshadows the attractions of the ipod, the TV or computer. It brings people of all ages together to play in the very stuff that has brought Britain to a halt.

It also prompts us to think of those friends and relations who are indeed isolated and vulnerable, and make an overdue visit to ensure they are alright. In essence snow achieves what governments spend £millions trying to realise; It brings families closer and communities together.

Sadly the snow did not sprinkle the same community spirit on the Palace of Westminster. The 500 space car park below Big Ben was closed as the fifteen yard ramp leading down underground was covered in snow - much to the frustration of MPs who had driven in early to avoid the public transport chaos. When I asked the policeman guarding the entrance why no one had bothered to clear the snow away he said 'No one is contracted to do the job'. When I dared to suggest that we all could do it ourselves, he said 'No - It's against health and safety regulations.' How very British too!