“But all the other schools had the day off ‘cos of the snow, sir…”

“And we didn’t. As you well knew. Now, bend over and touch your toes, Miss Watson. The punishment for truancy applies irrespectice of the weather. Four strokes. You know the procedure: please count them as we go.”

I wonder how many girls skipped classes or work as Britain groaned under the pressure of , oh, at least 5cm of snow over these past few days?

The cute lass who lives opposite certainly did. She was evidently ‘working from home’ on Monday morning. And still in her dressing gown well after 9 when her husband left for work and she waved him goodbye from the doorstep.

I’m rather hoping her boss called her into his office first thing the following morning, and asked her to account for her time and to show him the work she’d completed. Would a bare-bottomed spanking over his knees be worth it for a lovely quiet day at home? The shame of baring herself before him, and knowing that her colleagues outside could hear, plus the firmness of his hand, would convince her not…

See, it’s all very well having snow and ice. But it’s dangerous… Take Thursday morning, when I took a tumble walking along my street. There are some girls out there who might be amused to know that the only damage was bruising on my backside and a very sore right hand…