According to various news sources, the UK is in the vice-like grip of snow-induced travel chaos with roads and airports alike grinding to a stand still.

If you're one of the unfortunate ones stranded, specifically at an airport, and hoping to get in touch with friends and family, then Fring (a mobile calling app) is giving away $5 of calling credit per person with the new fringOut service. The new Fring version helps users call from their mobile phone to any regular landline or mobile phone number worldwide and is available on all major smartphones. - including the iPhone.

Presumably this is so you can let loved ones know that you'll be having your Christmas lunch at the airport Burger King, as opposed to their house.

Possibly a little bit premature, as the weather is all set to clear up towards the end of the week*, the offer requires you to download the fringOut app before tweeting your fring user ID, #freefringairport, @fring and a picture of your valid ticket. The Fring team will then credit the traveller's account $5 with calling credit (enough for up to 12 hours of calling home).

Yes, it does sound like a lot of hassle, as well as slightly dubious on the privacy front (do you really want to share your travel plans with all and sundry?) but if you're inclined then it's there if you want it.

As for general travel advice, alternative sources are suggesting that all the panic is a lot of fuss about nothing, and if you need to be somewhere, go - all it takes is a little travelling-in-the-snow pride, the allowance of around 5x the usual journey time, plenty of food and water and maybe a 4x4.

If there's nowhere you need to be, put your feet up by the fire and crack open a cider - the Christmas holiday has come early.

*This weather prediction is based on the current state of Grandfather Pocket-lint's knee - there's a slight ache, but no acute pain, indicating milder weather on the horizon.