BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 31 Oct 00 - 07:36 PM

There's a song of Áine's I sing in which an old man gets his house blown away - happens in Texas. But now, when I sing it in Waltham Abbey when the floods there have subsided, they won't think it's over the top.

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: Peg
Date: 01 Nov 00 - 11:03 AM

Jon; glad you are well; having seen how Llandudno gets even in balmy July, I was worried the storm hit you extra hard near the northern coast of Wales...

peg

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: Gervase
Date: 01 Nov 00 - 11:24 AM

The poor bloody postman I mentioned earlier was damned lucky - one of the local firemen had to hold his head above the water for more than an hour until he could be cut free, and he's still recovering in hospital.
He's still a berk, though, for ignoring the tractor that was parked across the ford to stop people using it, and ignoring the fact that the water was raging across it 3 feet deep. My daughter's disgruntled, too, because the mail got soaked and some CDs and books she'd ordered were among them! Honestly, she's the milkmaid of human kindness...
And now we're told that another three days of rain are on the way. Ho hum, even the Dunkirk spirit can get a little damp at times.

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: Patrish(inactive)
Date: 01 Nov 00 - 11:31 AM

Just heard the weather report on the radio, it seems as if Yorkshire is starting to flood. They mentioned areas of the M62 and Keighley, Ilkley and Skipton.
I drove past the river calder this morning and it looked quite ominous, almost as if it were boiling over. I hope it subsides, I hate the thought of flooding for anyone and if I am honest I want to go the Jug tonight. You know the daft thing is there will probably be a hose pipe ban in the summer
Patrish

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: Barbara
Date: 01 Nov 00 - 11:42 AM

Trevor, perhaps you could market your caravan as a multiperson skateboard? Or weather continuing, (god forbid) an amphibious surfboard?
Curnow -- I mean Kernow -- Jon, glad to hear you and yours are surviving OK. I was wondering, but not wanting to fill up your possibly nonfunctional inbox with queries.
Hope you all stay warm and dry out soon.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: sian, west wales
Date: 01 Nov 00 - 11:53 AM

Morticia, re: Clio-s ... At the end of my street is what is left of Goose Lane, the place where they used to drive geese through tar, then sand, to shod them before driving them to London to market (gee - gotta be a few hundred miles, that.) Not sure if we could update the technique ... once we got the tar and sand set up, maybe I could *do* the dog and the Toyota.

sian not exactly dry in West Wales, but counting my blessings

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 01 Nov 00 - 12:01 PM

Well, I'm counting my blessings. I've had some fence panels blown out (again -- I expect it at this time of year now), no tiles off the roof this time. Only took another 45 mins on top of the usual 100 to get the 74 miles to Milton Keynes, dodging trees & road-sized puddles, but I started at 6.30 a.m.. Sue (Mrs P) drove to Fittleworth in W Sussex, which is not a happy place to be, but she's in a dry-ish part of the village. Daughter Beckie was stranded in Rugeley, Staffs, with no trains, just her boyfriend ... I expect they'll keep themselves warm!

Thanks for all the good wishes. Bron, if I call my in-laws in Birmingham and ask them to get everyone to turn on their taps, do you think the Vyrnwy would drop enough to dry you out?

Steve

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: Lanfranc
Date: 01 Nov 00 - 12:32 PM

No real problems chez Lanfranc, except that getting to and from work is an interesting exercise. Drove the Subaru up to London on Monday (with a full load of people and computers, lest Kevin accuse me of climatic vandalism). Going in was reasonable, but coming home the River Roding, normally a puny little trickle, was busy bursting its banks and flooding places like Ilford, which don't normally suffer much from flooding. Could the Thames barrier have anything to do with unexpected flooding in both Essex and Kent?

Now, what were the dimensions of the Ark? That bit of birdseye maple might come in useful after all.

Glad no Mudcatter seems to be suffering unduly, and very sorry for the poor sods that are.

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: SINSULL
Date: 01 Nov 00 - 01:18 PM

Gervase,
You have me laughing out loud in my office! Your daughter is right - "Neither rain, nor sleet nor gloom of night keeps the mailman from his appointed rounds." Certainly, stupidity shouldn't. Honest, I would be more sympathetic if he had died.

Jon, I am glad you're safe. Stay dry and warm

One of my "boarders" is in London right now. No word from him. Thinking warm, dry thoughts.
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: Llanfair
Date: 01 Nov 00 - 07:30 PM

Good thinking, Steve, then all the water would go to......er....somewhere else!!
Shrewsbury is having the worst floods since 1947. Now, wasn't that the year of the big winter freeze, when the snow didn't thaw till April? Hmmmm, I wonder where I could get a sledge and some huskies?
Cheers, Bron.

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: alison
Date: 01 Nov 00 - 08:35 PM

Is Ireland getting it too?.... I've only seen England on the news here......... Yorkshire looked awful last night...

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: The Shambles
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 01:48 AM

It is raining heavily this morning and the TV is saying that most rivers are already at full capacity now.

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: GUEST,Kernow Jon
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 03:41 AM

Alison
I'm not sure about Ireland (will try and find out) but a friend of mine in the village who's from Clare says they pray for weather as good as this on the West Coast of Ireland :-) KJ

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: Patrish(inactive)
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 03:42 AM

The forecast for Yorkshire looks bad, just about every river in the region is on flood alert. Its not raining at the moment, but this afternoon over an inch of rain is expected.
Last night Eric the Viking gave me a lift to the Jug, as we went over the river next to the Jug, it was inches from the bridge, thought we might get marooned there and have to stay there for week. We didn't, or I wouldn't be writing this. But if that river rises anymore, I can't see how the Jug can avoid being flooded.
Patrish

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: Quincy
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 05:55 AM

Alison,
The family in Belfast are ringing here to see if I'm ok rather than the other way around when I watch the news!!

Wet and windy... a bit more than usual but they're used to it!
Sure isn't that why it's so green?!
Might emmigrate meself....have you got a spare bed???

best wishes, Yvonne

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: SINSULL
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 09:13 AM

More bad weather in the picture. And evacuations. Be careful, all.

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 10:06 AM

Anyone seen Noah?

Seriously, please be careful and keep your knickers dry. Everything can be replaced but you, so don't take any chances, eh?

luvyakat

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 04:42 PM

Our playground at school was 4" under water in Barnsley today and we aren't even on the river. We didn't go to the Jug last night because the twins are ill but qa friend told us the water was very high so we were reluctant anyway especially since the last time we drove the Renault Espace through a puddle the engine blew up!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: Greyeyes
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 05:50 PM

My sister who lives a few mile from Upton-Upon-Severn tells me the town has been renamed Upton-Under-Severn, tho' this is virtually an annual event in that part of the world. Their home is thankfully still dry at present.

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: nutty
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 06:06 PM

It's chucking it down ( as we say in Yorkshire ) again - with a lot more rain forecast. I'm not affected but the poor people living further south , near York - are going to suffer. I hope there are no Mudcatters among them

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: Cobble
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 06:20 PM

Mrs Duck, Hope you are safe. We did'nt go to the Jug either. We are only 100yds from the Ouse and it was on red alert last night. Thankfully we are still warm and dry.How is your neck now? On the mend I hope. Margaret.

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: bill\sables
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 06:38 PM

As I left the Jug last night it seemed like I was driving along a causeway with vast lakes on either side of the road I have heard today that the A19 (The road between the M62 and the Jug) has been breached and is closed off. Mouldy might be able to give more info on this stretch of waterway as she lives nearest to it. Where I live in Rawcliffe the River Aire is about 30 feet from my house, it has risen to about one foot from the top of the flood prevention wall but so far has not come over the top. The flood plane on the oposite side has a six inch lower bank so it should all go that way but that area is already flooded. My Daughter lives in Cawood and their flood plane is overflowing onto the village side as we speak. She, along with my new grandaughter, have been put on alert and are expecting evacuation. I was across there earlier today and brought photos, birth certs etc. home with me. She lives in a single storey house. I see Cobble is still dry so Graham Pirt should also be OK. If the bloddy rain stops we should be OK Cheers Bill

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: alison
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 08:06 PM

thanks for the ifo Quincy... yep I've got spare beds and heaps of floor.... everyone come over to dry out....

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 09:38 PM

I'm just waiting to see how these petrol blockading lorries cope with the floods...poetic justice.

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: Noreen
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 11:30 PM

For all you who are 'determined but moist'...THREE HA'PENCE A FOOT

Noreen

in a wet, miserable but unflooded Bury(You know, where black puddings is made!)

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: Escamillo
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 11:45 PM

Wishing you all a fast recovery from damages -

Un abrazo - Andrés (from the other side of the world which is not flooded but permanently wet too)

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: Llanfair
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 05:05 AM

Noreen, I haven't thought about that one for years, thanks for the reminder!
The sun is shining in Llanfair Caereinion this morning, but I'm hoping that the wet will discourage the people with fireworks this weekend, then I won't have to spend the whole time with a large dog shivering on my lap.
Cheers, Bron.

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: sian, west wales
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 06:12 AM

Noreen, loved the Stan Holloway piece!

Another piece somewhat relevant - by GK Chesteron:

As old Father Noah said to his wife
As he sat down to dine
"I care not where the water goes
If it does not get into the wine.

I heard this morning that some pipes in Barmouth have burst and the people there are without water. How the newscaster kept a straight face I'll never know.

sian,
still comparatively dry, but beginning to feel guilty about it

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 04:02 PM

The field behind the Jug is under several inches of water and bonfires are being postponed. I heard on the news that Cawood was now flooded so I guess that means you've got house guests Bill! They say the water is still rising despite the drier weather today but more rain on the way on Sunday! We are safe here in Pontefract but are thinking of any 'catters out there who are flood ridden. Just be on your guard when the old guy down the road starts inviting zoo animals round to stay!!

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 04:19 PM

Well, Bill I hope you are OK and that Sid and Val at the Jug are OK. I have to drive along that stretch on Saturday because Dawn's mum is coming back from Spain to try and save her house in Selby (about 100 yards from the river) Hope we make it!! See you in a couple of weeks. Hope everyone who is suffering from this deluge is safe and well.

Cheers.

Eric

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: Barbara
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 04:30 PM

Here's another for all you soggy folks: THE MONTHS. (Though, according to this one, you're really still in October).
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 05:28 PM

On the news tonight it is looking very grave for YOrk where the flood barriers are in danger of breaching early tomorrow morning .This may result in 3000 homes being evacuated. Hull Beverley etc don't seem too badly affected as the flood defences are holding, but more of the same horrendous weather is forecast for Sunday. best keep your fireworks somewhere dry!

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: bill\sables
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 05:30 PM

My Feet are still dry but Gowdall (next village to Mouldy)has sunk. I hope Mouldy is OK

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: Cobble
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 06:30 PM

Bill Pleased to hear you are still Dry, how are you Mouldy? Goole is OK so far Brian keeps going onto the Ouse river bank, the water is moving very fast but its still well within the banks, high tide is in a few hours from now, we can only wait and at the moment count our blessings. Just seen York on the TV it looks like Venice. Many people being evacuated. Can you belive, the police are having to ask folks NOT to go there to sight see!!! They are now evacuating parts of Selby! Thoughts are with all these people. Mrs. Cobble

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: poet
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 06:55 PM

Trevor
I saw a Picture in the Paper of what looked like the English Bridge in Shrewsbury at the bottom of the cop (is it). Its been many years my Uncle Ken used to live on the river front there. (I'm an Edwards on my mothers side) the Severn has always been a muddy river it will take months to clear the silt.
Here in Guernsey we are wet and a little flooded the wind is the worst of it but that is trivial compared to our Northen cousins.

Graham Hyett(Guernsey)

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: Noreen
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 06:59 PM

On the national news today was a report of the Whitby lifeboat sailing inland up the River Esk to rescue people in Ruswarp!

Noreen

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 07:24 PM

Anyone heard from Tig or Badger or Magician?

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: CarolC
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 07:39 PM

Does anyone know how Skipjack is doing over in North Lincolnshire? I haven't heard from him in a couple of days and I know he does a lot of driving around, presumably through some of the areas that are in bad shape.

Carol

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: Greyeyes
Date: 04 Nov 00 - 12:12 PM

It's not just the silt from the river water, many drains have backed up and people have raw sewage flowing through their homes.

Someone suggested on the radio this morning that now that Steve Redgrave has retired from competitive rowing he should be employed as a fourth rescue service, sculling round people's homes.

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 04 Nov 00 - 12:23 PM

Greyeyes, we have no river in Llandudno but the town got hit by a freak downpour several years ago and the drainage system failed to cope. I was living on a hill above the town at the time but I know the mess that was created. These people have my sympathy.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: Greyeyes
Date: 04 Nov 00 - 01:06 PM

One of the main purposes of sandbagging properties is not to keep the water out, which is impossible, but to stop solid matter getting in, a fairly repulsive thought, but necessary.

A man was interviewed on local TV (westcountry) a couple of nights ago, his three properties had flooded for the second time this year. He has a £5000 excess on his insurance so will have to pay out £15,000 of his own money before the insurance coughs up a penny. He gestured to what looked like a great lake behind him "I've got this", he said, "and it's coming in, what can I do, what can I do?" The poor man was choking back tears as he spoke, your heart had to go out to him, and all the others suffering in the same way. Thankfully there's been little or no reported loss of life.

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: bill\sables
Date: 04 Nov 00 - 06:08 PM

The Government has pledged £51 million to improve flood defences. Not a lot when you think of £90million for the bloddy Dome and £900 million for the railways.

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: Greyeyes
Date: 04 Nov 00 - 06:59 PM

And however much they're spending researching penguins falling over in the South Atlantic. (See another thread)

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: CarolC
Date: 05 Nov 00 - 04:01 AM

Is everybody ok over there?

Carol

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: Llanfair
Date: 05 Nov 00 - 04:39 AM

There are more storms forecast, starting tonight here. The water that has flooded Shrewsbury, Ironbridge, and now Gloucester has come from the Welsh hills and, although it doesn't affect us much, we are very aware of the consequences of a full river for other people.
Bron.

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: CarolC
Date: 05 Nov 00 - 04:46 AM

Are people being evacuated? Is there anything we can do over here?

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: Greyeyes
Date: 05 Nov 00 - 05:24 AM

The weather is closing in again. It's teeming down in the westcountry. Batten down the hatches.

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: bill\sables
Date: 05 Nov 00 - 06:15 AM

We are still about a foot below the top of the defences in Rawcliffe on the Aire but if it comes over I live about 20 yards from the river. My Daughter in Cawood on the Ouse has been on evacuation standby since Thursday but the army are building sandbag walls on top of the flood barriers so the water has not breached them yet. Cawood bridge is underwater and has been since Thursday The river which is about 20 yards wide stretches for as far as you can see. In Selby (Home of mudcatter Selby)on the Ouse they were evacuated on friday night. Most of the roads around are underwater but there are ways if you take detours. The main A19 around the Jug is closed. The village of Gowdall which lies between me and Mouldy has been evacuated. Mouldy has not posted so I hope she is OK She might have had to store her computer upstairs but I don't know. I have heard no news from Tig and Badger but they live further south near Doncaster where there has not been much flooding. I will let you all know of any further developments Cheers Bill

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: CarolC
Date: 05 Nov 00 - 06:23 AM

Bill, have you heard anything from Skipjack?

Carol

Subject: RE: BS: Storms in England/Wales 10/30/00
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 05 Nov 00 - 06:27 AM

Greyes, hard to feel sorry for anyone who has three properties,but I'll try. Alison, it's been raining most of the three weeks I've been over here (counties Antrim and Down) - as usual. And as usual, it's like water off a duck's back. No problems anywhere this side of the water, as far as I know.

I should think Skipjack's OK in Lincolnshire, and so is my place in Sherwood forest (River Trent flodd valley). Rroblems with the Trent have been higher up in Derbyshire/Staffordshire. For somereason, all that low land on the east side (apart from the vale of York) seems to be escaping relatively lightly. We'll see what today (Sunday) brings. (More rain is forecast.)

Does sanyone still doubt that we're fucking the world up for our kids?