Sunday 6 December 2015

Weather

Today, for the first time for a few days, it is dry, sunny and the wind has dropped considerably.   Today was to have been our jaunt over the Pennines and on to Ravenstonedale to meet up with four friends, exchange Christmas presents and have a lunch together.  And, looking out of the window, it is a lovely day for such a journey.

But the police have asked everyone to stay at home unless their journey is really necessary because the floodwater is everywhere and many places are underwater.  The fields opposite us are under water and our beck, which runs past my cottage in the village, is 'banking' but has not actually come over.   It did so five years ago with disastrous results and this time, when bad weather was forecast, the council came round with sandbags.

So we stay at home sadly (although there is a Snooker final on TV)
and I am cooking the lunch.   But better safe than clogging the road or getting stuck in deep flood water which is running off the high ground and settling on the roads in various dips.   Desmond (or the 4th serious storm of winter if you would rather drop the names) has certainly caused havoc here in the North of England.

18 comments:

Heather said...

As you say, better to be safe than sorry. I have thought about you as I listen to the forecasts and think the north has borne the brunt of things. We have had the odd tree blocking a road down here and plenty of strong wind and rain but nothing serious. Keep warm, dry and safe.

Gwil W said...

To "exchange Christmas presents"?? Good grief I haven't even started looking. Why do I leave it until the last minute every year without fail. Such a stress. Thanks for the reminder.

donna baker said...

Are these winter storms? I have never heard of naming winter storms. I always associate those kind of storms with tropical storms which end for the US in November. Will they last through winter; coming and going? I did hear about it on the news here so it must have been bad. Our latest wave of storms caused such wet ground that some of the trees uprooted. Glad you have sunshine today. Mine is just peaking out through the trees.

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

Hope you are high and dry where you are. Our weather here is quite the opposite. Not a snow flake in sight and unseasonably warm. Take care. -Jenn

Wilma said...

Happy that you are getting a break in the weather. We are having a series of wonderfully calm days, which we treasure.

Frances said...

I've heard quite a bit on our newscasts over here in the States about the fierce weather in your area. I do hope that you and your friends will be able to arrange another get together...even if it means celebrating Twelve Days of Christmas.

xo

Simon Douglas Thompson said...

Got all but blown off my bicycle last night and this morning. Was an hour late for work as I waited for wind to drop and it to lighten up a bit so I felt safer.

Joanne Noragon said...

Yes, best stay off the roads. Twice I have been in a car that hydroplaned, frightening, and it only took a quarter inch of water on the roads.

Mac n' Janet said...

Flooded roads are scary, much better to stay home.

Terry and Linda said...

OH! MY! HEAVENS! What a terrible thing to be going on. I hope the water recedes quickly. Flooding...not a good thing AT all!

Linda

Gerry Snape said...

better to stay safe and also they have had to call out the RNLI at the Bay for people inland!!!keep warm.

Bovey Belle said...

Better to stay safe and warm indoors than to venture out and perhaps get stuck in flooding in a dip in the landscape. Dreadful news and photos (just caught up with it after being out all day at the Militaria Fair). Poor people and their homes ruined just before Christmas.

Apparently the amount of rainfall has exceeded all previous records.

Dawn said...

unfortunately there is more heavy rain coming through Monday night Tuesday just been watching it all on the news mother nature at her worst

Rachel Phillips said...

Ok, I admit it, it was more than just a wet weekend.

Cro Magnon said...

Don't know what to say, any comment from me would sound futile.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Our friends, who we had been due to meet for lunch in Ravenstonedale rang to say that the hotel where we had been due to meet had rung to say they were under two feet of water and out of action for the forseeable future. So sad as it had been refurbished only two years ago at a reputed cost of a million pounds - it was a lovely place and of course they will not be able to honour all their Christmas bookings.

potty said...

We killed a car engine years ago by trying to drive through a flooded dip in the road (N.Yorks last century), I have always asked 'Is our journey really necessary?' This is through snow, flood, fog and even, now, the dark!
We hope that the rain stops and floods receed and our thoughts are with you all for the awful aftermath of the water etc.

Unknown said...

There is more heavy rain coming through Monday night Tuesday just been watching it all on the news mother nature at her worst.We hope that the rain stops and floods receed and our thoughts are with you all for the awful aftermath of the water etc.christmas loans