We've survived

My conscience pricks. Yesterday evening, we sat watching a pre-recorded “Tipping Point” on the TV, when the phone rings - our friends from Harrogate who we visited in the summer.  They’d been trying to read my blog & were getting worried about my silence since Christmas Eve. They feared the worst & that we were under water or sitting in the dark once more & so hadn’t written. However, I’m glad to say we have survived.

The rain came down pretty solidly all over Christmas but we remained with power this time. Some water has come in by the back door, but nowhere near as bad as for so many people in other parts of the north of England. We will be relieved when the new door comes & we no longer have that constant worry at the back of our mind.

This flood is so minor by comparison with that suffered by others. At least this flood is reasonably clean water. There is no stink or mud, just squelch. The biggest problem apart from the damp is that it does seem to encourage slugs to come in.

One day I left the wet rags we’re using to absorb so much of the water, on the kitchen work surface, while I popped out. When I had wrung out the water & re-laid the rags along the bottom of the door, I noticed a slug on the counter. Clearly it must have been hiding in the rags. It had a quick exit. We’re also aware of a silvery trail that keeps emerging from under the fridge – another slug I presume. The Fox sometimes comes into the kitchen in the dark & only puts on the light at the switch by the back door. He’s caught a couple that way. They’re not the sort of creatures we want to share our home with. It’s bad enough sharing our garden with them.

As for my silence, I thought I would have Christmas off the computer. I had not meant to worry any of you. The bright sun shining outside means that today is a bit of a respite but the forecast is bad for later in the week – yet more anxiety. Roll on January 4^th & the new door. Let’s hope it solves the problem. Fortunately we don’t live too near a river or the sea for the more horrible flooding, though obviously if the Lune floods again we may be blacked out once more. We are prepared, having re-stocked on candles a few days ago.

Meanwhile we’re getting back to normal. The Fox is cooking fish & chips for dinner today – something nice & simple after the richness of the last few days. Or at least he’s hoping to. He managed to upset his back on Christmas Day & has had to resort to a walking stick & plenty of painkillers. He seems in a worse state than I am. Hopefully it will ease off soon.

Let there be light

It didn’t take a genius to realise it was wet again this morning as I got up. Once more we were plunged into darkness. Once more I could just about manage to distinguish the pale mount to paintings on the wall, the actual image lost in the dark. I was surprised to find not too much water at the back door. I went on to the laundry room to find a pool of water had arrived there instead! Oh when will it all end! I just hope some people in Cumbria are not going to be flooded a fourth time, this time on Christmas Day. Flood alerts are out all over this area as Storm Eva is expected to hit.

Yesterday, however, was a wonderful respite, a day of blue skies even if an occasional drop of water descended. We got our Christmas tree out, tested the lights before decking the tree to find nothing happened. So yesterday afternoon was spent seeking new lights. I know they are not essential but they do add an extra sparkle to the tree, catching on the glitter of the baubles on the tree, of the cards at the foot of the tree & of the tinsel around the room. Having tried three stores in Morecambe to no effect – the minimum size was 240 lights, rather more than our little tree requires – we decided to head out to a nearby garden centre where we’d seen some lights a couple of weeks ago. We found one remaining of an 80 bulb size, had it taken off display & headed home. On the way home we stopped at the golf club as we saw our cruise loving friends’ car parked outside. We haven’t seen much of them recently & we wanted to wish them a Happy Christmas.

The evening was partially spent decorating the tree. The room now looks more festive & we’re set for the big day.

One mystery we’re trying to solve – why is it you take down working lights after one Christmas to discover they’re not working by the time you get them out the following Christmas? Any ideas? It so often seems to happen. In future we are determined to test the lights earlier, even if we are not putting up the tree immediately. That way there should be more availability in the shops if we do need more.

There remains but one more thing to do & that is to wish you all a very

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

It's light!

I wake up. I can actually see around the curtained room. I can easily distinguish furniture, pictures on the wall, my watch by the clock, the Fox lying beside me, everything. It must be very late. I look at the clock. It’s ten past eight, not so very late.  I can’t quite believe it. I get up & dressed. 

As I go into the kitchen I become aware of the solution to the mystery - the sun is shining, the sky is blue with fluffy white clouds with pink undersides. It’s the first start to the day which is not dark & grey. I feel quite joyous.

It’s amazing what a difference a little sunlight can make. I doubt it will last all day. I will admit my spirits sank a little as I squelched across the carpet to go out to the laundry room – yet more water has come in through the kitchen door. I’m telling myself we’re lucky compared to some. My heart goes out to those in Cumbria, in Appleby, Glenridding, Keswick & Carlisle, once more flooded, some for the third time this month. Our water is reasonably clean, unlike theirs. We desperately need a few dry, very windy days, like this morning to help dry out the land. It is just so sodden the slightest downpour & there’s another flood.

I’ve just got our Christmas tree out. This afternoon we will decorate it. Maybe then we will start feeling more festive. I’m already covered with twinkly bits, as glitter scatters everywhere.