42000 Thanx!

 

 

 

42000 page views and by chance Robyn had made an enormous Tiramasu......so we celebrated!

 

It was rich and alcoholic and huge.

 

What more could you want?

 

 

 

 



It's great to notch up another thousand views but it's also a sad time of year.

 

I hate June ending - my favourite month and when I would try to get some kind of holiday. Nice weather and the school holidays haven't started yet.

 

 

It's also sad that the Airports Authority has chosen Heathrow as its preferred site for a new runway; after all we wouldn't want those poor business men and women to be forced a bit out of their way would we?

 

 

It means a long and tough political battle, which I could do without.

 

I was thinking about Harmondsworth village where we were last weekend.

 

No one actually thinks about the hundreds of thousands of people in Colnbrook and Slough who will be most hurt or the millions of West Londoners whose lives will be made worse.

 

Big struggles to come!

 

It ain't over till its over!

 

Neil Harris

(a don't stop till you drop production)

 

Home:  helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

 

Contact me:  neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

1600 hrs 10 February 2014; RSPCA Rescue.

1600 hrs 10 February.

I was having a cup of tea when I heard the sound of clip-clopping hooves on the road.

 

 

These intrepid mariners are from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. They were rounding up the horses from the meadow, frightened and confused by the flood. I had a chat with them, they spent most of the day helping people out of their houses down Ouseley Road where the flood is at its worst.

Off they go;

 

I'm a lot less happy about the DUKW - it's a vintage WWII amphibious vehicle and it's come past us twice. I have a horrible feeling they are organising tours for tourists at Windsor - from Windsor to Datchet, through the flood and then back through Wraysbury.

I hope I'm wrong - let me know if you are doing good deeds rather than profiting from other peoples misery. 

I had a chat with some of the people who live down at what was the farm across the road from us– my Red Bull can shows that the water has moved up the lane three paces since Noon.

My neighbours smart phone showed me that the water has risen about three inches in the same time, up to near the top of the little bridge;

 

The bridge is where the people are standing, the water is now flowing around it. We wished each other ‘good luck’ and remarked on our good fortune – soon we will have those indoor swimming pools and jacuzzi’s we always wanted and at no cost either.

We said our goodbyes – soon I won’t be able to make it down there again.

It’s sad.

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)

Home: helpmesortoutspeters.blogspot.com

Contact: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

 

Flood; 0700 am, still battling on, 10 February 2014)

Monday 0700 am.

It’s worse than last night but not dramatically worse (for us).

Datchet – the Army and Navy did come out, they spent the night trying to divert water with sandbags. Their Village green is under threat, as predicted. We don’t have any sandbags here (poor relations) and no Army or Navy help – only volunteers and they haven’t made it to our end.

Welley Road is cut as is the Horton Road – use the M25. Horton and Colnebrook are in trouble.

Across from us I would guess that the water is in all the gardens now. The houses and the road are raised about 2 feet and are our last line of defence. The water pressure on the mains means that our toilet is starting to give up on us.

We don't have broad band, I use a dongle. At the moment I can't upload pictures because every one is using their mobile phones. 

Oh and a big thankyou to everyone who has been looking at the Blog.

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)

Home:   helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

Midnight Flood update 10 february 2014.

Midnight, 10 February 2014.

It’s becoming traditional – a midnight walk down Ankerwycke to check the floodwaters. The thing is I have a 94 year old to look after and I need to know we won’t be flooded overnight.

It was still, no owls calling, no foxes screeching. No cars either.

The water is only about 3 feet further up Magna Carta Lane but it’s a lot further up the buttercup meadow which is directly below Ankerwycke farm.

The five cars parked by the little bridge aren’t in any danger tonight but it might be an idea to move them up to the farm tomorrow.

Across the road from us the little stream has flooded a bit more, water is still pilling up and peoples gardens across the way from us are now starting to flood.

I have never seen the water higher in the gravel pits. The significance of this is that the water level there is the same as the ground water level under ground – it has nowhere else to go. Water coming downstream from Colnebrook is piling up too and then this evening we had an update from the Environment Agency – further flooding at Colnebrook.

Overall we are still OK tonight, lots of people aren’t.

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop  production)

Home: helpesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

Contact: neilwithpromisestokee@gmail.com

Flood; 'Danger to Life' - thats not so good!

1400 hours.

Wraysbury Village green is flooded again, the bridge on the main road is clear;

 

The meadows by The Grange are all flooded with water from the village stream.

Houses down by the river (Ouseley Road etc) are flooded depending on their height. There is talk about the army being called in to evacuate people but that is usually just talk.

We have been phoned by Social Services flood co-ordinator who is getting plans ready to evacuate the elderly.

Datchet always has some flooding down by the river – tonight it’s forecast the town centre will flood which has never happened before in local memory.

Over the road from us, the stream I posted this morning has risen further as you can see;

 

 

There is a fairly strong movement of water which I’m not keen on.

A couple of blokes were digging a trench to clear water from their electricity junction box.

Oast House Close is rapidly filling with water although the houses aren’t yet flooded.

At 1450 hours we got the 'Severe Flood warning'
 which is as follows;
"Severe Flooding. 

Danger to life.

A Severe Flood Warning has been issued by the Environment Agency for the River Thames at Wraysbury. 

This Severe Flood Warning is for the River Thames at Wraysbury village including Welley Road, Ouseley Road, Station Road and Staines Road, as well as Magna Carta Lane.

River levels on the Thames are very high and still rising in the Wraysbury area. A Severe Flood Warning is now in force as river levels will continue to rise for at least 24 hours and are forecast to be higher than those experienced in 2003 on the Thames. Widespread property flooding is expected in the area and disruption to local infrastructure is possible. The Environment Agency and its partners will update this message as the situation changes."  

So for us, fingers crossed for 24 hours…..and if you have already been flooded, we are thinking of you.

 

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)
(I gave up on photos, my link was too slow)
Home:  helpmesortoutstppeters.blogspot.com
contact: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com
 

Flood update; Staines, Wraysbury, Runnymede and Colnebrook at Midnight February 8 2014.

Saturday 8/2/14, Midnight.

I went out tonight to The Hobgoblin, Staines. I'm behind with posts so it will be up on Monday.

This morning we got the warning that The Colne had flooded at Colnebrook which is upstream from us.

I was at Egham in the afternoon, Runnymede, the Hotel and the road to Old Windsor was flooded and the road closed by Police.

On my way out to Staines, the Lammas Park was completely flooded as was the road next to it.

At the concert I called my Mum - her carers couldn't get to her, so I drove to her to put her to bed. The controller rang me - no one could get through from Datchet and Horton (next to Colnebrook) is flooded.

The floodmarker is on The River Colne, just before it joins the Thames, which has flooded at Runnymede. So the water hasn't anywhere to go and it's as high as it was back at the end of January - nearly five foot above normal.

Should be fun tomorrow!

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)

Flooding at Wraysbury and Staines 2014 2.0

This is the flood alert from The Environment Agency issued at 1830 hrs, then shortly afterwards we then got the second alert to confirm that The River Colne had flooded at Colnebrook.

 

A Flood Alert has been issued by the Environment Agency for the Colne Brook at Iver and Colnbrook.

Flooding is possible for The Colne Brook at Iver and Colnbrook including Fulmer tonight.

Low lying land and roads will be affected first.

Be prepared to protect yourself, family, pets and property.

River levels have continued to rise on the Colnebrook, following the rainfall this afternoon.

Flooding to low lying land and gardens has been reported in Colnbrook, and our staff are checking the area for any obstructions in the watercourses. Surface water flooding can also be expected in some locations.

The rain is expected to continue through the night, with patchy showers forecast for Saturday.

We shall continue to monitor the situation overnight, and will update this alert in the morning, or if the situation changes.

Subject to how much water escapes into the local area, the rest will move down the watercourses to Wraysbury –  by Saturday lunchtime, I'd guess.

This morning (Friday) I went to Staines; the Floodmarker on The Colne where it meets The Thames was at 2 feet above normal which means there is still quite a long way to go.

Here is the Thames at The Lammas park;

 

The River bank is by the submerged fence on the left.

And here's the river at Staines.

 

On the edge of overflowing.

It’s raining now with an Inch and a half due to fall over night. Meanwhile the ground is still saturated from last time. The Thames was moving fast and steadily, heavy with silt,

Confused fish were jumping out of the water to try to work out where they were.

Should be fun!

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)

You can sign up to have updates e-mailed to you or use the various alerts I've put up at the right hand side of this Blog. I'll keep Blogging, glug, glug, glug.

Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

Contact: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com