rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain. oh and more rain

okimherenow- where do those steps go - yiiikkkeeess

We are fine,apart from the leaking ceiling, thanks jura. As you know our village is mostly high above the river and we are at the top of a small rise. The surrounding villages are not faring so well though.

Travelling to DS house in Surrey on Christmas Eve bit worried now after reading all this

glad to hear kitty - but what a time to get a leak in roof hope you get someone to see to it before Xmas- bonne chance.

No chance, jura! We need 3 days of no rain in a row plus dh not having anything in his diary!!! The roof man is too busy to come on that basis but has given dh very detailed instructions! Luckily we were redoing the hall any way and, even more luckily, we hadn't done it already.

Dh says it's the price we pay for living in an old house that we love.

I was going to put fairy lights round the exposed laths but the effort of changing batteries so high put me off!!

I went to get off of my narrow boat home this morning and found that I was stepping down onto my jetty instead of up onto it. The river is on flood alert and had risen 18 inches over night. Was really strange. Path to car was under water in places...glad I had Wellingtons on....

I'd hide his diary if I were you ;) - but yes, those old houses do hold our hearts and are worth the trouble. Our old Vicarage dates from 1587 - but was rebuilt after a fire in 1663.

We've been under water or on flood alert since October. My garden is completely ruined. I have many many sandbags at the doors.?

Oh no, that must be really wearing and worrying- I am so sorry to hear.

It’s been lovely and sunny in Manchester today! So pleasant for walking. We have escaped the weather bomb.

Portugal is much the same. After 5 months of drout and the terrible fires in the summer we have had storms wreaking havoc for the last 5 days. Lots of damage and with the floods many people have lost or had to move out of their homes. But in my memories on FB I wrote in 2009 "Oh dear the great flood has started" so we obviously had torrential rain then too.

oh no, which part of Portugal are you in?

I know floods are hard and we all have our own problems, but I envy your rain! I live in the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Australia. Two young (mid-thirties) volunteer fire-fighters (father of three and father of one) have died helping others. Other homeowners have died, homes have been lost yesterday in Lithgow, near me, and over the last month, in South Australia, Victoria and Queensland. Countless homes are under threat, volunteer fire-fighters have been fighting fires for weeks - yes - weeks - this has never happened before and no end in near sight, significant rain not predicted until mid-January. Please Send some of your rain and good thoughts and wishes our way, we need them :-s

not :-s, but

Whenever I get fed up with the rain (not too often since we lived for many years in deserts) I think of poor old Australia.

I'll have to check whether the River Roding has flooded before I go out. I can still go uphill, with the dog, but there won't be any buses running or much left in the local shop. So glad I've stocked up pre-Christmas!

chocpuppy
Yes, many of us have been following your news and heard about the deaths of the volunteer firefighters, such brave people.
There are a number of Gransnetters who have family and friends in Australia; my own SIL is a volunteer firefighter and when we were over recently, this was the first time they had seen the Fire and Rescue Service and helicopters up there, which was a relief.

I hope the rains come soon.

Bad choice of headline in the Sunday Express. ' Festive Flooding'. !!!
Hope everyone is alright, whatever the weather in your part of the world.

Callistemon
Thank you and I hope you and all Gransnetters have a great Christmas and your SIL stays safe.

Lovely and sunny in East Leics again- pheeew.

Great news that DD1 and family were not affected by tornado near their home in Surrey yesterday.

The rain has stopped until Thursday (if my weather app is correct) so I've moved the antique desk chair back into the hall.

Thanks chocpuppy
Thankfully I think the fires are out at the moment where my family is, although I know they are still raging further south.

They're still wishing for rain though.

This part of Devon looks more like the Lake District with fields under water. How on earth are farmers coping?

Down here in Exeter I'm keeping an eye on the new flood defences they installed and keeping everything crossed. we are within 100 yards of the River Exe. The flood channel is already full!

MamaCaz - Cambridgeshire short of water? Not likely. The Fenland roads and fields are waterlogged. Spent a few nights in my touring caravan and was squelching ankle deep across the grass to the toilet block!!