Monday 5 December 2011

From Floods to Snow


Last week, we had crazy flooding in our village and the nearby towns. We're used to rain in the west coast of Scotland, in fact we're famous for it, but this was exceptional. The highest rainfall happened overnight so we weren't even aware of the extent of the problem at first. Our village main street was completely under water (we live at the top of the hill!), cars and buses couldn't get into the nearest main town because of floods, and the trains stopped around lunch time. We've never seen anything as bad as this. Husband was away for two days and couldn't get a train all the way home when he returned. But apart from the village street, which wasn't quite cleared until the end of the week, life soon returned to normal.

Last year, it was excessive snow falls which interfered with transport and travel, and I'd heard we were not meant to have any before Christmas. But it snowed last night. There's only a light dusting of it on the streets and grass this morning but it makes everything look so pretty. And in the midst of everything, our central heating boiler broke down. I was certainly grateful for the little electric heater! Fortunately, a new pump has finally got everything working again, after a few airlocks.

On Friday, I had the pleasure of going through to Edinburgh to meet up with lots of online writer friends for our Christmas lunch. You can imagine the volume of chatting, as we only get together in person a few times a year. I didn't even manage to speak to everyone properly as we ran out of time and many of us had trains to catch. When I eventually got back to Glasgow, the gorgeous Christmas lights around George Square and Buchanan Street ensured I retained that warm glow of a lovely day out in good company.

I love this time of year, with cold days and cosy dark nights, the brightly lit towns, advent and carol singing, the run up to Christmas. But I'm also grateful for warmth, home, friends and family and am very aware that many people don't have those necessities of life. Sometimes we need a little discomfort to remind us of the blessings we have!

Rosemary

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

What chaos our weather causes!

We live on the Exmoor coast where flooding from sea and rivers is always a possibility and most of the houses have flood barriers across their doors as a matter of course. There was a flurry of snow up on the moor this week - very early for this area and a sure indication of bad weather to come.

Ah, the joys of winter! But I shall endeavour to count my blessings. :0)

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the positive vibes, which I hope to transfer to my computer some time soon.

Joanna said...

The snow is so pretty. If only it could always be a light dusting and no more.
A little discomfort id always good. One of our best Christmases was the one when we had virtually no kitchen at all. Just a cooker, a sink and fridge. No cupboards or work-surface or table. Cooking and washing-up was a mountain to climb, but everyone entered into the spirit and did their bit to help.
It's surprising how little you need when you have to make do. And how handy the floor is.
And how grateful hubby and I were for the bottle of gin someone gave us...

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Hi Gail - hope the winter won't be too harsh for you. We visited Exmouth and Exeter a couple of times in the past and loved down there (in summer), but it was a long journey!

You're welcome, Maggie - hope they transfer intact!

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Hi Joanna - it really is great the way people rally round at the worst times. And that bottle must have helped ease any angst!

Frances Garrood said...

We've been lucky with the weather. So far...Good luck with yours, Rosemary! (I have difficulty reading your posts as they tend to jerk up and down...difficult to explain. Am I alone in this?)

Talli Roland said...

Yikes, stay safe! And dry!

joanne fox said...

Oh yes, you're right, we do sometimes need a reminder of how lucky we are to have our home comforts. I love to see the snow falling, but don't like it when it hangs around too long and I can't get the car out!

(Your post is not jumping up and down, by the way!)

Unknown said...

You should move to Ayr - we get very little bad weather here. Nice note to end your blog on, Rosemary. Right on the button.

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Thanks, Frances. Sorry for the jumping about - it's maybe to do with trying to scroll down too quickly, before it's fully loaded? No one else has mentioned it so far, but of I'd like to know if anyone has a problem reading it (since that's the object of the blog!).

Thanks, Talli - a little more snow today but the gritter has been up the hill!

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Thanks, Joanne. I agree about snow being lovely to look at but a nusiance if it stops us getting aorund!

Hi Michael - I remember Ayr didn't have all the horrendous snow problems last year. And thanks for commenting about the end bit!

Patsy said...

Makes me appreciate living down south in a fairly sheltered area. We rarely get extremes of weather.

Joan Fleming said...

As another Scottish 'westcoaster', I'm also experiencing the vagaries of our weather. Today is icy cold, but I agree with you, Rosemary, beautiful to look at. I can hear the crunch of the cars as they set out on their morning journey.

Carolb said...

Glad you're now warm and dry after those weather extremes, Rosemary.
Hope you don't get too much more snow this year...

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Fortunately, I love wintery weather, Patsy - as long as I can get out!

Thanks, Carol - I think it's maybe just the start! But the central heating boiler is now working brilliantly.

Karen said...

I'm not so keen on winter, but you've made it sound very attractive :o) This time last year we had thick snow, but it's quite mild and sunny here at the moment. Just as well as we still have no central heating, and our boiler's packed up so we have no hot water either!

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Oh, that's terrible about your central heating, Karen - hope it gets fixed soon, and it stays mild and sunny for you!