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Been out to inspect one of our pumping stations today - it's ****ed. My father is out at a couple down in Lancashire too, and we have had a call from up near Cockermouth to go and inspect a system up there too.
Given that it is still the weekend, tomorrow I think it is going to go mental. We have been quietish, but with enough work coming in, through the recession - I suspect that we are going to be run off our feet over the next few months though. Going to have to replace many, many control panels, power supplies and possibly damaged pumps/treatment plants.... We have a fair amount of plant installed in the worst hit areas, plus the rest of the county has been hit hard and will have a lot of repairs required.
It's going to be the same for other companies in the area - there is going to be so much needing done and only so many people to do the work... it's going to take months/years to put everything back in order again I suspect. What worries me is the impact this is going to have on the wider economy of Cumbria - there is just so much damage!
Got into work today to find that PC Bill Barker has three kids in school, and a niece. As Workington is out of catchment, it hadn't occured to me. I've taught two of the kids, and will teach his niece this afternoon. They're lovely - bright, modest, down to earth and hard working. Remember talking to him now at parents evening - you sometimes meet parents and think that it's no wonder their kids are so nice.
🙁
The cumbrians seem a lot less het up about everything that's gone on than the cornish were a couple of years back. Is it just there's fewer incomers or northerners take more of the long view? Rothbury last year - same calm attitude.
Love the pic of the canoeist. A man after my own heart. Have done some some solo night rides down hairy stuff in the snow just because it was there and the opportunity couldn't be missed but my fave was a moonlit ski in Saalbach. Totally spur of the moment impulsive lunacy because it looked nice at the time and would be tracked out the next day. Nearly ended up in a stream but managed to jump it at the last second. The feeling you get at times like that is second to none. I'd even put it ahead of podger given the choice. 🙂
the 2004 Boscastle floods were, in comparason, not [i]that[/i] bad: no one died and it is not a local economic/social hub (e.g. Launceston). Of all the affected owners/proprietors interviewed in the media not one was local, i.e. had bought into an ideal (money spinner?) which [i]may[/i] explain the perceived disparity in reaction vs. Cumbrians. The floods in Sheff, Hull & Gloucestercestershire in '07 were comparable to this.
There a folks still in temporary accommadation still from the 07 floods, it's going to take some time to sort things out. I do really feel very sad for those that have lost their homes. Also I wonder how the family of the dead policeman will manage, feel as thoufh I should be doing something.
Also I wonder how the family of the dead policeman will manage, feel as thoufh I should be doing something.
They will be well looked after. Polis are very good when death "In service" happens.
I've just had a text from the mrs - the Greta has burst it's banks in Keswick again. It's just the park side at the moment but is close to the top of the flood bank at Crosthwaite rd, (and it's still raining) 🙁
There's some quite spectacular photos here:
http://www.stridingedge.net/Walks/2009/11.November/20.11.09.htm
and
http://www.stridingedge.net/Walks/2009/11.November/21.11.09.htm
These are from much further South - Ambleside/Coniston/S end of Grizedale which (by comparison) isn't as bad as Keswick and Cockermouth. I was riding round these roads on Saturday - the Swan Hotel/Newby Bridge and the Wateredge Inn and that blue Fiesta in the ditch you can see in the pics, I saw first hand.
The whole place was eerily quiet, hardly a soul around. It's horrible though - they put up with similar this time last year now it's the same again, all those places that were refitted, repaired and rebuilt are underwater again. 🙁