Wild weather and the River Wey

Luckily or unluckily for us we live very close to the source of the River Wey. Now for those who have not been paying attention, "It's been raining almost non-stop in the UK for months".

Now, my foreign readers, might think that the UK is generally wet and windy, well it is, but the last few months we have been having almost biblical amounts of rain and wind (though on the upside it has been very mild for the time of the year - weather ed),  and we all think that it is time it stopped!

We have been checking the river levels daily and checking the green area at the end of our lane, known as Flood Meadows to see its water levels. Luckily for us we appear to have got away with it, so far.

What might be surprising to many, is that absolutely no houses whatsoever have been built on Flood Meadows, which is why we have not been flooded this Winter. The water has inundated (fabulous word - 9/10 - literary ed) Flood Meadows to an enormous extent, such that the paths through it are no impassable without a decent pair of wellies, or some underam length waders. It has worked as a very big sponge to spill water over the meadows and so slow the rate of flow of the river, thus ensuring that we have not been flooded. Yes, you've got it, it has done exactly what it says on the tin, and flooded, so protecting the houses downstream.

Must mention that the neighbour closest to the river is sandbagged up and has had a pump running on and off over the last week. As far as I know the house has not flooded. Chin up Anne, it is almost over, according to the Met Office.

BTW the Met Office have a really good smartphone app which I would recommend  to anyone.

What may surprise my foreign readers (well the ones in Germany and Alaska- circulation ed), is that building on the flood plain on a river is generally seen to be acceptable by both the Government and Local Councils - as they keep giving planning permission to builders to build on them.

Now as sensible folk, you might think that this is a little short-sighted, but it keeps happening. What is more surprising is that people buy the houses and then manage to get flood insurance (which is backed by the Government - so the general taxpayer ends up paying for flood reparations - shurely shome mishtake - ed)

Now, if this were Bangladesh - the whole country of which is in the delta of a number of enormous rivers, so very prone to flooding, there would be no option. But this is the UK, where we have oodles of land that does not flood. So you have to ask yourself why we do it in the UK? My somewhat cynical view is that the land is cheap because it floods, so the builders can buy it cheap and build expensive houses on it and so make more money.

Alex Salmond and SNP whinging

Now over the years I have quite liked listening to and watching Alex Salmond, be it on TV or on the radio (naturally listening to the radio, watching on TV - stating the bleedin' obvious ed). On Question Time he always comes across as having some opinions of his own (unlike many MP's that simply follow the party line - political ed), though as the leader of the SNP (Scottish National Party) one might presume anything that he says is SNP policy.

But over the last week he and various SNP spokespersons have been whinging a great deal. This has come about as the main three parties at Westminster, the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour have all said that IF the Scots vote to leave the UK then none of the parties will let them have the pound. The response to this has been that the parties are "bullying" Scotland.

To cap this, Jose Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission (is it me or is it just odd that no-one in the EU voted for this guy to become president - voting ed)  has come out saying that it is almost impossible that an independent Scotland would automatically get into the European Union. Barroso reckons that the SNP's idea of getting all 28 countries in the EU to vote them in within an 18 month time period is a total fantasy. To this the SNP reply that Barroso's comments are, "pretty preposterous" (very pleased with the use of the word preposterous, simply not used often enough - literary ed).

So come on Mr Salmond and your cohorts, come up with some sensibly formed arguments rather than the "yaboo sucks" that you are currently emanating.

Scottish Referendum

I think that it is great that the Scots are finally getting a vote on, "Should Scotland be an independent country?"

Now this is a very straightforward and easy to answer question.

What I fail to understand is why the rest of the United Kingdom doesn't get to have a vote on it?

Surely such a question affects the rest of the countries in the Kingdom as well?

I, for one, would be over the moon to be able to be able to vote, "YES", to allow Scotland to go their own way.

Mind you, they can't be allowed to keep the pound, for that you need a currency union which involves the pooling of Sovereignty and the Bank of England being the bank of last resort, and we can't have that if they are to raise their own taxes.

One massive benefit would be that the Faslane nuclear submarine base would be moved out of Scotland as soon as is possible (the SNP don't want it there, really they don't, it's in the 'Scotland's Future' document - ed) and I am sure there are many places around the rest of the country that would like thousands of well paid jobs that that move would entail.

Have had a quick glance at the Scotland's Future document, and the strange thing that I have noticed is how often the 'bedroom tax' is being mentioned, no idea why.

Can see why the Labour party wants the Scots to stick with the rest of us, as they stand to lose so many Westminster seats, that they would struggle ever to win an election outright.

Passing thought

I haven't watched the Eurovision Song Contest in more years than I care to think about. But what I do find as odd, is that the UK which has by far and away the best music scene in the world, keeps failing to win.

Now there are those who say the whole thing is a stitch up, with various country grouping voting for each other and ensuring that the UK never gets a look in.

I think that there is a much much simpler answer.

No one equates the country "Roy Um Uni" with the UK?

Anyone else with me on that?

Amusing number plates

Did a lot of driving, Friday and Saturday. Friday taking Esmerelda to Heathrow to catch a flight out of the country and into some warmer drier weather (Florida and then the Cayman Islands). Saturday drove over to Bristol to see my two sons. Whilst doing all this driving spotted a couple of crackin' number plates.

Firstly, A 801 LER - on a Pimlico Plumber van (A BOILER for those who fail to spot it - ed)

Also, on a van with Pest Control adverts on it, RAT 80 Y (RAT BOY - ed) which managed to elicit a laugh from me (easily pleased - ed)

Now, there are a couple of other memorable number plates that I have spotted over the last few years, that still stick in my mindL

C 20 DIX - on a pink stretch limo (sorry don't get that one - ed) 

LE55 TAX - on a gorgeous Bentley

Now you may think that I am making these up, but they are all definitely real.

Esmerelda Blenkinsop, the January Muse.

"Oh no!", they gasp, "Not another painting! Haven't you got a job to go to?". Well not yet, interview today, so we shall see how that pans out.

Our Australian friend, Esmerelda Blenkinsop, who has been visiting since just after Xmas, sat down with me last week and we went through a few thousand of my photos, to try pick a half dozen or so that would make an interesting painting.

The result of the first of these paintings and the steps towards its completion, "Mahogany Avenue", and the photo that it is based on is here if you are interested to see.

The rest of the photos that I am going to try and emulate with oil and perspiration are here. If anyone, (Yes, anyone of the few people that follow these musings, naturally excluding Esmerelda - ed) would like to comment on which one they would like to see me attempt next, I would be most grateful, as it would save me having to decide.

Anyhow, have a train to catch to London to a late afternoon interview, so all suited and booted, you can wish me luck is you want to (why? - ed). 

Potten End Steam Fair 2013

We went away for a weekend in Potten End near Berkhamsted, in what is fast becoming a calendar fixture, to see our friends G&T (or T&G) and visit what we call The Potten End Steam Rally but which has a different official name.

If you like steam engines, then you will get your fill here. Fabulous weather, fabulous environment and stunningly well looked after steam engines and what's more a beer tent to boot. What's not to like.

Took a number of photos for your delectation and delight.