This weather is *weird*! We've just had a big downpour of hail,
there's a large patch of blue sky, some cloud and a large patch of
black sky. Early this morning there was a thunderstorm and a power
cut. I am so sorry for those poor people who are flooded and can see
no end to all this.
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 2014-01-07 11:33:51 +0000, Martin said:

On Tue, 7 Jan 2014 10:59:58 +0000, Sacha wrote:

This weather is *weird*! We've just had a big downpour of hail,
there's a large patch of blue sky, some cloud and a large patch of
black sky. Early this morning there was a thunderstorm and a power
cut. I am so sorry for those poor people who are flooded and can see
no end to all this.

Even worse are the people who are flooded every year and politicians doing
nothing about it except talking.

I think they have to hand over money and autonomy to local authorities
who will dredge, dig culverts or do whatever has to be done but with
local knowledge. I don't think this sort of disaster aversion can be
controlled from Whitehall. I don't actually know how it's managed now,
other than by a lot of jaw action, as you say. But 'give us the tools
and we'll do the job' does seem to be the only sensible management.

But above all, it should be made illegal to build on, or close to,
flood plains. Driving to Bridgwater last week we saw acres upon acre
of lakes that should have been fields and we heard this morning that
the train line is flooded again near Taunton, I think. So no trains
into the further reaches of the peninsula! I cannot begin to imagine
what it would be like to be on a train near Dawlish now anyway, if the
trains from this side are running!
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

In article ,
says...
I cannot begin to imagine
what it would be like to be on a train near Dawlish now anyway, if the
trains from this side are running!



Heard on the lunchtime news about 500 odd people stuck
in three trains in a snow bound USA for over 14 hours!

--
Roger T

700 ft up in Mid-Wales

On 2014-01-07 15:20:47 +0000, Roger Tonkin said:

In article ,
says...
I cannot begin to imagine
what it would be like to be on a train near Dawlish now anyway, if the
trains from this side are running!



Heard on the lunchtime news about 500 odd people stuck
in three trains in a snow bound USA for over 14 hours!

How truly horrible. I wonder if they had any heat or food!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

On 07/01/2014 16:10, sacha wrote:
On 2014-01-07 15:20:47 +0000, Roger Tonkin said:

In article ,
says...
I cannot begin to imagine
what it would be like to be on a train near Dawlish now anyway, if the
trains from this side are running!



Heard on the lunchtime news about 500 odd people stuck
in three trains in a snow bound USA for over 14 hours!

How truly horrible. I wonder if they had any heat or food!



I'd be more worried about needing a toilet!

--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay

On 2014-01-07 16:12:56 +0000, Spider said:

On 07/01/2014 16:10, sacha wrote:
On 2014-01-07 15:20:47 +0000, Roger Tonkin said:

In article ,
says...
I cannot begin to imagine
what it would be like to be on a train near Dawlish now anyway, if the
trains from this side are running!



Heard on the lunchtime news about 500 odd people stuck
in three trains in a snow bound USA for over 14 hours!

How truly horrible. I wonder if they had any heat or food!



I'd be more worried about needing a toilet!

Well trains do have those but if they've been stationary for a long
time…eugh! I suppose a tramp off into the snow drifts is the answer.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

"Roger Tonkin" wrote in message
...
In article ,
says...
I cannot begin to imagine
what it would be like to be on a train near Dawlish now anyway, if the
trains from this side are running!



Heard on the lunchtime news about 500 odd people stuck
in three trains in a snow bound USA for over 14 hours!

--
Roger T

700 ft up in Mid-Wales

It took us 14 hrs to get from Bristol to Edingburgh some years ago. The
train was delayed ue to snow and freezing conditions. After a prescribed
period of delay the Railway Co provided free buffet and tea etc. It was
interesting walking back to our carriage carrying a cup of tea in each hand
in a rocking carriage when the lights went out - total blackness!

Bill

Yes - allow the flood plains to be flood plains, and absorb the excess water, rather than protecting them by "flood defences" which pushes the problem elsewhere. Papers have been showing pics of the flooded racecourse and cricket pitch at Worcester - they flood every year. That's why the old city didn't spread on to them.

I've been very struck by the new Environment Agency flash flooding maps. Our town, like many, has areas of fields quite close to the centre which have never been built on (although they are now being snatched up by developers) - and the pattern of non-development matches very well the high risk areas for flash flooding.

"Bill Grey" wrote in message
...


"Roger Tonkin" wrote in message
...
In article ,
says...
I cannot begin to imagine
what it would be like to be on a train near Dawlish now anyway, if the
trains from this side are running!



Heard on the lunchtime news about 500 odd people stuck
in three trains in a snow bound USA for over 14 hours!

--
Roger T

700 ft up in Mid-Wales

It took us 14 hrs to get from Bristol to Edingburgh some years ago. The
train was delayed ue to snow and freezing conditions. After a prescribed
period of delay the Railway Co provided free buffet and tea etc. It was
interesting walking back to our carriage carrying a cup of tea in each hand
in a rocking carriage when the lights went out - total blackness!

Bill
========================================

During my National Service in the Royal Navy, I actually hitch hiked from
Nottingham to Edinburgh quicker then the Railways could do it!!

Loooooooooong story which is in print somewhere

http://www.worldnavalships.com/forum...ad.php?t=15761

Mike

---------------------------------------------------------------
www.friendsofshanklintheatre.co.uk
www.hmscollingwoodassociation.com
www.rneba.org.uk
www.nsrafa.org

On 07/01/2014 12:22, Sacha wrote:
On 2014-01-07 11:33:51 +0000, Martin said:

On Tue, 7 Jan 2014 10:59:58 +0000, Sacha
wrote:

This weather is *weird*! We've just had a big downpour of hail,
there's a large patch of blue sky, some cloud and a large patch of
black sky. Early this morning there was a thunderstorm and a power
cut. I am so sorry for those poor people who are flooded and can see
no end to all this.

Even worse are the people who are flooded every year and politicians
doing
nothing about it except talking.

I think they have to hand over money and autonomy to local authorities
who will dredge, dig culverts or do whatever has to be done but with
local knowledge. I don't think this sort of disaster aversion can be
controlled from Whitehall. I don't actually know how it's managed now,
other than by a lot of jaw action, as you say. But 'give us the tools
and we'll do the job' does seem to be the only sensible management.

But above all, it should be made illegal to build on, or close to, flood
plains. Driving to Bridgwater last week we saw acres upon acre of lakes
that should have been fields and we heard this morning that the train
line is flooded again near Taunton, I think. So no trains into the
further reaches of the peninsula! I cannot begin to imagine what it
would be like to be on a train near Dawlish now anyway, if the trains
from this side are running!
I can't see giving the "Locals" the money to carry out flood prevention
would be of any great advantage.
It's these people who have given planning permission in the first
place to build on flood plains.
I remember seeing a house on one of the Property progs that was build by
the river but on a raft of something like 4ft of polystyrene so when the
ground flooded the house floated, held in place by strong posts at the
corners.
This is another idea along these lines.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wa...-welsh-2731149

On 1/7/2014 1:28 PM, David Hill wrote:

I remember seeing a house on one of the Property progs that was build by
the river but on a raft of something like 4ft of polystyrene so when the
ground flooded the house floated, held in place by strong posts at the
corners.
This is another idea along these lines.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wa...-welsh-2731149

My grandparents' house in Edinburgh backs onto the Water of Leith - it
(the house) has a raft-type foundation.

On 07/01/2014 19:42, S Viemeister wrote:
On 1/7/2014 1:28 PM, David Hill wrote:

I remember seeing a house on one of the Property progs that was build by
the river but on a raft of something like 4ft of polystyrene so when the
ground flooded the house floated, held in place by strong posts at the
corners.
This is another idea along these lines.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wa...-welsh-2731149


My grandparents' house in Edinburgh backs onto the Water of Leith - it
(the house) has a raft-type foundation.


My memories of Leith are from My fathers ship being in dock there, and
depending on which way the wind was blowing you had the smell from the
distillery, from the sewage on the beach or a pile of old car tires that
were always burning.
That was in the 50's

In article , david@abacus-
nurseries.co.uk says...

On 07/01/2014 19:42, S Viemeister wrote:

My grandparents' house in Edinburgh backs onto the Water of Leith -
it
(the house) has a raft-type foundation.


My memories of Leith are from My fathers ship being in dock there,

It's highly unlikely your father's ship was docked in the Water of
Leith.

Janet

On 07/01/2014 21:16, Janet wrote:
In article , david@abacus-
nurseries.co.uk says...

On 07/01/2014 19:42, S Viemeister wrote:

My grandparents' house in Edinburgh backs onto the Water of Leith -
it
(the house) has a raft-type foundation.


My memories of Leith are from My fathers ship being in dock there,

It's highly unlikely your father's ship was docked in the Water of
Leith.

Janet

Most ships were docked in Leith Docks

On Tue, 07 Jan 2014 16:12:56 +0000, Spider wrote:

Heard on the lunchtime news about 500 odd people stuck
in three trains in a snow bound USA for over 14 hours!

How truly horrible. I wonder if they had any heat or food!

I would like to think so considering how blooming cold bits of the US
of A are. Cold that you really don't want to get involved with. I
wonder if everyone would stay spread out down the train in their
seats or would some one suggest all getting together in one or two
coaches to keep each other mutually warm? The ones on the outside
rotating with those on the inside every few hours. Pick coaches next
to the engine if that is still running and disconnect the tail of the
train so only those coaches that need to be heated/lit are.

I'd be more worried about needing a toilet!

Trains have loos but they might get a bit yuky after a while but when
you gotta go, you gotta go ...

--
Cheers
Dave.