Day: 8 August 2004

Back Ache

We started digging in the garden yesterday.

the start of the work in the garden

So, this was the scene yesterday morning. It’s proved to be a lot harder work than we imagined, and I can hardly walk. Still, they bring the new fence tomorrow (which will look something like the old one, really) and it’s starting to make the place look better. We had an enjoyable barbecue with the neighbours for an hour yesterday afternoon, which gave us a break and – probably – saved PY and me from arguing too much about the laying of the paving slabs.

Thank goodness the weather has been great this weekend – although it has made the work a little harder. This past week has had two torrential downpours, which have brought parts of the transport system to a halt. A little like on this day in 2002.

Water, Water Everywhere

The pictures of cars almost submerged are strangely reminiscent of my home town of Shrewsbury

Last night was an underwater adventure for many Londoners. Apparently, 3cm of rain fell in 30 minutes – which is a reasonable amount of water. The strain on the drainage system was too great, and we had cars underwater, closed tube stations and some very, very wet people walking around. Many people have a perception that London is grey and always raining, but it doesn’t handle rain well at all. I guess it’s all the Victorian sewers (or whatever they are).

The pictures of cars almost submerged are strangely reminiscent of my hometown of Shrewsbury– which is prone to flooding. The town is mainly contained within a loop of the River Severn and, as such, seems to get drowned from all sides in the winter storms and spring thaws.

I guess Shrewsbury is my home town. I was not born there, did not live there for the first fourteen years of my life, and have not lived there for ten years. My parents still live there, and I go to see them occasionally, and I think of it as my home town, but really, it’s just another place I have lived. Of course, I do have very fond memories of the place, which, I assume, helps.