It’s been raining, pretty much, since I got off the train yesterday and stepped into the half-inch of water that was pooled on the platform below the steps. The Met Office has issued a flood warning that covers the rivers of the entire county. So when the rain did finally stop after lunch today, there was really only one thing we could do.
Or rather, two. Because having wellied up, we first had to go and clear out the drains along our section of the road which had formed an impromptu ford of its own. This always involves much enjoyable poking about with sticks and a very satisfying plug-coming-out-of-the-bath noise when the blockage finally clears. It’s almost – but not quite – worth putting up with 24 hours of torrential downpours. It’s also much, much better if your wellies don’t develop a leak in the process, as I found to my cost half way through.
Then, our civic duty done, we went to check the level on the ford.
I think it’s a little higher than our previous record attempt, but the other half’s not so sure, and he’s the final arbiter in these matters.
Either way, I wouldn’t drive over it
And now it’s raining again…
While the water isn’t quite as high up the stick as it is in the previous record I’d argue that the old level was from a swell of water and that today’s level is actually the highest.
That was my argument. Hmm, maybe I should put it to a vote?
There is, of course, some compensation for these high rainfall levels your suffering. All that water runs from around your house, out onto the moors and into a number of strategically placed stills, from whence it emerges looking and tasting infinitely better than it would were you to sample it from your local stream. It’s what Scotland was created for!
Damn it, I mean “you’re suffering”! (And this man’s supposed to be some kind of writer!)
It’s all right, it’s the internet. You’re allowed the odd catapostrophe, as long as you don’t make a habit of it.
The water round here probably doesn’t make it to a still but it does provide a medium for salmon – just as delicious a use for it.
[...] But never mind all that, I hear you cry, what news of the ford? Well, such is our dedication to the blog that yesterday morning, before all the drama began, we headed out in the rain to check the level. And I think you’ll agree that this time we have a new high score. [...]