More And More Floods
They just keep coming as the BBC reports here.
There have been times in my life, when I can remember lots of floods, including the massive and tragic North Sea Flood of 1953.
But they do seem to be getting more common, even if not as bad as those of 1953. And then we had superstorm Sandy in New York.
i can’t prove it, but I do think that two man-induced factors don’t help.
I was taught at school, that in rain forests there was constant circulation of the water by evaporation and rain and it was a stable system, that calmed our weather. So what are we doing, destroying rain forests!
And then there’s the burning of fossil fuels, which certainly increases carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Local flooding in some places of the UK, could well be caused by the passion for concreting everything, without giving the water anywhere to run.
If we looked after the planet better, we might get a few less problems.
We could also take a lead from the Dutch and build proper defences, often paired with large much-needed infrastructure.
As an example to increase the size of Heathrow is complete folly. If we do build a new airport in the South East, it should probably be built in the Thames Estuary and paired with a very large tidal barrier for London.
IKEA On A Miserable Day
To say that today is miserable is an understatement.
I needed to go to IKEA to pickup a shelf and after a breakfast at Carluccio’s in Upper Street, I got a 341 bus to the store in Tottenham. It was another big red taxi, with a personal driver.
The Upstairs Lounge On A 341 Bus
I even had the upstairs lounge all to myself. Although the view wasn’t up to much.
The Terrible View From The Lounge
I did get to IKEA in a reasonable time, as the roads weren’t that busy. I did speak to a friend by phone on the journey, who was tending to his father’s grave in a woodland cemetery in the rain. I think I got the better bargain.
At least coming home with my shelf, the empty bus meant I had no problems about where to put it.
Bringing Home The Shelf
But then there always seems to be space for parcels on the 341 from IKEA. Perhaps most people take the easy option and drive. Although this guy didn’t with a chair.
I should also say that the LACK shelf I bought was an ideal product to buy in the rain, as it comes tightly wrapped in plastic.
Hurricane Sandy
It would appear that Hurrican Sandy has got people all worked up in the United States.
I’ve just read this piece by Mark Mardell. All well thought out stuff, but it was this comment that I noticed.
John: Obama is the Antichrist from Revelations
How does anyone know he is or isn’t?
If you believe in God and the Bible you know some day its going to happen
Ever since Obama it feels like all Hell is breaking loose upon Earth
Perhaps its overdramatic but something feels uneasy
Do people really believe such rubbish?
The sooner the people of the United States and the rest of the world as well, realise that religion is just a con trick to extract money from their wallets, the better.
By the way is Sandy of the hurricane fame, male or female?
A Dreadful Night
It’s raining hard here and I’ll be staying in for most of the night.
I did try to go up to the Angel to see if I could get some fish to make one of my favourite suppers, but a 30 bus turned up first, so I thought I’d try the littleWaitrose at Highbury and Islington. But they had power problems and the tills weren’t working. So I just bought one item for supper.
A Reduced Waitrose Fish Pie
At least it was reduced to £2,99. As you can see it’s a bit battered, but only in the damaged sense!
I do have some strawberries, so with a drink, it won’t be a bad supper.
25 Years Since The Great Storm
Today marks twenty-five years since the Great Storm. I wrote about my personal experiences of the storm here.
One point, is today the BBC is reporting from Sussex. In Suffolk, we probably got it as bad as anywhere, with a lot of the county without power for two weeks and forests like Rendlesham were completely devastated.
But of course, at the time, the BBC didn’t have a local radio or television station in Suffolk. Yet again, another example of Suffolk being left to its own devices.
Problems
Looking at the weather over the last few days, I suspect that coeliac disease and my stroke are small problems compared to what some are enduring.
At least I’m snug in a newish warm house in Central London, with buses everywhere. I’ve even got a cafe opposite and a pub next door.
I also think of the problems I don’t have, like a car, a smart phone, and wondering where my money is coming from.
Problems are relative!
Aberdoom
Not my name for it, but a Scot, who I’ve known for years.
But just look at this.
It must be one of the most remarkable weather pictures, I’ve ever seen.
Why No Flooded Prisons?
In all the rain we’ve had lately, I can’t remember any cases of prisons being flooded.
Does this mean that we are more careful where we site prisons than new homes?
Surely the same rules should apply.
Wobbly Carrot Amnesty
The Times reports today, that because of the dreadful weather, the supermarkets are relaxing their standards for vegetables. The Times calls it a wobbly carrot amnesty.
Where is Esther Rantzen when you need her?
Upper Street Was Quiet
I know, it’s a bank holiday, but Upper Street was unusually quiet.
Upper Street Was Quiet
You couldn’t say Carluccio’s or Waitrose were busy either.
And now it’s started raining.
As I’ve said many times before, when I become the dictator, bank holidays will be the first thing to get banned.
The Anonymous Widower 