In an unusual move we seem to have escaped most the torrential rains here in the North West. I suspected normal service will resume.
Out on Panzer. Dry, sunny and 4C. For now Lots of bikes out enjoying the sun. Nice Stumph 1200 RS naked thing at set of lights enjoying the dryness. Sparkly Ohlin's on a 71 plate I think. Nice. Of all the nakeds on offer it's one I would own.
Yep, inheriting previous trauma from their earlier lives can be a challenge. We've just adopted a lurcher that was a stray, caught by dog warden and given 7 days to be taken on by a rescue centre or face euthanasia. She didn't get taken on but warden couldn't do it convinced that she was a lovely dog. Finally she was placed with a rescue centre near us, fostered and finally adopted by my partner. We're 4 weeks in and she's coming along nicely. The rain isn't making things easy as a sighthound she really needs to run like the wind on a daily basis but this has to be in an enclosed area. Limited choice and she winds up filthy. Can't wait for spring and drier weather. Should maybe be on the pets thread...
supposed to be going to the Sussex Ducati meet, but deciding on waking that i can't really face two hours driving in the rain, maybe next month.
wow, it's been proper pishing it down this morning. i quite literally open this thread and boom, the rain just stopped. spooky.
I am preparing myself for my local water authority to declare a drought next week and hence charges will have to increase.
Hosepipe ban recently lifted in the SE apparently - you cant make this sh*t up On a brighter note - it was sunny and dry here yesterday, today back to heavy rain.
It's just clearing up ready to piss down. Down here when it's stopped raining this winter it's turned frosty and snowed, and when the snow melts it makes more mess than the rain.
Trouble is all that rain you've had down there has just been allowed to run into the sea. You need reservoirs (which would ease flooding risks as well as water shortages). But that takes long-term political planning and competent use of financial resources, so hosepipe bans and floods it will have to be.
All part of the general political and financial incompetence. Even if you had a good water company and CEO that wanted to build reservoirs it would take a decade to get through the planning system. I'd recommend building a massive dam at Gravesend and flooding everything upstream as far as the Chilterns. It would solve so many problems. If it goes well similarly benefical projects could be undertaken on the Humber and the Mersey.. Scotland doesn't have a water shortage but it seems a shame that they should miss out, so maybe another dam across the Clyde.
Just starting to dry up here - i think we might be in for a dry-ish week....although im not holding my breath...
At least all this shitty mud will be under water where the rivers flooded (again) by the time we go out tomorrow morning
Been up to see our eldest in Charlbury West of Oxford just past Blenham. Wow, everywhere was flooded with local B roads far worse than we have down here on the South Downs. Good to see them but awful driving conditions.
If only some of the privatised water authorities hadn't cashed in by selling reservoirs. Never mind think of all the other benefits of privatisation has bought ...... https://www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/2025/05/07/southern-water-ration/
My water bill has gone up 40% this year. No idea why we should be feeding the bank accounts of rich people for something as vital to life as a clean efficient water supply.
My dog stepped out of the house dying for a walk for 10 seconds then promptly decided to get back indoors asap. Took me about 10 mins to get all my walking gear on too.
