Monday 30 November, 2009.

Incredible. David thought the River would have dropped since last week, but it appears not. Just how much rain has Wales had this autumn?


It's cold. This means a chap has to wear his winter coat and woolly cap. Ghastly.





The far bank has been raised several feet at vast expense over the past year or so. Which might explain why there's so much water on the racecourse at the moment. Well, it's got to go somewhere.

Evesham Cats Protection, Sunday 29th November, 2009.

My Mummy says that this really comfy place is only for pooing in but I say it's my bed and I found it first.

I can't see you so you can't see me, right?

Birmingham, Saturday 28 November, 2009.

First things first. After parking up we head for Birmingham Cathedral where they serve the best cup of tea (50p with a free biccie) in town. Today, we get the added bonus of the choir rehearsing for this afternoon's Evensong Service.















It's that time of year when, with Xmas still weeks away and the decs all in place, the German Market (bigger than ever) comes to town. Here Vic is refusing to encourage young men intent on getting warm on ice-cold flagons of foaming German lager. Quite right too.









Don't buy. Just look.











Watching the gallopers galloping on the Galloper.









Unwary shopper attacked by swarm of killer-decs shock!

Friday 27th November, 2009.

No way back home along the River today unless you own a kayak.



So let's see what's going on to the south of here.


Wales not only sends us its water, it also sends us its trees, plastic, mattresses and other detritus, it would seem.


This is as far as you can walk along here.









Still some nice 'autumnals' around - albeit, they are under water.







Oh no. Our favourite New Road seats by the scoreboard are under water.

Thursday 26th November, 2009.

David is excited. For the first time since we moved to Worcester, some four years and one month ago, he has timed a daily constitutional with the slow-motion 'moment' when the Severn is in the process of flooding. Usually, he is too early or too late. This is the view downstream of the usual spot (see previous blogs).

This is the view from the usual spot.

Here, the River is flowing up the footpath.

And here as well.

The footpath is completely under water here.

If you look really closely through the ground floor window of the house over yonder you can just about make out a chap frantically searching for that Insurance Policy Renewal Form he meant to fill out and send off the other week.

Still, they've got plenty of boats should they need to make a retreat.

Tuesday 24 November, 2009.

Firstly, apologies for the camera shake. My excuse is that it was gone four o'clock, it was raining, and the light was fading fast. I should have taken more shots at different settings, eh?

Anyway, the Environmental Agency reckons the River will peak sometime tomorrow. But, as you can see, the level has dropped slightly since yesterday lunchtime. This means that either the EA has got its calculations wrong or there is still loads of Welsh rain to come through yet.

We drove from Worcester to Kidderminster this morning and there was some flooding just a few miles north of here. So, who knows.

Monday 23 November, 2009.

Three days later and the River is still rising. So David can still stand here and there's no need for Sky or the Beeb to send out any OB Units just yet. Having said that, parts of the racecourse are under water so the River may have flooded over the weekend.

At least it's a long meandering river. Not like those short ones in Cumbria which fill up quickly, overflow and cause chaos, then recede just as quickly.

Ours lulls us into a false sense of security and then sneaks up on us. It's dastardly, like that.

Friday 20 November, 2009.

The River Severn is rising. It's been gradually doing so for the past two weeks. Wales has been getting lots of heavy rain and, according to David who walks along this stretch most days, the river has risen about five feet in two or three weeks.
The Council have been doing some small-scale footpath improvements which are already under threat of innundation.

The forecast for this weekend is for more rain (especially in Wales). It will be interesting to see how high the River will be next week. May not be able to stand here at all. And it's only November.

Saturday 7th November, 2009.

This is Birmingham's Town Hall. Since it was built back in the day many great events have taken place within its imposing walls. Political speeches, union rallies, and so on. But every time we walk past it we think of the great rock concerts that have been held there.

So,

'Eye-on Maaaaan', anybody?

Or, what about, 'Fer-rye-daye-night in Birmingham' (well, this was taken on a Saturday evening, but you get the drift)?

Two rawk references. Double points for the second one.

We could have addeda third: 'Oh Kingdom of Madness' but didn't.

Wednesday 4th November, 2009: an apology.

Howard and Vicky have both given David a severe telling-off for using the wrong photo for our visit to Pat and Graham's on Saturday.

Found bang to rights, David could only utter something about 'thumbnails' and 'failing eyesight' as a defence.

Pathetic!

Saturday 31st October and Sunday 1st November 2009

It's a weekend of cat sitting in Burbage and volunteering at the Evesham Cat's Protection for us. Let no-one say we are not gluttons for punishment. Here we've made the short drive from Burbage to Pat and Graham's and Vicky and Pat are enjoying a spring-like autumnal English garden. Don't worry, winter's on it's way.


Back in Burbage we find that Bob and Sue's Sky TV control won't work.

X Factor's on in a minute!

We suspect Jemma with a 'J' knows something. But, of course, she's not saying.