Flooding - the big clean up, Worcester, Tuesday, 25th February, 2014.

Flood - wot flood?

The river level has dropped right back down again and I (David) am able to walk back home from town along the river once more.

The Council have sent out a team of chaps to jetwash the footpaths (both lower and upper), which is a good job as I am not too sure what manner of glim I am walking in at the mo'. 

Best not to think about it, eh?

Note the light coloured bands around the tree trunks to the right. They indicate how high the river was at its '14 peak. 

Put it this way: if I had stood here a couple of weeks or so ago the water would have been above my knees.

No doubt this trees' roots were already a bit dodgy but the fact it's fallen shows the power of the river in flood. 

The flood was right across the racecourse and whole sections of the plastic course marker posts were uprooted and deposited on the allotments on its far side.

Winter, wot winter? Worcester, Thursday, 20th February, 2014.

We haven't had a 'cold snap' so far this winter. Today, our morning constitutional was lovely and typical of those days that haven't been mild and wet: ten degrees, bright sunshine, with just a few clouds.

The crocuses in Gheluvelt Park are always out at this time of year whatever the weather. So, no surprises there.

However, it was a lovely bonus to see this industrious chap out and about in the middle of February (well spotted, Vicky).

Sorry, slightly out of focus shot of the pollen on the bee (it's hard to bend down and keep a compact still when yer olde and grumpy).

Seconds later a cloud slid across the sun, the bee flew off back home, and the moment was over.

Evesham Cats Protection (slight return), Sunday, 16th February, 2014.

Our first shift at the ECP since October is just a three hour one to get Vicky back into the swing of things after her op.

This is Paws - easily the centre's most popular cat at the mo' - plenty of folk are interested in adopting him today but he's already spoken for.  He is being re-homed in a weeks time, after his vaccinations, at an old people's care home nearby. We get the feeling he is going to get a lot of TLC there.

First pen and Vicky is already in the wars. 

He looked such a friendly cat an' all. Mind you, there was a big sign saying 'Take Care'. 

We guess some folk just don't appreciate being kept in a pen.

Vince: a new resident cat. Our Cat Of The Day. 

Honey is keeping out of the way.

Blimey, we know the sun is bright today, but this is ridiculous.

Vicky and Sox. 

Last October they said Sox wasn't long for this world, but he is proving everyone wrong and is still hanging in there. 

Mind you, he's 22 years old and has a thyroid problem so let's give a fella a break.

Ben the Cock is still alive and well out the back and has now got Brenda for company. 

So he's well-happy.

Much later, rested and back at base, Vicky takes out her frustration at the thought of a phased return to work, which commences in the morning, by giving Fernando Alonso and his Ferrari a right good thrashing in yet another round of the Barbourne Winter Series.

(Yet another) Flood update, Worcester, Thursday 13th February, 2014.

In our unstinting desire to provide a 24 hour news blog we have set out at well before midday on what will prove to be a four (count 'em) mile trek around, under and over (but not thru) the flood waters of Worcester.

First stop: Barbourne Lane where Barbourne Brook has flooded the lake in Gheluvelt Park which has, in turn, flooded the Play Area. 

Appalling; even without a responsible child, as adults, we are unable to enter today.

Waterworks Road has now been abandoned by Sky News, yet life still goes on. 

This is the first time we have ever seen water this far up the road. It has come right around the bend and almost reached the old Pumphouse (which is now an Environment Centre/Cafe).

David bestrides the edge of the flooded Pitchcroft Car Park like a grumpy middle-aged chap.

 The flood water has risen beyond the duckboard in Pitchcroft Lane. 

We've never seen that before either.

Something nasty gushing out of the ground by the sewage treatment plant. Nice.

At least the geese are happy.

Now this is serious: no way through The Moors to the town centre beyond. 

Again, we have never seen this before.Time to find another route.

Didn't ever imagine we'd see this. Croft Road completely inundated. Yet another detour required.

This is the view from the car park outside Detroit's American Diner.......hmmm.................

....................aha! It's one o'clock and time for lunch! Dum-de-dum-de-dum (one for all you olde Genesis fans out there).

Sorry Vic, you'll have to speak up. 

Can't hear you for the sound of sirens (Food Police, not Emergency Services).

Oh no! We have miserably failed in our ambition to become 24 hour news bloggers.

Distracted by fine American dining we have missed the opportunity to take a decent shot of a 6-wheeled army vehicle battling with the flood waters as it heads into town to rescue folk.

Oh well, we'll simply have to find another vocation.

Splendid action shot (to make up for the disappointment of missing the 6-wheeled army truck) of two pigeons stoically ignoring a Shuttle Bus trundling across the Bridge Street bridge as it ferries folk from the west of Worcester across The Severn.

City centre still threatened by record flood levels.

Like the sign above Vicky's bonce says.

Last time, we could walk along Hylton Road to the pedestrian bridge across the River but we wont be doing that today. 

NB 24 hr news vans have been moved here from New Road which has flooded now.

Man from The Environment Agency is interviewed by one of our 24 hour news blogging rivals. 

We spoke to Mr Environment Agency afterwards and he told us that the river is at a record level and although it will fall in the short term it will rise again 'cos lots of rain is expected over the next few days. You read it here first.

The Bus Station has not flooded because some clever human beings have thwarted Mother Nature by laying a temporary layer of tarmac onto the road so that buses can get out (boo!).

To finish, here is a shot taken from outside the Bus Station of a still cut off Hive.

OK, it's time to stop taking photos now and walk into the town centre to do a spot of shopping, have a cuppa tea, and then walk back home along the eerily quiet main arterial Barbourne Road.

By the way: it's gonna tip it down tomorrow (gulp). All day. 

Probably stay in then, although Saturday could be interesting.

(Another) Flood update, Worcester, Wednesday, 12th February, 2014.

Just a short walk today (David is tired, he's been doing the housework and Vicky was out this morning in the driving rain and strong winds so needs some persuading to venture out again) to check out the flood waters (it's a hard life as 24hr news bloggers, we'll have you know).

Not a good start - the local park is shut.......................

......................for reasons that soon become obvious. We've never seen Barbourne Brook that wide before.

No way through Waterworks Walk (folk in wellies giving it a go soon turned back), the Brook has flooded it to a foot deep.

We've found a local expert! No, not Bryn the Irish Terrier who is bred to hunt otters but actually hates water (he's not daft), but his owner who has lived in Worcester for 32 years. His verdict? He has never seen it as bad as this.

We had intended to walk to Waterworks Road, given that Sky News have a got a TV crew there showing it to be about 3' deep in water. We walk along Waterworks Road (it's about a half mile from where we live) nearly every day on our walks into town via Pitchcroft but have only ever seen it flooded by a few inches, so things are definitely getting serious now.

 We shall have to try a different route tomorrow. It's a relentless pursuit of gripping images when you're 24 hour news bloggers (oh yes).

Later, back at HQ and (not) watching another gripping edition of 'Pointless', a certain Emlyn (for it is he) has only got his mind on one thing, and it's not the floods.

'Stop fussing me woman, it must be nearly time for my 7 o'clock supper, surely?'

Flood update, Worcester, Tuesday, 11th February, 2014.

With us both having appointments at the Doc's today, what better opportunity to then carry on into town to see how the river is doing (after having some lunch at 'The Turkish Place', obviously).

From the 'tide line' in Quay Street, we would calculate that the level has dropped by a couple of inches since Sunday.

Restaurant worker makes his escape from Browns across flood 'defences' (later he was being interviewed on BBC News, so we can conclude that he made it ok).

Traditional view of the city centre from the Bridge.

Three TV crews are on standby hoping to see some devastation. This is the BBC West Midlands centre of operations. ITV and an unidentified freelance set-up are nearby. 

Man from the Environment Agency assuring them that the level will soon be rising again with the peak expected tomorrow morning, just out of shot.

 

This new hotel complex right next to the river and the cricket ground has been completed just in time to provide accommodation for said TV crews. Handy that.

Rear of New Road cricket ground with the flood water having passed right through it and beyond.

Our favourite seats, right beneath the scoreboard, are now under water. 

Let's hope the 'Tea and Cake' Pavilion remains dry!

New Road is usually a one way three lane route out of town. Today it is a two-way street with the centre lane closed 'cos Hylton Road is flooded. Luckily, most motorists are staying out of town.

Vicky on Hylton Road with the temporary flood defences in place.

River water being pumped back into the river from Hylton Road. 

Very dramatic.

Croft Road, a main route in and out of town, is usually heaving with traffic but, as it is flooded here and further towards the town centre, it is ghostly quiet. Very bizarre. 

Worcester under water (again), Sunday, 9th February, 2013.

Laughing in the face of Carol's predictions of yet more plague and pestilence of the metrological sort, we have set out on a walk of discovery to see if the current flooding is as high as The Summer of '07.

Barbourne Brook has burst it's banks and this is the most water we have ever seen here at the point where it flows out of Gheluvelt Park. 

Quay Street and the swans enjoy the soothing sound of water being pumped out of The Quay Restaurant.

Crowds of humans having a good old laugh at someone else's expense, unfortunately just out of shot.

Swans getting slightly bored now with having their photo taken by passing humans.

On the riverbank beneath the Cathedral. 

The normal level of the Severn is to the left of the smaller trees to the left of Vicky's bonce, if you see what we mean.

Standing on the Bridge over The River Severn and watching the level rising as yet more debris gets stuck under the arches - it's a sport!

Cyclist pedals along Dolday St towards the bus station and The Crowngate Centre.

The water has not flooded the bus station yet so we can conclude that, no, the flood is not as bad as The Summer of '07. 

Gaggles of disappointed media-folk from 24 Hour News channels, fortunately, just out of shot.

Detritus from Wales.

We know it must be 'cos the good folk of Worcester are all T-total (especially the students, oh yes).

There's a racecourse on Pitchcroft somewhere. But you'll have to take our word for it.

Despite the new (-ish) flood defences Hylton Road still floods 'cos the water simply passes thru' the barrier rather than over it. 

Cunning blighter, water.

Oh the humanity!

Vicky chuckles at the thought of all the poor swots in The Hive unaware that the waters are rising rapidly and they will be completely cut off by the time it closes for the day.

Typical of yer namby-pamby American Footballers. Don't wanna train just 'cos the pitch is a bit heavy.

Laughing at the prospect of yet more houses coming under threat. 

We're such lovely people y'know.

Will Vicky make it home thru' the raging flood waters of Waterworks Walk?

Yes!!

But she won't be so happy when she has to return to work in a week or so's time. That'll learn her.