(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.

Worcester, Tuesday, 28th January, 2014.

Nee-nah! Nee-nah!

Nee-nah! Nee-nah!

The Food Police are circulating outside and all because the Turkish Place In Town (aka Elgar's) has added All Day Full English Breakfast to it's menu in a direct flaunting of the regulations.

It looks like Dave is about to be caught bang to rights.

A Plain Clothed Food Police Detective hangs around outside on the lookout for felons.

Nobody stands a chance!

Flooding update, Worcester, Friday, 10th January, 2014.

Much more water on the racecourse now. 

This was taken from roughly the same spot as the shot on our last blog and was taken at midday with the river expected to peak at some point later today (or tomorrow, or the day after, not sure anyone knows for sure).

There's a racecourse somewhere under there.

Worcester flooded (sort of), Sunday, 5th January, 2014.

Vicky's second walk to the River since her op and she's doing much better now. Not as tired or as sore as last time but she's still lumbered with someone who insists on her posing for a photo. This time it's just 'cos Barbourne Brook has flooded once more.

David's turn to pose now.

The Brook flows out of Gheluvelt Park and into the Severn (to the left).

Water from The Severn seeping into the aptly named Waterworks Road.

 The Severn from the racecourse perimeter path with Waterworks Road on the right.

The Final Frontier, Worcester, 31st December, 2013.

Emlyn has lived here with us for three and a half years now and it's taken him that long to feel comfortable in our office/junk room (aka the second bedroom). That's real progress!

Nice compression socks Vic, by the way.