Sunday 22 July 2007

Where's the canoe??...............

I can't believe it's been 2 weeks since my last post, but what a 2 weeks it's been! Firstly I've been unable to get to the computer because we've had 3 teenage guests to stay, namely my stepdaughter and 2 of her friends, all of them 14 and a bit. They sleep in the room where we have the computer, and boy do they sleep!! I think the record was 5.30 pm one day, most other days they crawled out into the light, blinking like moles and yawning profusely, at about 3-4pm!

So I must apologise for my lack of contact, I have been cut off from my new hobby for 2 whole weeks and I've been suffering from severe withdrawal symptoms!

The second major upheaval in this house has been the weather. Thursday night last week brought the most tremendous thunderstorm and rain like I have never seen in my life! Throughout Friday it never stopped and after a nine hour journey back from work (it normally takes 50 mins) Ian arrived at 2am to be informed by our nocturnal teenies that water was appearing from under the walls in the basement rooms they sleep in. After 2 hours of unsuccesfully trying to bale out we gave in and went to bed, and woke up to 2 inches of water in every room down there.



So we are officially flooded for the first time in our lives, but we are much luckier than so many more nearby (although we are the only ones in this street - how did that happen?). Watching the news some people have lost almost everything and won't be able to go home for months. We use our basement rooms for guests and Ian's "playroom" (ie. bike store!) so we can manage without them, and another positive is that I can finally get rid of the horrible carpet!

To add insult to injury we have been told that our water will probably be turned off at some point tonight for maybe 3 days. I suppose we could at least go down stairs and ladle a bit up if we're desperate!

I must also say a big thank you to friends who offered help when we needed it, times like these show you who your true friends are!

On a lighter note, this is what we do in this house on rainy days, we make "nests". Kitty made this one on Friday morning and snuggled in there for ages...........


This is my nest, just for you, sophie. How I look forward to falling into it at the end of the day. Notice the stripy pillowcases, bought after a very kind tip from Sophie's blog.


Like many other bloggers my visits over the next few weeks are likely to be sporadic. Summer hols are upon us and, foolhardy as we are, many camping trips are planned. Well we have got to use that new tent, you know!...........

24 comments:

Sophie Honeysuckle said...

Ooh I can't believe your basement flooded-poor you!! I'm so glad you are back though- I missed your blog! At least like you say, the flood wasn't worse than that. That's bad enough though! And it sounds like you have been having a very hectic time lately!
Thanks for the lovely bedroom piccie-your stripey pillowcases look fab! They were such a bargain! x

Ragged Roses said...

theoandcassisSo sorry to hear your news. you poor things. Hope that the worst is over for you and that some kind of order and water supply is restored and that your basement is sorted and new carpet installed soon. Hope you enjoy your summer.
Kim x

Anonymous said...

Oh no I'm so very sorry that you got flooded but have to admire your positive attitude to it all. Hope the rain stays away long enough for you to enjoy that tent.

Anonymous said...

Hi Julia

So sorry to hear about the flooding. It may not be much, but it still takes a while to get the place dried out again.... a dehumidifier would help.

Last time I was in the UK, I was staying in the basement of a house when the torrential rain caused a flood - I watched in disbelief as a 'river' rolled in under the door!! Had to be sandbagged and the fire brigade carried out the furniture!

Marie x

Tina said...

Oh dear, I am sorry to hear about your basement. Hope it won't get any worse. So many people have lost everything.
Let's hope that August will take all this rain away for a bit.
x

jessica daisy said...

Sorry to hear about your flood, I'm glad there wasn't too much damage, and that your looking forward to shopping for a new carpet.

So pleased to see that you are back, and i'm looking forward to hearing all about your camping trips this summer.

Hope you dry up and get back to some normality soon!

Jess

Anonymous said...

Wow, you have got a positive attitude. I'm sure I would moan and groan a lot more.
If the water has been cut off, I think you should drink wine instead! And use paper plates as you won't be able to do any washing up.
Seriously tho, i hope the floods recede soon and you will be shopping for a lovely new carpet.
And sooo lucky your lovely kitchen wasn't flooded.

Swirlyarts said...

Oh dear about your flood - lots of it happening at the moment, and I thought it was supposed to be summer? Hope you get your basement sorted soon! I love the idea of nests - my daughter makes them sometimes but calls them her cottage!

Kristy said...

Oh no! I hope you didn't lose much more than the carpet.Water can be destructive.

Anonymous said...

I hope the water has risen with the continued rain, some of the pictures on tv look awful. You are being positive about it, hope the insurance covers the carpet for you!

Country Cottage Chic said...

Sorry to hear that you were flooded but at least it's not as bad as some places! We are a bit further south so luckily escaped the worst of the Gloucestershire flooding although the motorway was closed on Friday. Hope things get back to normal soon.

mollycupcakes said...

Oh Julia,I'm so sorry you've been flooded. If theres anything you need just ask, I know I'm miles away in Kent but I'd just like to offer. Just a friendly email picks me up from anything bad. I'm here for a chat if you want one.

I thought it was great that you saw a positive side to the flood, yeay! new flooring lol in the basement. That made me smile :)

Love Kitty's little nest, I guess she feels safe and sound in there. Sweetie.

Take care of yourselfs and I'm thinking of you.

Catherine x

dottycookie said...

Oh that's so awful for you - but I'm glad you sound cheerful, I'm not sure I would have been! I hope you have water by now, and haven't lost power - the news pictures look dreadful.

Kitty's nest is adorable though :-)

Hope the summer dries out for you soon ...

Anonymous said...

Oh poor you! I hope that you have not had any more trouble with all this rain were having! well done for having such a positive attitude!!

Fingers crossed that you've had no more probs...:)

Jennifer.x

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness, its quite mad here in old blighty!
Did you all put the kettle on and have a brew! I was worried about my grandma in Glos, but she is on high ground, just the water and electric I was more worried about - hope you manage to grin and bear it, you seem very positive!
Good luck

Suzie Sews At DOTTY RED said...

Oh my, what a nightmare. Glad your back, missed you. Thought about you on Monday as I baked your Lime zest Rasberry cake for a party I was going to...it went down VERY well.
Suzie Sews

Betty said...

I used to have a basement that flooded every year. We just stored junk in it so it was never a really big problem. Sure is a lot of work getting that water out though! I haven't bought a house with a basement since. At least you get new carpet!

Mary said...

Hope you are drying out OK

Joanna said...

Poor you with the flooding i hope things improve and you have excellent summer hols.

Curlew Country said...

I've just discovered your blog and so enjoyed reading it - what a Friday afternoon treat. Its a good job our office is empty today because I've been howling with laughter. What a beauitful house you've got. I'm extrenmely envious but inspired too. Looking forward to reading more - hope you recover from the floods ok
Stephx

Angel Jem said...

I have stripy pillowcases like those, too (I got the last pair!)
Poor you with the floods! I hope the water's gone now & that normal service can be resumed asap, at least if it was only 2 inches you're not facing the builders & plasterers that could have been....

Tracy said...

what a shame you poor thing hopefully the sun will shine for you now

Sophie Honeysuckle said...

Hi Julia! Hope your summer hols are going well! It's easy to add the music thing! Just click on my pink player, where it says 'launch music player'-that gets you onto the site. Then you just create an account with them. It's free too! Just choose your songs, then it says choose where you want it to go, click the option for things like get codes for blogger ect! Then you get given a code for your player-copy it.
Then log into your blog, go to blog. At the top, click on 'customise'. Then you get a new page up, click where it says add a page element. Just click this link once-don't double click, as it doesn't always work. Then choose the option 'HTML/JAVA SCRIPT'
Then you just paste your code into the big box there, click on save changes to your blog- et voila-hopefully!
Just email me if you get stuck! Honestly, it's quite easy, and I am RUBBISH at anything technical...

Debbies-English-Treasures said...

OOOOhhh, I`m sooo deeply sad to hear about the flooding on your basement.
My thougths and prays goes to all of you who have suffered on the hands of Mother Hearth...
Kisses Kisses
Debbie
xxx