New flood gate

Flooded twice in one week, it's probably not going to break any records as it seems most of the South West have had their own share of water. Every flooding has it's own story. I don't think being flooded three times in seven weeks breaks any records either. Well, the cottage is called Soggibottom.

After 350 years she is still standing. Same scene, different day.

We would like to thank everyone who has left a comment of best wishes over the last few weeks.
All good thoughts help, there are times when we really have been standing on an island surrounded by water.
The island being Soggibottom cottage. It's helped us to be able to share, and know we aren't alone, most of all you have helped to encourage us to try and be back, up and running as normal.
All good intentions of getting around to thanking you all personally went out of the window last Wednesday, as water gushed around in the corner of the cottage again. We dried our small hall way out. The water never got any further than our hall way.
It was ready and dry enough in here to have a new floor on Thursday.
Sand bags and flood gate were still in, so the guys had to climb over the defenses.

You have to start putting things back at some time, even when the weather forecast tells you there are flood warnings. Living with a concrete floor isn't a good experience. It might have been better if we had had some furniture. But as that went out of the door when we were flooded in October, Freya, Frank and I set up camp on the floor in front of the fireplace.Frank gave his garden chair that he normally sits on outside to Tony. You do what you have to do, you make the best of what you have, we are thankfull it wasn't worse.
This photo is from last night, when the water once again started to come through the door. Not sure if Frank thought he was going to help.

Quilts came off of beds, towels, curtains, cushions, blankets, in fact anything that might help us keep the water at bay. My half empty linen cupboard is now completely bare. Once again the water made it to the door of our living room. We started to bail water from the hall in the end, and then the water level went down. As it did before.

Our new flood gate came yesterday morning, as it was raining so much it wasn't possible to take down the flood defenses that were already in place and replace them with our new flood gate. But here it is, it might have a good test tonight as water tables are high and it's raining heavily again. WE ARE ALL ON WATER WATCH AGAIN.

It clips to the inside of the door frame and the screws at each clip tighten to form a water tight seal.. we hope.

This morning the new flood gate seemed to be the talk of the village. I thought you might like to see some of our passing traffic.

There has been so much devastation from flooding here in the South West this weekend, as I said before, back in October, it all dries out. The best thing to do if you start to lose the battle of keeping your home dry is to head to another level, thankfully we didn't have to do that, but we would have done if we had to. 

Never drive into flood water. Never think by walking through the water you will be safe. You can't see what is under your feet and most flood waters have strong currents that can knock you off of your feet and sweep you away. Never be fooled into thinking it's clean water, it isn't, it's full of nasty bugs and other things that will make you ill.  

Where ever you are keep dry and safe this week.
Thanks again guys, we know your out there. x x x