We didn't have the best of weather for the holiday week and for some people flooding and storm damage will take months to sort out, a very sad start to the New Year.
We have been lucky in the recent storms, no flood or storm damage affecting us directly although the rivers and streams are swollen and there is standing water on many fields.
A couple of days ago we had a few hours of sunshine and no rain, a good opportunity to get out with the camera.This is the Thames at Henley. It looks very peaceful here but the river was high and running very fast.
The water was level with the river bank and was lapping over the path. Debris nearby indicated that it had been much higher when the path would have been dangerous. Even so it was difficult to see where the river bank was.
Back at home the stream at the bottom of the village has burst its banks. The stream is to the left of the fence and many fields along its length are flooded.
It rained overnight and we are waiting to see if the levels rise any higher flooding the roads. Nothing much that can be done, we just wait and see.
Since I started writing this I have seen the news pictures of the more recent storm damage around the coast. The strength of the sea in a storm is tremendous, so much devastation in just a few hours. The clear-up operations after these storms have passed is going to be high, both in time and money.
