Still on dry land but we are now on a new warning that flood waters may drain our way tonight. Wandered down to the river today and it is full to bursting and starting to come up over the banks.
Our house is pretty old (1890) and built on a slight mound as our area always was on a flood plain. When we replastered our living room we found a line on the wall and some writing to say thay was where the flood waters reached in 1947. That was before the new wier was built in Reading. The old wooden one collapsed in 1947 deluging my area in tons of water.
Homes next to the river have been issued with sand bags but the council have said we are on the outskirts of trouble so they will come back with sand bags for us if they think its going that way.
Last night was odd. After the council officals knocked on everyones doors, the street cleared of cars as we all rushed to park them on higher ground - luckily we have hills at the end of the street. As you walk down the road everyones living rooms are empty with all the furniture piled up. Some just left after that and went to stay with friends on higher ground.
The street went silent and those that stayed all held our breaths and waited. Opened a bottle of vino at about 11.00pm when the expected flood did not seem to be coming and then went to bed around midnight with fingers & toes crossed.
There is an odd atmosphere today, but nothing we can all do except wait. Like I say - those nearer the river are in a far worse position than us and compared to what some people have endured this week, we are lucky.
Sue