Wednesday 12 February 2014

Chronicle of an Apocalypse

I know I am blogging often about the current flooding in England, but we are living here history, as the amount of rain falling has surpassed any records. Some may even say that we are living the end of history: there is a prayer assembly tonight in a local church. I will not be attending. Nevertheless, the situation is dramatic: the town where I live is in by the abyss, literally. Its most important park has been closed because flooded entirely. And I thought there was lots of water a month ago. The cemetery by the church, which you can see on this picture, is boarding the Thames and some of its long time residents already have their feet wet, if not more. On the other side of the river, you can see the most picturesque hotel of the town also being invaded by water.

And well, there are the train lines, all messed up.You cannot trust National Rail: their website is never up to date with the situation on the ground, so to speak. Yesterday, as the train was getting late, I called my manager to tell him not to expect me too soon. He said: "Don't tell me you are going to work swimming today." (By the way, this is a new great unknown line). In the end, I was driven to work by the husband of a fellow commuter, good Samaritan. I told him I owe him a beer. The roads were quite bad, very busy, very slow to move. And there was water everywhere on the side of the roads. I took the train early this morning. It is amazing how the flooding changed commuting life and our environment. There is water by the tracks, I could see the Thames closer, and spreading over the other side of the tracks, on pastures where cows and horses were splashing. I couldn't help but find this beautiful, however terrifying. Yet I know that for many people, these days are tragic.

3 comments:

jaz@octoberfarm said...

i follow this on the news. what an awful time. this is the hardest winter i can remember here. stay safe!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Stay dry, Guillaume!

Guillaume said...

Thanks gals.