Monday, 15 June 2009 - 2nd Week of Freedom

The weather forecast today was for rain but I'm sure I'd heard a mention on the radio today that it may pass London ....... WRONG!

When I was on the train coming home from work the sky was getting darker and darker. By the time I got to my station, Silver Street, it was bucketing down.

The old A406 dips down under the railway bridge and there has always been a flooding problem, though in recent years I think the most would be about a foot of water making drivers slow down.

Today however, the water was almost up to the pavement and the police had blocked both sides of the bridge because a paramedic car was stuck in the water. The fire service had to be called to get the driver out.

I got soaked to the skin on my walk home through the monsoon - the only part of me that was dry was the top of my head. I got in and changed clothes then, using binoculars from the kitchen window, looked to see where the chickens were. They were huddled under the house :-(

I had to go out into it again as the rain had started to form a huge puddle that was creeping towards the back door and the cupboard I use for the chicken stuff. So it was on with the hooded jacket and out with the broom to sweep it away.

Once the torrential rain had eased off and it was just back to drizzle I went to check on the girls. The rain had got into the house through the gap in the nest box flap. I changed the straw and fixed a large piece of polythene from the roof of the house and over the nest box.

The dirt floor under the house had obviously got wet and I covered it with straw so it would soak up the wet. I gave them some more food and as it had also stopped thundering they then ventured out from under the house.

It was an early night for them tonight and needless to say, I wouldn't be doing any wood painting.



Needless to say I won't be painting wood tonight.