There is an abundance of snowdrops in the village this year, swathes of pretty white flowers in gardens and growing wild along the grassy banks. Early daffodils are in flower along Seggimore Beck bringing a real hint of Spring.
Paul did some work in the garden yesterday, he met this shy little chap in the compost heap.
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| compost mouse |
Last night I watched a documentary about the Great Flood of 1953. At the end of January a terrible storm hit the British Isles, the Netherlands and Belgium. One of the first casualties was a ferry, the MV Princess Victoria, that sunk just east of Belfast; 135 passengers drowned. Many fishing trawlers also sunk. The storm then travelled down the North Sea creating a massive tidal surge hitting the east coast of England - Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. On Canvey Island in Essex many people were living in post war prefabs - flimsy wooden bungalows. The storm surge hit them at night, they had no warning and many lives were lost as the sea swept in. Even if they managed to climb onto the roof of their homes many succumbed to exposure before they could be rescued. In total 307 people died on the east coast, 1,836 in the Netherlands.
This storm happened just three years before I was born but I had no knowledge of this terrible event until I saw the documentary. The footage was both chilling and poignant as survivors and witnesses to this flood recounted their experiences.
Love the snowdrops - not something we see here. The photo of the bank looks very spring-like.
ReplyDeleteI've heard of the great flood and seen the odd snippet of film about it. It must have been terrifying to be caught up in such a disaster.
There seems to be more snowdrops than usual this year.
DeleteThe weather can be fierce. I had not heard of the 1953 flood. Your snowdrops are beautiful. I planted some last Fall and am waiting to see if they will grow on my property. A Northeaster is predicted for Massachusetts bringing 8-12 inches of snow with high winds. In 1978 around this time, a Northeaster hit and crippled the area for a week. February weather can be unpredictable.
ReplyDeleteFebruary can bring some very wintry weather. Mild and damp has been forecast for the rest of the week here.
DeleteCute little Mouse. I do like them, as long as they stay outdoors.
ReplyDeleteI think mice are cute but only outside in the garden.
DeleteI was channel hopping and saw a snippet of the flood programme, but decided I didn't want to hear about people drowning!
ReplyDeleteThe documentary was very well done but yes, it was a sad and tragic event.
DeleteSweet little bunny...We had our own 1953 tragedy...tornado almost wiped out our town...I was two.
ReplyDeletehugs
Donna
Mouse!
DeleteI think if you lived in Norfolk you would have heard of it. It is remembered every year here and my mother often talked about that night.
ReplyDeleteIt was a terrible night, I knew you would have heard about it.
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