Last Nights flooding

Glad you were spared! *1 inch*, aye?

Lighter side of flood story:
When: Winter 1968-69 - 3rd week of January - Prime harvest season for Oranges - Father's Birthday
Where: Lower Foothills of San Joaquin Valley, California, USA
Who: Father - Fire Chief
What: Rain, rain, rain and the usual Emergency phone call interrupting holiday/celebration.

As usual, the damn phone rang while we're celebrating; An Orange packing house (one of several in community - each facility is at least the size of a football pitch) was on fire. It was next to an Elementary School. Out the door he went.

No matter that it kept raining, the fire wouldn't go out, nor would others caused by electrical shorts or fiery embers catching hold at nearby residences or buildings.

3 days later, he hadn't been home or, for that matter... slept... since. Mom looked worried. After all, his own Father had been in an explosion - Pop pulled him out and took him to the hospital. 95% burns. Took him 3 days to die. Never met the man, though at least 100 people have told me he was the nicest man they ever knew.

(No need for a heavy heart - that was his fate and his legacy.)

One electrical fire across town (and much closer to home) had been going for a while and my Pop was on an Aluminum boat with gas generator rigged up from the fire station and another on the boat - single-handedly pumping 2 hoses of floodwaters at the store with high hopes of...

A) Putting out the fire
B) Keeping Gas Pumps and Storage tanks at said store from blowing up
C) Preventing ammunition sold at the store from getting hot... Oh, and there was lots of ammunition sold there. Cases of ammo. Unpacked Cases.
D) All the while, maintaining position on a boat while double-barreling fire hoses at full throttle.

At a few minutes past 7:30 on that third day, one of 2 noises of my childhood woke me up. Bein' deaf as a doornail and all, it took a hell of a noise to do that. One noise was a lightning bolt in the front yard - hit a Birch tree 3 yards from my bedroom window. This one shook the house, though. I was bolt upright and opened my door pronto, and my Mom went flying down the hall right quick pronto. First and last time I ever saw her run. Fear was on her face.

While she called the Fire station, which itself had waterline come *1 inch* from it's front door, many bullets whistled past him - some pelted the boat, which didn't allay his concerns at all. (he described it as being one close call after another - moreso than his experience in Korea or Okinawa).

Obviously, he lived to tell about it, and laugh about it. He makes wonderful sounds when imitating bullets whizzing *1 inch* past his ears, so close, he felt the breeze.

In the end, what didn't kill him only made him stronger.

Stay strong.

 

i'll take all the abuse i can get just to get near running water!

 

are you using chip fat for hair gel? when was the last time u wash your hair?

 

cheeky scouser

i guess you were the guy trying to sell bottled water for £15 a time yesterday morning!

 

Finally managed to get into Tewkesbury today. Water's gone down in the Town but still only one access road open. We did indeed miss getting flooded by an inch!

On the way down the M5 just past Strensham Services you cross the Avon flood plane. There are boats beached high and dry in fields a hundred yards from the river.

There is also a caravan stuck in a tree on the side of the Avon. Must have floated away down the river, hopefully with no occupants. Amazing scenes.

R

 

MMM Be seeing those cars for sale on Ebay soon Ill warrant


Cheers

Tom

 

does paintsheild protect against water damage?

 

Err How can I best put this NO

I think that would be outside our warranty

Cheers


Tom

 

Sun is out here.

 

Same over here supposed to be at Silverstone for the Porker Classic Show Friday Sat and Sunday (fancy joining me Rob now you are into Porkers)? No way I am parking Tango on the Grass at Silverstone if its like this Not being towed out again (been there done that at Silverstone NOT fun)


Cheers


Tom

 

busy making room in the garage for the new Cayman?

 

You can go right off some people

Cheers

Tom

 

can't help living in Sunny Southport

 

Its stopped raining and the sun is nearly out!!
Time to fire up the Fezza!

 

Very flooded in Glos, we're OK in Cheltenham. Although have no water.

Went out and bought a water butt today. Plumbed it in to the downpipe on my garage and it's been sunny ever since!

I really need the rain now so I can flush the bog!!

 

Never rains but it shines

 

My heart goes out to all who have been caught up in this. They have lost such alot.

I remember waking up that morning and thinking blimey what time is it!!! and having to check the clock 5 times!

I was sat in my office when it started belting it down, I officially gave up smoking that day
Our office grounds flooded and the underground carpark was shut down due to the flooding starting in there :| thank god I have parking on the ground floor which didnt flood

Mr A.

 

Ha! Classic!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5WzfEuTXSo

Rob