Tuesday 23 January 2018

Meuse flood at Consenvoye

Another grey day - but with the temperature a slightly warmer 09C and, for once, no wind we took a drive over the ridge of the Meuse Heights to Consenvoye.  As we came out of the forest at the top, we could see in the distance more water than usual.





We went down to where the Canal Est and the river Meuse join and fields that usually hold contented, grazing cows were flooded in all directions. Those fields, already water-logged were completely filled with flood water for miles.  But at least the flood plains had been left for that purpose - and not built on!




A splash of brightness from catkins


The owners of these weekend and holiday caravans must be heaving a sigh o relief!





We then drove to Sivry alongside the flooded fields to the cut in the canal where the water was higher than usual but contained while, across the boundary, the river told its own story.







On the soggy ground at the back of a small farm a goose paddled through the mud, while pygmy goats chose the wet grass at the front of the building.






The whole area has had so much rain this winter which is not over yet with more rain forecast.

On our return around midday the sun did break through fitfully but soon disappeared behind the seemingly never-ending grey clouds.  However there is hope - catkins in many places are a welcome sight as are the few daffodils starting to show in our little strip of garden and at least we don’t have the worry of earthquakes, tsunami warnings, mud slides, avalanches, forest fires and all the other dire things around the world in a turmoil of climate change or the upheaval of man-made disasters. We count our blessings.

Daffodils growing on a bed of snails!

Sunday 14 January 2018

Sunny Sunday.

After many grey, cold, wet and windy days it was lovely to see the sun today and also that the wind had dropped.

There were still signs of frost and only 0C - 01C temperatures this morning but that reached the giddy heights of 02C by midday!

We drove through the bright countryside to Les Ballastières at Dulcon where there was evidence of flooding of the River Meuse which, although it had receded a little, was still flowing very quickly and lapping into and extending some of the puddles;  lakes there had overflowed as well.






We think the river in flood deposited this tree trunk before receding.

This large puddle stretched across the road.
The church on high at Dun-sur-Meuse faces Dulcon, the River Meuse and surrounding countryside.



Daffodils and tulips ready for spring.


Well away from the river, hang-gliders in action.


Glad we were able to enjoy some of the sunshine as the forecast for the coming days is a return to wet and windy conditions…and I'll be back to being housebound again!

Friday 5 January 2018

First impressions

We visited family and friends in England for the Christmas/New Year period…

What a first impression!
















How sad to see this rubbish-strewn lay-by - no cleaning, no care!  Of course there shouldn’t be a need for that if only people were more conscious!  I always feel that if you can transport a full container then why not an empty one?  But obviously a regularly-emptied bin or bins is necessary here and in the many other lay-byes we saw. Such a contrast to France where lay-byes and picnic areas are provided with sufficient bins which are regularly emptied and the areas kept clean.

We stopped for one night in Folkestone, two nights in Essex where we were able to briefly catch up with many old friends then on to Norfolk - our main stay in a lovely house in beautiful grounds where we stayed with family there for the first time and saw many other friends…

Winter trees in Essex.

Amid the wintry trees
birds remain unseen
but their glorious melodies
brighten up the scene.
Winter trees in Norfolk.

































...with just one night staying with other friends in their new surroundings on the Norfolk Broads…




Views from our lodge windows...




Friends feeding herons from their window.












…and the next day a brief visit to a friend on the Suffolk coast and to see him working in his new art gallery.

On the whole, journeys were good - apart from jammed queues for the Dartford Crossing which we were forced to sail past to the route into south London then to east London and Essex via the Blackwall Tunnel.

There was a mix of weather - snow, sleet, rain, dry but cloudy days but some sunshine.

We stopped for one night in Calais before returning home the following day…a total of 2,100 kilometers (1,304.88 miles) - didn’t my 82-year-old husband do well...!!  I rarely drive these days thanks to medication but doubt I would want to drive on Britain's very busy roads anyway!

We were sorry not to be able to see everybody we would have liked to but it was lovely to see so many - all of whom cosseted us and we felt very spoilt and loved which is not a bad start to the new year.