We’ve been off air for a while. There was dry rot or something in the blogging software, so we had to sit on our hands, and keep our thoughts to ourselves.
But we’re back now, or at least I am, and I thought I would rekindle the embers of our virtual relationship by telling you about the floods.
Notwithstanding the fact that I live on top of the North Downs, the road into our village is frequently flooded to a considerable depth. There is a dip between some fields that slope towards the road, and after heavy rain, it’s like living on the shores of the Ganges. And so it was last week. Several feet of water, floating logs, and water buffalo.
It doesn’t bother me; I drive a Range Rover, so three feet of water is but a mere puddle. But I get just as stranded, just as cut off from the outside world as if I were in a G-Whiz, and all because of the muppets who drive right up to the water before they notice it’s there. Then instead of simply turning round, they get out of their cars and huddle in perplexed groups like the tribe of Israel contemplating the Red Sea. Usually there’s one in wellies who will wade in up to his ankles and proclaim the water wet. Meanwhile, the road is utterly blocked, supplies are cut off, and the Red Cross is mustered.
It happens at least once a month, yet to most of our doddering village motorists it always comes as a surprise, and they are no better equipped to deal with it now than they were when De Dion first met Bouton.
I dare say that many of those who arrive at the water’s edge have been guided there by sat nav devices. As you know, the majority of sat nav users have lost the ability to make decisions of their own and this explains the behaviour you’ve observed.
Autonut | 28 Nov 08 - 14:20Similar problems due to snowfall always seem to elicit the same shock-horror-disbelief reaction from the vast majority of motorists in the UK.
Their European/Scandinavian counterparts, who experience considerably worse conditions at greater frequency, are far better prepared and equipped to handle such events.
AlfaMartini | 10 Dec 08 - 8:16