Heavenly Beverley : The Great Flood Is Upon Us.

Thursday 9 February 2017

The Great Flood Is Upon Us.

Having an outdoor kitchen usually works well in Heavenly Beverley during February. The rainfall average is a thimbleful, which usually is linked to a thunderstorm at the end of a very hot day. The first week or so had been rather mild with the highest temperature a relatively cool 35 degrees. This was a tad disconcerting.

I had felt that we were really getting into the swing of the Residence, having created an L-shaped space outside the back door to wash-up, thus giving us more bench space inside. The previous days of rain at the end of January had been irksome. We had been taken by surprise by that downpour and resolved to be better prepared if the rain returned before autumn. After all, February and March in Beverley are hot and dry.

So naturally, we've spent the last few days preparing for a tempest. Some inexplicable mid-level disturbance or cloud streaming down from one of those pesky tropical lows had resulted in the forecasting of a quarter of our yearly rainfall in a couple of days. Now that was a slight cause for concern.

I have reorganised our tiny kitchen nook and living space to make room for the washing basins and the drainer. I have stacked our outdoor chairs and brought the daggy cushions inside. Vanessa has retreated to the Gallery for privacy, sleeping and to give Michael and me space at night.

Yesterday Michael and I wandered down to the river with the dogs. We had been told that the flood gates at Yenyening Lakes had been opened to allow more water into the Avon River. So we went to have a look. Ye Gods, what a spectacle.

The Avon River in Beverley dries up completely on the northern side of the road bridge during summer. One can perform a Jesus impersonation on a dry river bed for fun. The southern side of the bridge is a permanent pool which becomes rather stinky during the summer months. This stretch of water is known as Smelly Alley and with good reason. Having visited the river yesterday, before the latest rain, convinced me that the river will be unlikely to dry up again this summer.

We have lived here for over 6 years. Our first winter was relatively mild (only 2 days of frost) and the river rose accordingly. However, nothing prepared us for the surging waters of a normally placid and often dry Avon River when we went for our walk last evening.

The Avon River in Beverley was producing swirling rapids. Islands that were visible all year round had become submerged. There was absolutely no smell. And the river was actually noisy. Lying in bed at Brooking Street, we had sometimes been able to hear the river during the depths of a decent wet winter. Now the river was a moving living being and with higher water than we'd ever seen.

As predicted, the rain began during the night. Today has been cool and rainy with heavy showers at times. I have been forced to layer up, which I haven't done for 3 months. I do not expect to be wearing three layers of clothes in February. That isn't supposed to happen.

Tomorrow is supposed to be warmer. That will be very pleasant. And when the rain stops, I will be setting up my outdoor kitchen faster than you can say Jack Robinson.