Floods and political points

Last saturday morning we got a phone call; my partner's mother had water lapping at the back door.

Jo went around and when I finally surfaced and made an appearance I was met with circa 20 people rapidly filling sand bags as four houses had been flooded.

Everyone worked diligently and with humour and soon the houses were protected from the worst of the water.

During our efforts a local County Councillor (Lib Dem) came to have a look, and stopping for a chat it wasn't long before he was blaming the District Council (Conservative) for not having bought enough sandbags on cost grounds and there will be questions asked.

I could have scalped him with my spade (not because of any Tory sympathies!), here was a group of neighbours, from 5 years old to 85 years old, helping each other out, pitching in and the only contribution an elected representative can make is to try and score a cheap political point.

It is extraordinary how the country is being stoical and taking the floods with good humour yet certain quarters are trying to find a) someone to blame and b) tales of woe that are less than woeful.

On the first point, it's no-one's fault, it's weather, sure we may be guitly of leaving lights on, of taking a holiday by plane, but then everyone is guilty, apart from a few tree-huggers, so let it go and let's manage the situation.

On the second point, the the media have been very good at showing narrow shots of the flooding with earnest and deeply concerned reporters on river banks while crowds in the background are having a party - desperate to find a tragic tale one British Broadcaster took a family back to their flooded home to show them how crap everything was, naturally this was to much for and the 12 year daughter old was reduced to tears as was mother... thank you for that.

Yes it is bad but as the George Inn in Oxford has put it we are "Open for business - come hell or high water.''