To feel that the South West has been abandoned (long and ranty)

[zeezeek]

My family still live in Cornwall and they have been completely battered by the wind and the rain for weeks now. Last night they had to be evacuated from their house. The main train line down to Cornwall (in fact also half of Devon) is completely destroyed and a lot of prime agricultural land in Somerset is under water.

People are losing their livelihoods and they have been lucky that there have been no loss of life. In a region where there is already high unemployment - the impact on the farming, fishing and tourist industries will just make the situation worse. Freight trains can no longer get down past Exeter.

The EA are effectively blaming the poor buggers who are affected by this and seemingly forgetting that people and homes are also affected. The government doesn't give a shit and the Environment minister didn't even bother taking a pair of wellington boots with him on his photo opp visit. Our future King made silly comments about how a disaster beings people together while his waste of space daughter in law spends taxpayers money jetting off to the Caribbean. Comments in sensible, intelligent newspapers are also blaming people for daring to live on a flood plain (which has never flooded to this extent) and by the sea.

I know that I am BU, but tonight - when my parents are still not allowed home and my brother has had his fishing boat sunk - I am feeling very, very pissed off with the media who seems to be making such a big deal out of a 2 day tube strike - there are buses.

Sorry, but needed to vent. Have nothing against Londoners - I lived there for years.

I am sorry though for making things worse for you metebelis.

Border I usually travel on the paddington line, because, you know, Heathrow - but I'm going on the Waterloo line tomorrow, apart from the extra time, it will actually be more convenient for me since I'm attending a thing somewhere on the strand. :) I've been told that paddington trains are running too though...

I think that generally speaking the services from st David's do what they say on the tin, they aren't designed to be very good in the first place so the bar is so low they can usually clear it. We are all used to journey times significantly longer than a similar trip in the midlands or up north would take, and higher fares.

I am now however all worried about this snow threat and I maintain that going into other threads and telling people who live in the SW to look at scaremongering isn't very helpful.

If you live in the SW then you dont need to be worried about snow in general.
I am not scaremongering, I only post things that I am pretty confident about, I state where I am not so confident. I have a reasonable track record in accuracy.

I am truly grateful to OYBBK for her forecasts. I would far rather have an idea of what may be coming & be able to plan accordingly.

magi she has her own thread does she not? I'm sure it's lovely if you do have self determination but sadly I have no choice but to attempt to get to London tomorrow and back again on Friday and being told there might be super bad storms doesn't get me a free pass from work. :( I wish it did!

How can you blame OYBBK for predicting the weather Metebelis, it's not scaremongering, it's a factual prediction.

Mete - Wouldn't you rather know the possibilities & have a contingency plan than just live in hope?

And as this thread is about the weather I don't think it is at all unreasonable to post a forecast.

Why did you look at the forecast Metebelis3?

Actually this thread is about the consequences of the weather. And the attitudes towards the consequences. And I think it's a bit much someone telling people to go and read a scaremongering post in a completely different thread. But I guess if it doesn't affect you, it's entertainment isn't it. :( Honey I wish I hadn't read her post but once I'd read the comment about people in the SW should read her prediction and how concerned she was, the damage was done. Obviously I'm in a minority here though.

I'm happy enough to read the predictions - know when things are likely to go pear shaped. We're meant to be getting our roof fixed (water is pouring through), scaffolding is up but I can't see any work being done this week. :sigh:

Eh? Why is OYBBK getting flak? There are a surprising number of people who rely on her forecasts far more than any other in this country? Scaremongering is absolutely not the same as "being prepared for". Would you rather remain in total ignorance and then be caught out? Scaremongering is the Express.

I think you were rather impolite actually

Perhaps we should implement Code Ostrich?

Like they do with the football results?

Those who want to pretend things are going to be alright, look away NOW!

Those who might want to be a bit prepared, here's some useful advice.

I, for one, am always extremely pleased to have OYBBK's predictions , and whenever I'm flying into the UK in winter, members of my family who have never heard of MN will ring and say "see what that kitten woman has to say!"

Thank you Hester and WGC

I feel so emotional about this whole situation, people do not realise we just do not have local support hell even our local MP is doing more to bring n yet more supermarkets -job lure in area of low unemployment - yet nothing, nothing for our fishermen and farmers is being spoken of.

So. Feeling positive. A few PMs have come my way asking about buying local. Dashing on a lunch break so forgive if links are defunct, but here is a little bit of of Cornish you can buy anywhere. Stocked in Waitrose et all, but all do mail order:

The Cornish food box company
Www.thecornishfoodbox.co.uk
Support local farmers and growers, only sell Cornish
Mail order and deliveries available

Cornish sea salt
Stocked by Tescos, Waitrose and co-OP
Light flaky and similar to Maldon but a mixer sweeter taste

Seasalt
Makers of fine outdoor clothing, lovely warm socks and cute kiddie clothes

Origins coffee
Possibly the best coffee in the world
Owner grown on a small plantation and roasted here in the duchy

Boddingtons
Jams. Quite possibly the only strawb jam to have with a cream tea

crantock pasties
Mail order by the crate

warrens butchers, launceston
Supporting the many local small farmers who farm remote places, always good quality, especially beef
Mail order

callestick farm and Kelly's ice cream
Proper Cornish, proper job

Roddas
Clotted cream
All own brand clotted creams are made by this family business and repackaged

Trewithen
Delicious dairy, cheese, cream

Davidstow cheddar
The real stuff from moorland cows

Finisterre
Swanky all weather surf and outdoor clothing

I'm very grateful to OYBBK. I work outdoors and have livestock and would far rather know what might be heading my way than not.I've followed her predictions for years and know that she doesn't dramatise things,but states facts calmly and clearly.If there is any doubt,she says so.

Keep up the good work OYBBK! It isn't your fault the weather is shit.

Haven't read the latest messages but gather OYBKK is getting flak? Can I just add my support and thanks for her accurate forecasts.

And as she points out she always tells us just how confident she is or isn't about what weather is coming our way!

Hands off our brilliant Kitten!!

It isn't your fault the weather is shit. I love this post!

kitchenfairy to my everlasting shame I have only just discovered the local butchers. He uses local farms and his meat is a fraction of the price at Tesco's. The greengrocer's in the high street is the same - loads of choice, cheaper than the supermarket. And yet these bloody things keep being foisted on us. We had one of the biggies open in November, when we already had two out of towns, three in-town Co Ops, one Tesco Express and a Lidl (bet you can't guess where I live :) )

Kelly's Ice Cream is bloody lush.

I only eat Kelly's

Thank you for our support everyone :)

It's really clear the strain that this weather is putting people under - I've seen some of the flooding with my own eyes - property flooded by river water with levels still rising, desperately pumping it out and can't imagine the strain people are living under and so I'm not surprised that people are getting very emotional. A leaky roof is testing my patience and thats nothing in comparison.

But, even though I feel upset that my thread is adding to some peoples anguish I still hope that I've been able to help people - thats the sole purpose of the warnings thread - I dont do it because its fun or entertaining or because I enjoy upsetting people but because forewarned is forearmed.

I've never heard of origins coffee - didnt know you could grow it in this country - I'm absolutely going to look that one up!

There's Cornish tea too, you know. Tregothnan Estate.

Cool :) I shall look that up too!

Roskillys icecream is better than Kelly's

I'm just that Kelly's stopped doing coffee ice cream. Do you know how difficult it is to find coffe ice cream these days?

You forgot about Healeys too

Camel valley wine

Betty Stoggs
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