A little smile for today :o)

Results of the "Celebrate Summer" competition were in December's "Patchwork & Quilting magazine. I was delighted that our regular newsagent has managed to re-open his shop!

Mind you the title of my quilt seems strangely inappropiate this week!
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The Emergency vehicles have nearly all gone from the Cumbria Fire HQ . Many other vehicles are now appearing on Main Street and Station Street mainly dealing with Gas, Water and Electricity supplies. There are also a lot more TV and media people about complete with cameras and film crews.

We had our first wander into Main Street where work has already begun. Sodden goods were being removed and broken windows boarded up. The road and pavements had obviously been given their first clean but oozing out of the doorways was river silt that had been deposited by the floods. This had obviously been contaminated and was a bit smelly.

We heard some sad stories of flooded homes and the ensuing problems of relocating, but also bits of good news . One bank affected is already operating from a sort of mobile cabin sort of structure. Ten businesses have moved into the empty Job Shop and now have shop signs and proper lighting too. One of the evacuation centres is overflowing with clothes and toiletries that have been donated . Doctor's surgeries have relocated to the Cottage Hospital and a Volunteer Centre has opened at Christ Church. This will be operating almost nonstop food and hot drinks for the emergency workers as well as co-ordinating anything else that will help people to sort out their accomodation.

Even the postman managed to deliver letters today!

There was quite a busy buzz to the place today which was a good feeling.