~*~Helen High Water~*~

So much has happened in the last 2 weeks

Verity and I went off to Pelion in Greece,we stayed in Milina,a beautiful, small , unspoilt village on the peninsula.This is the 4th year we have returned.The people are so friendly and always remember us ,the food is delicious ,fresh and using locally grown produce, the weather was boiling,over 40 C .

Alex and Calum had stayed at home this time ( it is too quiet for teenage boys !!) , to look after things.Thank goodness!! . I phoned home on the Monday evening , to be told that there had been a freak , flash, flood during a torrential downpour and that the ground floor of our house was under water.

The boys called in reinforcements and coped brilliantly , moving furniture etc., building a dam at the garden gate and mopping up .

Obviously, there was nothing Verity and I could do , I was certainly subdued for a while but after some reassuring calls home , we tried to enjoy the rest of our hols.

On the Wednesday afternoon , a bush fire broke out on the Pelion peninsular , the weather had been so dry ,no rain for 3 months , fanned by the breeze , it really took hold and the army etc had to be called in

We went on a cruise on the Thursday. We saw a school of wild dolpins very near the boat which was wonderful but we also watched fire boats scooping water from the sea to try and help put out the flames.When the boat dropped us off they went to help evacuate villages cut off by the fire.

Our trip to the airport for our flight home was horrendous, the roads were all closed so they tried to take us by boat,we were all loaded on ,with our luggage, and set out to sea , 10 mins into the trip ,the captain turned around , he realised the boat was overloaded and it was not safe to proceed . Back on dry land again ,we had to hang around till the roads reopened and then drive ,by minibus , through devastation.The beautiful Greek countryside had been raised to the ground.Homes, olive groves , vineyards and 100s of acres reduced to charcoal, it was heartbreaking.

The weekend ,when we got back home , was spent finishing off all the great work the boys had done.They had lifted the affected carpets and the house was almost dried out (helped a great deal by the Aga and various heaters ). Its in the hands of the insurance company now .

You may notice in some future photos , bare floors , the carpets , rugs etc are rolled up outside. and will be replaced in due course. You couldn't make it up,could you ??