Today was, I think, nearly as alarming as anything I have experienced. We set off, post-Covid, for a weekend in rural mid-Wales. The only problem was that somewhere near Stockton-on-Teme, we discovered that the Teme had burst its banks. The road was a lake and clearly impassable. So, we diverted North to Cleobury Mortimer. Everything was fine until we got to Leintwardine where we discovered the roads were impassable. Lots of people were assembled to give conflicting advice, most of which was that there were no roads open to the north or west, all were under deep and impassable water. Then, a district nurse told us there might be a way through by heading north by way of Bedstone and Bucknell on minor roads.

The only problem was that I took a wrong turning. We found ourselves submerged in a sea of water with a mini coming in the opposite direction stuck in the flood. We tried to back out and got stuck ourselves. It looked like that would be where we would spend the night. Then, an unbelievably helpful person appeared in wellington boots, so practical, took charge, hitched our car to the van behind and hauled us out.

But far worse was driving west of Knighton down long dark roads which were under deep, nearly impassable water: no way of knowing how deep, no hope of being rescued if we got stuck, it was growing dark. Not nice.