Flooding in Gloucestershire

Simonthepilgrim

You prayers and good thoughts are welcomed by those of us who are affected by the disastrous floods. We are about to lose our water supply, which will mean over 500,000 people without clean water, and our electricity may go off at any moment.

federica

Simon, are you OK, both in yourself, and medically?
has your town/home been hit?

How are you coping, is there anything I can do?

Simonthepilgrim

Blessings for your kindness, Fede.

We have been lucky. We still have electricity and wster, although pressure reduced. We have three families from Gloucester living with us for the moment: they have lost everything. It's a bit crowded but we're managing.

Palzang

Well, keep your head up (literally)! I hope the rains cease soon. We could use a little of it out this way if you can do some mo-jo and send it here!

Palzang

Brigid

Sending my prayers!! How awful! Simon, please take care and know that I'm thinking of you and all who are affected.

Palzang

Actually all of Europe is getting hammered this week. Extreme heat in Southern Europe has killed a number of people and made life miserable for the rest. The rains in Southern Texas (not in Europe) are unrelenting and causing widespread flooding and disruption.

It's the end of the world as we know it....

Palzang

mouthfulofclay

Yes, we are flooding like crazy in Texas, but it's better than record-breaking heat again this summer, so I'm not complaining.

bushinoki

mfoc, I don't know what I'd prefer, the flooding or the record breaking heat, and the part of Cali I'm from is subject to both. At least all you have to do to get away from the heat is turn on the AC and stay inside, though that was never my way (122, bah, I'm taking a walk)

Simonthepilgrim

This may give you some idea of what we are facing:

ZopaTenzing

Simon,

Keep you sense of humor and head above water. Just think of all the money people spend on vacations to Venice - you have it at home!

Seriously, best wishes, hopes and prayers to keep you and your family and friends safe.

Palzang

Yeah, what's the problem? A little boating excursion out past the cathedral - just because it's down a street rather than a stream, so what? We're actually getting a bunch of rain here, believe it or don't, with some (minor) flooding. Must be the season...

Palzang

Simonthepilgrim

Thank you to all those who have offered help, prayers, good thoughts and kind words. The 'refugees' have gone to stay with their families elsewhere and the house seems very empty again. We had some good times, although the children were very scared each time the rain lashed down and the wind shook the house. In the evenings, I cooked for us all - great fun! Reminded me of being back at archaeology camps. Then we settled down in my study, all ten of us sometimes, for story-telling or a few songs or just some 'quiet time'. The kids seemed to take to 'quiet time' as all kids seem to do.

Now I have lots of laundry. Only one child so traumatised that they wet the bed but I had the foresight to put on mattress covers!

One of the women is a sex-worker who had some hilarious stories of what she now says will have to be 'street swimming'.

All the time, I was reminded of the words of Longchenpa:
Since everything is but an apparition, having nothing to do with good or bad, acceptance or rejection, one may as well burst out laughing

Brigid

That's a great quotation!! I'm printing that and putting it up where I can see it everyday!

Thanks, Simon.

I hope you're not too lonely now they've gone. And I hope the rains have receded!

Simonthepilgrim

Thanks for asking, Boo. Glad you like the quote. Longchenpa is definitely up there in my favourite top ten.

As for lonely. No. The return of peace and quiet is wonderful, too. We are hearing forecasts of more rain unfortunately so we are still on flood alert. Drinking water is becoming a growing problem. Some people are stockpiling at the expense of others. There is some looting but most of the possessions are ruined anyway.

Some of us are making sure that our local animal shelter, which now has no running water, is getting supplies.

It is worth bearing in mind that we have been used to a very moderate climate so that extreme events like this have not been experienced for over 200 years. People panic and there is a lot of psychological damage to comfort and help with.

Palzang

Yeah, great quote, Simon. Reminds me of the "archaic smile" you see on Etruscan art. It is really all a big, cosmic joke!

Speaking of animal shelters, the CD that my teacher put out with the "Prayer to be reborn in Dewachen" is designed to be played for those who are dying or, in the case of animals, are scheduled to be euthanized. We're distributing them free to animal shelters and hospices here. If you'd like to supply some to places near you (maybe after things dry up!), you can get them at www.palyulproductions.org. Just a thought. You can download it free or order CDs for just the cost of shipping and handling.

Hope the sun comes out soon!

Palzang

Brigid

The government should be handing out those tablets that make water drinkable, the kind you use for camping. I wonder how contaminated the rain water is, or if that's even being measured, because it doesn't take much to put together a natural filtration system. You have to have clean water to drink. I hope the famous pragmatism of the English kicks in soon and people stop panicking. Possessions are one thing but survival is another. (How's that for stating the obvious? lol!) Sending prayers, Simon. Keep us posted on how you're doing.