Hooray Hall - Adventures of a Handyman Part 2

[Handyman]

Re: Hooray Hall. Adventures of a Handyman pt2

Hi all, as I said on anything goes. You wouldn't think the storms had happened. The only evidence is the large amounts of gravel and stone scattered across some of the roads where the water settled.

The total number of homes damaged in our little town must exceed several hundred. We are on the Devon, Somerset, Dorset border so we were around 30 miles from the epicentre.

My heart goes out to all the homes with piles of sodden carpet and underlay outside waiting for the council to come and assist with the clear up.

The truth of the matter is that if Dorset County Council were not cost cutting on the Highways budget a lot of the flooding would not happen.

We have all on getting them to cut the hedges and verges. (In fact I do our junction with the main road) This is a hazard as when you are trying to pull out onto the road your view is obstructed by waist high grass. The speed of cars coming around our stretch of road is around 50-60 mph so you only get around 50yds warning.

On the way into town this afternoon we stopped to help a chap who was trying to get a fallen tree off the road.


He had called the Police to tell them of the obstruction. The response was if you have a 4X4 can you move it for us as yesterday was busy and we are having the day off.

We were the first car in 1/2 an hour to stop and help. Christo helped the chap fix the rope while a passing cyclist and myself did traffic control and got the queue of traffic moving again.

One Land Rover pulling a trailer load of Hay Bales stopped as it passed me. I didn't recognise the driver at first until he said are you dryer today Handy. It was Aidie the Farmer who did an 8 mile round trip to with his tractor to rescue Christo and his girlfriend yesterday.

More and more I think folk are beginning to realise that in this day and age when disaster strikes the only people you can rely on are yourselves and good neighbours.

Regards all, Handy

[Handyman]

Re: Hooray Hall. Adventures of a Handyman pt2

Brilliant Clever, I had forgotten that one of Stanley Holloway's
This is my favourite.



Of course we will be in a minority as only people who remember proper Music Hall and the Home service are likely to remember folk like Stanley.

Mrs Handy does a good monologue in the style of Joyce Grenfell



Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Could I also point out that there are none of us that are as old as we sound Just that we had an old fashioned upbringing (dragged up )

Regards all, Handy

[CleverClogs (RIP)]

Re: Hooray Hall. Adventures of a Handyman pt2

I wonder if the drains in the Olympic Stadium will be sufficient.

If they're not, the track events should be interesting.

[Spent2much]

Re: Hooray Hall. Adventures of a Handyman pt2

It shouldn't take too long as he need his car for work. A courtesy car will be with him by Monday and he has the use of it for a couple of weeks. I suppose a lot depends on how many other cars they have to inspect. If the worst comes to the worst I have my old one which I'm trying to sell that he can use for a while to get him out of the hole.

As to being an AAD adict, Great Int it

yer it sure is great here

[CleverClogs (RIP)]

Re: Hooray Hall. Adventures of a Handyman pt2

[Handyman]

Re: Hooray Hall. Adventures of a Handyman pt2

OOps must say I have just heard from Kid Sis, I was worried because she lives in a Caravan (Big One) on the side of the Trent. She say's water levels are high but now sign of problems yet.

So fingers, legs and eyes crossed that they will be OK

[Handyman]

Re: Hooray Hall. Adventures of a Handyman pt2

It shouldn't take too long as he need his car for work. A courtesy car will be with him by Monday and he has the use of it for a couple of weeks. I suppose a lot depends on how many other cars they have to inspect. If the worst comes to the worst I have my old one which I'm trying to sell that he can use for a while to get him out of the hole.

As to being an AAD adict, Great Int it

[Spent2much]

Re: Hooray Hall. Adventures of a Handyman pt2

that looks really bad, hope the insurance replace your son's car quickly.
I know its a bad situation but you make me laugh everytime i read your posts , its so great this forum with such lovely people . so pleased i was directed her i have become and addict in just seven days

[Handyman]

Re: Hooray Hall. Adventures of a Handyman pt2

This was Hooray Valley this morning.




I was smiling to myself because recently Sir Tarquin Fod Scrotum has ploughed up this field which was ancient pasture land and planted it with Maize. The reason for it being left as pasture is it is a flood plain protecting our local town. Now all it's fit for is Rice.

Son Christo-Fire has been down for a couple of days to see his Mum.
He set of this morning to head back to his circus Job in Norwich.

About an hour after he left he phoned to say that he couldn't get to a main road because of the flooding. 1/2 an hour after that he called again to say his car had sunk.

Mrs Handy called the Fire Brigade who had to call in a specialist team from over 40 mile away as all the local lads were on other calls.

I set off to see if I could help. About a mile from the hall I had to get out and wade. I met a chap who was trying to pump his house out. Seeing as his house is on the top of a hill, but the water was coming from a dip in the road outside his house, will let you get an idea of how bad it was.



The picture doesn't do justice to how bad it was. The farm next door had 3 feet of water flowing through the barn. A cow and Calf had been swept away and the 30+ 6 week old calves were standing on bails of hay to keep out of the water. A workshop and two other houses were also flooded.

As I arrived at where the river goes under the road 2 fireman were beginning to wade across as they couldn't get any further even with their 4X4. The current across the road was incredible.

As I stood talking to the other crewman the tarmac under our feet began to blister and pop with the force of water undermining the road.

Soon after a chap with an American Hummer came past and attempted the crossing. He later picked up the firemen and took them through another 2 floods to get to Christo.




Meanwhile I was helping the Farmer look for the missing calf without success.

He then went with his tractor to get Chris and Alice.

After we got home and dried out, we tried to get into town for supplies, well I had run out of Fags and Scotch.

On the second attempt we waded it to Wetrose.


I thought you may think this picture amusing, look at the road name.

We haven't got Christo's car back yet. A phone call to his insurance and they have written his car off without even looking at it.

Who said they need an Ark.

We are all doomed, doomed I tell you

Regards all, Handy

[CleverClogs (RIP)]

Re: Hooray Hall. Adventures of a Handyman pt2

Oh how I like a trim bush

Has Lady Hooray had her bush trimmed?

Only kidding, but what does a Handyman have to do to get a break.

Trip over his rake.

[Handyman]

Re: Hooray Hall. Adventures of a Handyman pt2

Hi all. Well a day and a half of sunshine make all the difference. Mind you Lady Hooray thinks I should be going flat out now to repair all the weather damage. The garden is looking pretty flat and overgrown. The marvellous display of Roses we were having have all been dashed by the wind and rain. It wouldn't be so bad as I have hardly lost any time. When it was too wet to work out doors I was repairing tumble dryers, fixing sticking window frames and servicing all the mowing equipment. Oh and clipping the coats of both her terriers.

Listen to my voice on the video and you will know how peed of I was, a day and a half plastered in mud and soaked to the skin.


As soon as the sun came out it was shrub and hedge cutting.

Oh how I like a trim bush

Before.

After.

Before.

2 Hours later.

Though moving all the clippings did take me all morning.
The I got, you will get my lawn cut this afternoon, as it's looking a little woolly You have got it she has visitors this weekend. As if their Gardeners haven't had the same problems with the weather as me. As it Happens despite the weather the formal lawn hasn't missed one cut this year and often has been done twice.

I kid you not, with Mrs Handy overdoing it now her stitches are out, her state of mind and the crap I get off the boss I am getting really fed up. Life should be better than this.

I have worked hard to earn a breakdown, I deserve it amd no one is going to stop me

Only kidding, but what does a Handyman have to do to get a break.

More mowing to do tomorrow if it stays dry.

Regards all, Handy

[Handyman]

Re: Hooray Hall. Adventures of a Handyman pt2

I used to like Paul Samples Ogri cartoon in MCN each week.
That was in the day's when I was a Hairy Biker that must have been @ 1/2 a century ago.

Not sure I need any illustration, I am what it says on the tin.
Regards all, Handy

[CleverClogs (RIP)]

Re: Hooray Hall. Adventures of a Handyman pt2

I'm still waiting for these tales in a book,
I'll even buy it in hard back mate

With illustrations by Paul Sample? (link)

[Pixie]

Re: Hooray Hall. Adventures of a Handyman pt2

I agree with you there Numpty - Handy's tales would make a fantastic book.

[Numpty Monkey]

Re: Hooray Hall. Adventures of a Handyman pt2

Makes no wonder lady h moans at you if thats the only bit of garden you have to mow, and bit of hedge

I'm still waiting for these tales in a book,
I'll even buy it in hard back mate