You Never Know

Gold cherry

By skinner_jennifer

Mon, 24 Oct 2022
  • 4007 reads
29 comments
 

Dear diary...Friday 21st October 2022. I had no idea that when today started off, it would end so traumatically. We'd done the usual food shopping...same as always, got home and unpacked everything.

Me and my partner were due to have our flu jabs at 3.20pm and 3.40pm at one of the town's pharmacy's which was on a main road. The very thought of having another needle shoved in my arm after having my third covid jab was not at all appealing, even though I know it was for my own good...but hey ho! Needs must I suppose.

3pm came and who knew it would be raining cats and dogs? Well I suppose I did ask for it in a way, going out in the garden and doing a sort of slow meandering rain dance with my wooden Indian rattle back when there was a heatwave. I bought it in Glastonbury many years ago, it sounds just like the rain falling. But please weather gods...not all in one go was requested, thank you very much.

But enough of my complaining for the moment. We left the house about 3pm due to the fact it would be hard to find a parking space, as the streets nearby are residential parking only, and there are no car parks near by.

As expected we had to park fifteen minutes away, which was a nuisance as the sky blackened with dark clouds matching my mood that was building up. It was pouring with rain and we only had five minutes to get to the pharmacy.

Cutting through the park as it was quicker, we had to walk at a fast pace, being careful as it was so slippery with leaves and wet grass. Thankfully we made it in time, dodging all the deep puddles, but dripping wet.

Arriving at the chemist with the wind blowing quite strong by now, traffic was at its height as we walked in to a queue of people. My partner mentioned we were here to get our flu jabs.

One lady came in and said the pools of water were becoming ankle deep, then another lady came in looking like she'd just been drowned. A man rushing in behind her and said the water was getting worse, and we'd be lucky to get out the shop if the rain continued.

Removing our waterproof macs, the shop assistant handed us some forms to fill in, we were lucky enough to get chairs to sit down and write. I kept looking out the window finding it hard to concentrate as the rain got harder, traffic was horrendous, cars were going way too fast, racing through pools of water, there was a look of shock on my face, when I thought of the horror of getting my trainers soaked through. Of course my partner stayed as cool as a cucumber...calm as always, never giving away too much of what he was really thinking.

By the time my partner went in to have his jab, the rain was becoming unmercifully torrential, I was becoming even more worried, especially as the shop assistant took out her phone camera and started taking photos of the fast moving traffic stirring up deep pools of water.

The drains were getting blocked with leaves, five of them started to bubble up, yet still the traffic moved at a devastatingly fast rate. Rain was washing towards us in small tidal waves, drifting closer in the direction of the shop doorway.

Now I understood the reality of what it must feel like to live in fear of floods. I couldn't get over the fact we would somehow have to get back to the car.

Then! As my partner came out and just before I went in to get my jab, it happened, the water was coming in waves under the doorway. Buckets and mops came out. I felt this wasn't going to end well for the shop if the rain continued.

“Quick!” Said the assistant, “go in and get your jab before we have to close shop.”

The nurse who wasn't aware of how bad things were in the shop, as she was tucked away in a small office off to the side with no windows began asking me to repeat the information I'd given on my form, checking on her computer screen. I'd been in such an anxious state, I'd missed out a letter in my postcode, and given a wrong phone number, so it was good she asked me to repeat.

After having the jab, I said the nurse should see how bad the situation was. When she opened the door and saw the ladies with mops and buckets, and water covering the floor, with rain still coming down, she said we should hurry through the shop and out the back way.

Phew! What a relief! We raced around the counter at a quick pace, down a corridor and out the back door, where thankfully the pavements were clear. With rain still coming down, we didn't care that it would take a little longer to get back to the car.

The road where we parked was beginning to get flooded too. We saw a fire engine with lights flashing and sirens, wondering if the Pharmacy had called. Amazingly we got home in one piece.

But when we walked through the door, there were pools of water on the floor, so even though we were tired and just wanted to get out of our wet clothes, it was time to get towels down and dry the floor.

Hopefully this was a one off. I'm just glad it wasn't too bad, and the rain finally stopped. Well at least the wooden floor got a good clean, so that's one consolation...and I'm still here to record the experience.

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Comments

Submitted by airyfairy on

Oh Jenny, what a horrible experience! Just glad to hear that you and your partner are in one piece. Flash flooding can be completely devastating. Hope you haven't had any repeats. 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi airyfairy,

the shop assistant took pictures of the scene and sent them to her sister in Cornwall, because although we're not anywhere near the sea, it felt like small waves were coming towards us. You are so right, Flash flooding is completely devastating, but it's amazing how people all pull together in such a situation. Always feel so sorry for town shops, because they're so susceptible to flooding.

Many thanks for reading. Thankfully we haven't had any repeats. I appreciate your thoughts.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by celticman on

bit of an adventure. 

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Jack, now I look back it does feel like a bit of adventure, but wouldn't want to go through that again, made me feel very nervous.

Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts.

Jenny.

 

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Good gracious! You tell your story so well! Must have taken your mind off the injection, but having to clean up when you got home, too, and were all tired and cold and wet must have been a struggle. My son told me a few weeks back about the flood outside the pub he was working at, and the rain came higher than the bottoms of car doors, and next day there was loo roll and other(!) things coming up from the drains at the bottom of our road. But for you to see the grades of things happening, one after the other, it is as if you are being blown about like leaf!

very glad you are safe after all that

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hello Di,

you know I hate all these jabs, needles are one of the things I detest most. But yes you're right the situation did take my mind of it, if only for a couple of hours anyway. It's strange, but each time I have a jab it effects me differently.

Your son's experience sounds awful for those people that owned the cars. Imagine loosing all your valuables and not being able to do anything about it. I just keep thinking of the worst scenarios of loosing all valuable possessions, no amount of insurance can cover loosing things that mean a lot to you.

I liked your idea of being blown from one situation to another like a leaf. I appreciate your kind words and thank you for reading.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

We didn't have such rain up here this time, just some welcome rain quite heavy, back and fore. (though we have a recurrent drains' problem, but not weather related, not sure if they need a big investigation of the pipes here, or whether some new residents are not understanding what not to put down! but we are at the end of the line and notice the trouble first (but aren't the cause!). Welsh Water are very good and prompt!

Anyway, glad the experience was fairly brief and soon over for you. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Rhiannon,

it's awful when drains get blocked up. I've heard of babies disposable nappies coming up through drains. We thankfully live on a hill, but this wind and rain was so sudden, there was hardly any time to think straight.I was just so glad when the rain stopped and the wind became calmer.

I appreciate you reading and thank you for your thoughts.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by David Kirtley on

As I was reading I was expecting the worst as your threatening disaster occurred! I am glad you survived it, and that you actually managed to get your flu jabs! I thought you would get cancelled at the last minute. That was an exciting read, a bit like a bad dream, but everything came right in the end!

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi David,

The whole experience could have been much worse, that was why I wanted to record the episode in a diary entry, as the whole experience could easily be forgotten or not remembered right over time. We were very lucky, if we'd been any later the flu jabs would have been cancelled, and I would have been really stressed, as I'd been building up to having it all week, just wanting to get it over with.

It was exciting, like an adventure now I look back on it. Watching people all pull together, supporting each other gave the situation a strange warm feeling.

We were just so glad to get home and out of our wet clothes. Many thanks for reading David, much appreciated.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE CHERRIES EDITORS, THEY WERE A LOVELY SURPRISE.

JENNY. smiley

 

Submitted by marandina on

That sounds like quite a rollercoaster of a journey. I was in Birmingham on Sunday and some of the local roads were flooded. It can be quite intimidating. Glad you got your jabs. I had my flu injection a few days ago and my Covid booster today. It's a way of life, these days! Paul :)

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Paul, rollercoaster is a great way to describe the journey from beginning to end. I gather from what you said about Birmingham being flooded, we weren't the only place to suffer. I just can't understand why drivers go so mad and don't slow down.

Hope you weren't as nervous as me about the jabs. But at least we've both had them now, so we can relax.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and appreciate your thoughts.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Ray Schaufeld on

phew!

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi there, you're right it most definitely was a Phew! Moment, that I wouldn't want to repeat. 

Thank you kindly for reading and your comment.

Jenny. 

 

Submitted by hilary west on

The rain is really menacing and this is reflected in the story's momentum gathering pace with the floods.

hilary   smiley

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Hilary, 

Honestly the whole experience did gather momentum and I'm glad it came over, because my heart was racing as the waves came closer and closer. Watching those five drains bubbling up and spirting out water didn't help either, and with the traffic making matters worse.

It's always great to know I created the atmosphere in my writing, but it's all true.

Thank you so much for reading and I appreciate your comment.

Jenny.

 

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Jenny

You tell the story in such a way that we felt like we were there too. In fact, I think I was probably in the same rain storm, as it sounds very familiar. I'm glad it turned out well for you.

Jean Day

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Jean,

I don't think I've ever been in a situation like that. I hope you were okay in your rain storm. When things like this happen, it makes you realise how dangerous the weather can be.

I'm grateful to you for letting me know I explained the experience that well, and many thanks for reading.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

What a nightmare it sounds Jenny - glad all was ok in the end, and you have really earned those cherries!

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi insert, there's so much to be grateful for, and those gold cherries were a wonderful ending to a nightmare situation.

Thank you for your kind words and reading.

Jenny.

P S I've been informed by Di, that it was you who provided the photo. It was significant to this diary entry, and very much appreciated. So thank you insert. yes

 

 

 

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

This vivid description of an unexpected adventure is our Facebook and Twitter Pick of the Day! Please share and retweet if you can

Jenny, please change the photo if you want. 

image is from https://tinyurl.com/mr2pszcp

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hello again Di,

thank you so much for the Pick Of The Day, it was such a lovely surprise. You've made me very happy. yes

The photo is just perfect, I wouldn't have known what picture to put up myself...so many thanks again.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Ah, you have Insert to thank for that photo, as I just could not get the hang of uploading them! Am going to have to practice like crazy for next Wednesday. Hope you have recovered now, and all dried out

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hello Di, I completely understand where you're coming from as far as uploading. Is something happening next wednesday? Whatever it is, hope all goes well.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Ray Schaufeld on

some carry on! Jenny. Thanks for sharing with us

xxRay

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Ray,

you know I have always kept a diary, but now I'm older, I don't tend to have that many adventures...thank goodness, I might add. wink

It's great to be able to share experiences on abc tales, and I appreciate you reading and sharing your thoughts.

Thank you.

Jenny. xx

 

 

Submitted by catherine poarch on

I think I missed any news of these floods completely. What an experience and I'm so sorry it got into your home as well. I liked the little touch of the nurse at the back of the shop who had no idea what was happening at the front. 

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Catherine,

my son was in Bristol last Friday when this happened, he told me they didn't have that much rain, so I suppose we were just unlucky.

I don't know what happened about the Pharmacy after we left. The nurse was very calm about the whole situation, but then again that's a nurses job to keep calm.

I have no idea how the rain came in, as we have doubled glazed doors, but haven't experienced anything else since, so I'm just crossing my fingers it was a one off.

I appreciate you reading and thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. 

Jenny.