So yes, a bit of week.  It all kicked off on Sunday afternoon when we were having a mellow lunch in Greenwich with Brighthat, Terrie, Dan and Helen after a rather splendid evening (despite people continually killing me) when the first warning calls came through from Oxford.

Initial thoughts that concerns were excessive were doused by the report from my brother-in-law - he cycled round to our road and discovered that ours was the only house without sandbags in front of the door.  Back on the Oxford tube and to the PC World car park for sand-bag filling - you would be amazed at how quickly people can get through five tonnes of sand - and packing.  Quiet night, with levels rising steadily, and local roads starting to flood.

Monday and Tuesday morning more of the same, though getting worse.  'Today' programme reports from PC World Car Park.  Roads closed, water over the main (Botley) road that ours leads on to.  Thought that the worst was over, then this morning (2am) woken by firebrigade.  'There's a two foot high wall of water coming down the river - brace yourselves'.  Next three hours spend building sandbag walls and securing neighbours' houses.  I know it is a cliche, but a real Blitz spirit - and a really good way to meet one's new neighbours.  Wall of water hasn't hit yet but levels still rising.  TV crews hovering like vultures, eager for more disaster to continue the story.

Picture is our road at 2.45am, new delivery of sandbags, everyone mucking in.  River is behind the tree at the end of the road - about 40 yards from our front door.