Photography’s turned me into a monster!

Not so very many years ago news of the approach of extreme weather conditions (gale-force winds, torrential rain, heavy and prolonged snowfalls etc) would have been greeted by me with, yes, a frisson of excited anticipation. But also a significant amount of concern.
Concern, obviously, for how it would impact upon my own circumstances. But also too a concern for the wider community.

Admittedly here in the UK we don’t get the type of really extreme weather that besets other countries. Nor have we experienced the full force of the aberrant weather patterns that appear to have become rather more commonplace elsewhere in recent years.

The UK has traditionally enjoyed a temperate climate and, more recently, even our “extremes” of weather appear somewhat mild-mannered when compared to for example tsunamis, or the devastating flooding such as occurred in New Orleans.

However, far from being a boon our tradition of “moderate” weather has in fact proven to be a bit of a handicap, rendering us ill-prepared for such instances of really bad weather that do occasionally afflict us.
And indeed the damage and disruption caused by these events customarily make headline news nationwide.

Such was the case this weekend past when news of flooding in some parts of the country was accompanied by tales of the distress and hardship caused thereby.
For the past week or so the sky everywhere in my area has been laden with pregnant-looking clouds, and predictions suggested that heavy rain throughout the entire region was to be expected.

Now certain parts of Bedford and surrounding areas have a bit of a reputation for flooding. Not on the scale of New Orleans, true, but certainly sufficient to merit flood warnings and the placement of sandbags.

Thus, about 10 o’clock Wednesday morning I caught myself on the ‘phone to my mate (who lives near the town centre) enquiring about the weather conditions in town.

Now, this isn’t one of my normal practices adopted out of politeness or as an excuse to chew the fat.

Oh no. More specifically, it was prompted by the thought (bearing in mind all of the preceding week’s omens) that there could conceivably be flooding in the town.

This thought was of course fuelled by concern for the residents. For those who may have been rendered homeless and despairing by the encroaching waters of the polluted and stinking Great Ouse. And obviously concern for my mate whose home is very close to one of the areas prone to flooding.

Wasn’t it?

Oh no. Nothing so selfless. No hint of the concern that I may once have exhibited at the news of widespread loss and distress.
My response, when he answered that no, it was quite bright and sunny, and no, there was no sign of flooding, was “Dammit. And I was hoping to get some good pics!”
Has photography really turned me into such a monster?

Nevertheless, arriving in town I thought I’d just take a quick wander along the riverside, where the water was not much higher than its customary level following a few days of heavyish rain.

Notwithstanding the complete absence of the anticipated widespread flooding I still managed to come away with a batch of pics that I find rather pleasing.

Its all a bit worrying though. Monster? Hmm.