I may have met the kindest man in the world today
It’s probably not worthy of international news, but some of you may be aware that York is currently very, very wet. It simply hasn’t stopped raining once in at least 24 hours. My poor girlfriend is heading back home today and the weather is not welcome news at all. Thankfully she’s taking the bus to the airport - there are no more trains leaving in that direction.
I walked the half mile to her house this morning to help her pack her last things and wish her farewell, and was thoroughly drenched by the time I got there. If my clothes are literally dripping wet when I get inside, I tend to get a little downhearted.
Not wishing to make the journey back on foot, I waited with her for her taxi, and asked the driver if he would be driving past my home, which is the normal route. “No way. It’s totally flooded.” So it was hugs and kisses right there and another trek through the torrents in an effort (believe me, it was a lot of effort) to get back to a dry house.
One of the trickiest parts of the walk was crossing one particular road which floods a little too easily. By this time there was no tarmac left to see, and instead of mucking around I just walked straight through. I couldn’t get any more wet. Once on the other side, a miracle happened - a car driver on my side of the road realised I was stood next to a particularly deep patch, and that he was about to cover me head to toe in road-gunk, and then slowed down. Have you ever seen a car slow down to avoid soaking pedestrians? I was stunned. I raised my hand, defined as the traditional method of thanks in traffic situations, and the driver raised his. I sincerely hope he saw my wide smile underneath my waterproof hood.
Update
Some more news and videos from the BBC:
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June 26th, 2007 at 12:57 am
Yaaaaay!
Thumbs up for the car driver!
(if it’s not flooded :S).
And now you’re nice and warm back in bed at home
June 26th, 2007 at 1:29 am
There are a few good people left in the world. Sometimes you encounter them.
Does England always have torrential rain?
June 26th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
The east coast of England is surprisingly dry. Somehow we got lumped with the wettest June in history thanks to one day of rain, with a total of two months’ worth falling in a twenty four hour period. Not bad going really
June 29th, 2007 at 6:07 pm
My email is mt abs name @ gmail. Thanks, I’ve been trying to make myself a theme and yours seems like a great example to use.
I’m at my Grandma’s, so I can’t speelcheck since she only has IE.
July 30th, 2007 at 12:47 am
That is one considerate man. If I had a penny for every time I was soaked by a passing car, I’d have, *counts*, a lot of pennies.