"Look at it this way"

A few years ago, I spent a lot of time producing an entry for a writing competition, which required a piece of descriptive writing linked the Fens and travelling, and encounters with nature and wildlife. I can't remember the exact rubric, but it was about travelling. I decided to write about a journey that I have made over 2000 times .... from home to work and back again. It took me weeks to write on and off, and at the end I didn't think it was quite good enough to enter, so never used it - imposter syndrome again perhaps. It's sat on my hard drive for a couple of years and perhaps now is time to just put it out there... I'm quite pleased with some elements of it. B1145-A1065-A47-A1122-A10 by Alan Parkinson This piece also acts as an example of quotidian geography . This is something that is the daily experience for many, although a growing number have never had a job, or are currently out of work. Some travel to work or school the same way each day - some by tr...

This Guardian piece by John Harris explores something which hydrologists have known for decades. We know how to stop communities from flooding, but it takes the politicians to prioritise the funding for the methods that work: nature based solutions often, and stop allowing developers to build housing in floodplains - and a whole raft of other things such as proper drainage schemes. The piece also features a really nice illustration by Nathalie Lees. The AVIVA report from October that is referenced here is worth a read. There are references to particular landmarks - physical features as well as buildings - and some specific statistics. The report also outlines how many properties could be at risk across the UK. In England, the number of homes at risk from flooding is set to increase by over a quarter (27%), from 6.3 million to 8 million. While coastal flooding could put 3.2 million homes at threat, worryingly, surface water flooding– or flash floods – which are harder to predict and pr...