Week beginning 17 February 2020
Monday 17th February. And on it goes more floods and wind. The gauge must have been around 14’0” at the Lees on Saturday night/Sunday morning along with a gale which I thought was going to put my windows in. Team Harper still here for their second week of watching a big brown river going past. I started clearing up again all the bits that I cleared up last week and hopefully that is the last time this year. The wind was the thing today it just goes on and on and regular readers will know I’m no lover of the wind. Forecast from the cheery weathergirl is more rain on Wednesday and a chance of another spell of heavy rain and wind for the weekend.
Tuesday 18th February. 4’2” this morning and blowing a hoolie yet again, got going with some bank clearing this morning but its difficult trying to fork rushes and straw into a gale. This afternoon picked up all the bottles plastic/glass and cans from hut down to Back of the wall; I have to say we are a dirty nation, especially all those upstream of us. (See instagram). The dogs had a great time ratting and mousing. Team Harper kept the fire going and Richard Harrison even tried a cast. Another flood warning just been issued by SEPA tonight.
Wednesday 19th February. It was a nice enough day compared to the last few, the wind had dropped to a chilling breeze and it was dry, river had dropped to 3’7” but was carrying a good bit of colour from the Teviot, not brown but more of a mucky grey. Richard Harrison had a hour or so chucking a toby of the bank and was even joined by Graeme Whitty and thats the first time I’ve seen Graeme spin in years. Terry read the paper and kept the fire going until the hut was so hot the butter melted. Ken Brown fresh from his visit to the local physiotherapist was fairly skipping round the beat today rather than hobbling. After hearing the lunchtime forecast the lads decided to pack up the kit and head for home tomorrow. All the top gauges are rising tonight and it just looks wet and windy next few days. A fish was caught today by a keen angler at Upper Floors, skilfully guided by Head Ghillie Colin Bell of TV fame (he was on the telly last night), he’ll be on front page of Trout and Salmon next month no doubt getting a fish today.
Thursday 20th February. I should just cut and paste as every day is same, wind/gales/rain/sleet/snow showers and more wind. I didn’t even bother to look at the gauge this morning but its too big and dirty.
Friday 21st February. Same as before, rising colouring and blawing a bloody hoolie. I went down to the bottom of the beat for a look about; I was nearly blown off my feet, I didn’t risk taking jeep along the water dyke past the Babyhouse as I thought I’d be blown off, forecast over the weekend and through Monday is for more of the same. Saturday 22nd February. For Saturday see yesterday! Aye it was much the same as yesterday with a rising river 9’0” or so and rain/snow showers pushed along by the gales. It is just bloody awful, day after day. Jock the ginger dug and sidekick Kelsae have had a great morning going along the water dyke catching rats that have nowhere else to go, (not good gundog training), the hens are loving their holidays in my polytunnel and that’s about it from Tweedside this week, on the bright side Scotland beat Italy in the six nations. We should have beaten Ireland and definitely England just that one fluky try they got won it for them. It’ll be better next week maybe.
As ever put instagram on your smart phone and follow tweedbeats for latest photos and clips
©M Campbell 2020
our twitter feed