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Mum recalls the flood one year on
1:19pm Saturday 19th July 2008
A COVINGHAM mum says she remembers all too well the torrential downpour last July.
Helen Mansell, 42, struggled to pick up her seven-year-old son Sam from Covingham Primary School after roads became impassable.
The mobile hairdresser from Bittern Road says she will never forget the day she had to wade through water to get to him.
"I wanted to get to him but I just couldn't get through," she said.
"I kept ringing the school and they said they wouldn't leave him on his own.
"But I was still worrying about him.
"Then one of the mums called Donna took him back to hers and looked after him until I got there.
"Cars were floating in Merlin Way - I couldn't believe it.
"In the end I had to wade through water up to my waist at Kestrel Drive to get to Bittern Road.
"The flooding was like nothing I had seen before.
"The water had gone to at least two and a half foot in my house.
"People were abandoning their homes with what little possessions they had.
"They were crying and screaming as they left.
"People who have never been flooded have no idea what it feels like.
"They will never understand how we feel.
"The amount of stress and pain it has caused me has been terrible."
Helen stayed in Old Town for two weeks before moving to a flat near Coate Water after the floods.
They moved back into their Covingham property at the beginning of December.
Your Say YourSwindon
Frontier(s), says...
6:27pm Sat 19 Jul 08
I remember it well, had to push two cars off the road as I came home from the gym one day.
Bad? Yes. The end of the world? Not quite.
vigil, swindon says...
6:42pm Sat 19 Jul 08
So that is another 2 people we have to pay for. Around £2000 a month. Who pays? YOU!
Mumstheword, Walcot says...
6:53pm Sat 19 Jul 08
Frontier(s) wrote:And I suppose your house was fine at the top of the hill! To some who's houses were ruined, yes not the end of the world. but very gutting for them all the same.
It was a flood, not a nuclear attack. I remember it well, had to push two cars off the road as I came home from the gym one day. Bad? Yes. The end of the world? Not quite.
Go on, say it, I don't live in the real world and I'm deluded blah blah blah. And then patronise me and tell me of course you care!
pressurecooker, says...
9:02pm Sat 19 Jul 08
Ankh, Morpork says...
11:13am Sun 20 Jul 08
vigil, swindon says...
1:16pm Sun 20 Jul 08
Mumstheword, Walcot says...
2:03pm Sun 20 Jul 08
sashstaff, Swindon says...
2:09pm Sun 20 Jul 08
I remember the floods too, my dog walking shoes got quite damp!
Frontier(s), says...
2:19pm Sun 20 Jul 08
Mumstheword wrote:As I've stated before on this website, my house HAS flooded before. My entire ground floor was ruined.
Frontier(s) wrote: It was a flood, not a nuclear attack. I remember it well, had to push two cars off the road as I came home from the gym one day. Bad? Yes. The end of the world? Not quite.And I suppose your house was fine at the top of the hill! To some who's houses were ruined, yes not the end of the world. but very gutting for them all the same. Go on, say it, I don't live in the real world and I'm deluded blah blah blah. And then patronise me and tell me of course you care!
It wasn't pleasant, of course it wasn't, but the insurance people put things right and I didn't feel the need to bleat on about it to all and sundry via the local newspaper.
These things happen, you get over them. It's not that interesting and I certainly didn't/don't expect anyone to feel sorry for me because my house flooded.
When was your house flooded Mumstheword? Was it at the same time you had that job picking up body parts?
Mumstheword, Walcot says...
9:51pm Sun 20 Jul 08
Captain Sensible, Near Swindon says...
10:22pm Sun 20 Jul 08
Frontier(s), says...
9:12am Mon 21 Jul 08
Mumstheword wrote:I'm just interested as to how you think you're such an expert on things that have never happened to you and things you've never done, that's all.
Oh my sarcasm now :0) What's the matter Frontier, got my pmt? rofl
Mumstheword, Walcot says...
10:30am Mon 21 Jul 08
Frontier(s) wrote:Quite simple really, I learnt from you my sweetie :)
Mumstheword wrote: Oh my sarcasm now :0) What's the matter Frontier, got my pmt? roflI'm just interested as to how you think you're such an expert on things that have never happened to you and things you've never done, that's all.
Your sayYourSwindon
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Helen Mansell and son Sam, at their home in Bittern Road
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