Reasons to be Cheerful: the winning edition #R2BC

Thanks for joining in last week, technical hitches meant that the linky tool had to change part way through the week! Here are the reasons I am cheerful this week:
1) Winning things
Its been a while since I won something so I was surprised to get an email from Wilkinson Cameras to say I won one of the 12 prizes from their recent competition. Very chuffed to have won a proper camera as my prize was a DSLR:

Now to learn how to use it! First attempt on Flickr just using Intelligent Auto mode.
2) Quality time with my boy
My daughter was away on a school residential this weekend so I had time with just my boy:

3) Kendal flood recovery
One of the worst aftermaths of the storms in December has been the damage to Cumbria's transport infrastructure. In Kendal the damage to one of the 2 bridges that allowed two-way traffic across the river has caused gridlock and chaos. We are all so relieved that the temporary fix has finally been successful this week (story on Westmorland Gazette). Lots more work to be done in the county but this was a good news story!

Why are you smiling this week? Please link your posts and grab the badge...

 

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Cumbria Flood Appeal

We have suffered a major disaster here in Cumbria with homes and businesses flooded, roads damaged and bridges collapsing. The community, the emergency services and army have been amazing at getting out and helping those in trouble. So many wonderful stories of people volunteering to rescue people in their own 4x4s and boats or loaning out pumps for free. Volunteers such as mountain rescue stayed out for 48 hours getting people out of flooded properties.

I am feeling so lucky that our house was untouched by the floods and that I only lost books, jigsaw puzzles and paperwork in my parents' flooded garage. Others have lost almost everything and are homeless just before Christmas. This video is a taste of what I witnessed from Saturday through to Monday:

These photos from Hovershotz show the extent of the flooding on the other side of Kendal which was the worst hit:

Now as the water subsides and we count the cost and clean up a fund has been set up to raise money to help pay for repairs and to replace lost property. If you would like to make a donation however small then please go to Cumbria 2015 Flood Appeal. 

If you want to offer equipment/food please email PPC.EmergencyOffersofSupport@cumbria.gov.uk If you want to volunteer your time call Cumbria CVS on 01768 800350