Global Warming?

A typical foothills of the Bavarian Alps, at 730m above sea level on 27th December, scene?!*!? No wonder my bees are dying off. Dandelions are the first and major pollen and nectar source in these regions ... but in May. They are flying around during the day looking for water. Bees may be very intelligent but not when it comes to water - they drown in masses.in anything deeper than a few millimetres.

Been following the events in northern England. Heartbreaking for so many and the TV coverage bringing back memories  - The then so called Viking Hotel directly on the river was a regular home and Angie and I visited the Lakes on one of our last UK holidays.

I can't judge the true position to flood defence, protection, prevention in the UK. Here the responsibility is heavily down to the local parishes and county who then get central Bavarian state financial support when they come up with schemes. A year or two back after a series of "once in a century floods" we had a presentation by the water board of the recommended defences and a "once in a millennium" scenario - a nightmare. As with such things, the efforts one parish takes has knock on effects down river and being at the top of the stream anything we do to hold back water should aid people down river, as far as Passau on the Danube. However a large scale project often requires "big thinking" and not all are prepared to chip in. The village of Erkheim the next parish downstream is only partly subject to flooding - they had a referendum on the plans which involved hassle and land works in our parish. The majority rejected the plans which was not only a snub to their own residents but to those of many parishes.and ultimately people as far away as Romania.

One thing is for sure, it is just a matter of (not much) time before our region is in the headlines with flooding.

Happy Birthday Jeffrey.