Yesterday afternoon, after the rain, we actually had water in the river and this morning it was still running, but I have just looked out of the window and we are back to red-brown pools of standing water.

It is difficult to believe it is the same river that, over the weekend, claimed a young life at Bolton Abbey.

We needed the rain and, since the deluge on Sunday, things look much better. I was getting a bit worried because on Saturday afternoon, when we were trying to unblock a drain at the end of the back yard, small brown crinkly leaves were falling from the sycamore tree next to the house. I’m not sure why they are dropping off as many branches on the tree have bright green, healthy-looking leaves Maybe it was a touch of frost; maybe it is diseased. We will have to wait and see what happens.

Things are desperate in the garden. I must get out there this weekend because, if I don’t, in a week or two we will be fighting our way to the front door. We have been without our normal garden gate for weeks now (it is a fancy wrought iron one and it is being restored). A temporary wooden gate has been used to try to stop sheep and lambs getting in, but it hasn’t!

When we were away in Hereford, we must have had a garden full of “woolly jumpers” all weekend because, when we got home, most of what was left was unidentifiable – just short stalks, tidily cropped I agree, and I can’t argue as all the dead stuff from last year has disappeared (goodness knows where). It has also been liberally fertilised, so what am I making such a fuss about!

It’s a wonder we haven’t any casualties though because there were quite a few poisonous plants in the garden. But all the suspects which, surprise surprise, have white, innocent-looking faces, longish legs and very little wool, look remarkably healthy, which for a Leicester is quite unusual.

Congratulations to Upper Wharfedale YFC for winning the tug o’ war at the County Rally at Pateley Bridge on Sunday. The jubilant eight-man team “didn’t lose an end” (were unbeaten) and are now training for the northern area finals which will be held at Clitheroe Auction Mart later this month. I understand that they are all working on tanning their legs. Funny job this tug o’ war!

On Saturday, the sun shone as Becky (daughter of neighbours Chris and Fiona Clark, of Nethergill) married Charles Hoare at Hubberholme church. It was a lovely country wedding and we were invited, along with other neighbours, to a buffet lunch at Nethergill on Sunday. Many congratulations and much happiness to the newlyweds. It has been rather a thought-provoking 10 days or so, because we have also celebrated the lives of and fondly paid our last respects to old friends and neighbours – Jack Metcalfe, of Manor House, Ingleton, and Dr Ross Harrison, of Beckermonds.