Toothy grin

A busy day up at the caravan. After the floods in Ballater this week, where almost half the static caravans on the site were swept into the river to crash into bridges and trees, we went up to survey the damage to Martins parents caravan.

We were not expecting much but we're pleasantly surprised. The remaining vans are in various states of disrepair, from flattened, to squashed between other vans or buildings, to looking not too bad, save for a few bashes and broken windows. They have travelled varing distances, some way past the fire station to rest against houses further on. Ours was of the latter category and only a couple of rows away from where we used to sit.

On inspecting the inside, which had been flooded about 1-2 ft, no ornaments or crockery had moved and the water had not sloshed about all that much, although there was a thick layer of silt all over the floor and in all the lower cupboards. We managed to clear out the worst of the water collected in pots and dishes in the lower cupboards and in the boxes under the beds. Collected 3 bin bags off rubbish and a car load of washing, crockery, ornaments and cuddly toys (Euan had been most concerned about them). Dishes are rinsed of silt and the washing has been through a rinse and now the first load is on to wash. Mary and Jim will be going up on Monday after they finish enjoying their New Year trip away in Livingston.