Having spent Christmas in Manchester with daughter Anna and her family I left behind today the flooding in Manchester itself – far more serious flooding elsewhere of course – and set off on one of my favourite drives along the Snake Pass in Derbyshire in the general direction of Sheffield. It was almost impossible to comprehend such a glorious day today (Sunday) having had such downpours on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. 

My heart goes out to those families flooded yet again in Cumbria and Lancashire and those in York and Leeds who have been evacuated. What a dire end to their Christmas.

I wish you a very Happy New Year if you are on your travels or your house is unaffected and I wish you better days ahead if your life has been turned upside down by the weather.

PS. Might your new year resolution be to subscribe to my motorhome e-newspaper which is FOC and published on Sunday evenings? I do hope so. It is at http://paper.li/motorhomenews/1394765219 and when it pops up there is a box for your email address on the right hand side – no more information required! Many thanks!! (Forever the optimist.)

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews