Feeling the chill
I think I speak for everyone up North when I say I’ve head enough of this weather. The rain is getting a bit 40-days, 40-nights; and the wind is relentless too. It’s getting so bad I’ve taken to wearing a jumper at work (quite a smart one, and if I need to go to court I swap it for my suit jacket, obv). My office even started raining in the other day – I must be the only trainee ever to have the admin staff in his room with a towel… In other news, I’ve swapped chairs with an associate today who’s got a bad back – my chair having good lumbar support. I’ve got a nicer chair as a result, a swish faux-leather number, but it’s very low. I think I need a cus

Best British Spirit
I headed down to Cockermouth today, provided 4x4 cover as part of St John’s continuing support following the flooding this week. Being a 4x4 crew, we were just based at the Emergency control centre ready to respond to any calls beyond landslips or other difficult terrain. There weren’t any, so I hardly turned a wheel all day. But what was really apparent was how the community came together. Popping into one reception centre, there were books, lots of well-cooked food, flu injections from the local GP surgeries, and a waiting list of volunteers wanting to help out.

So far this morning …
… three things have gone wrong, including a complete change of plans for the weekend and my mobile dying (thankfully I kept the one it was meant to replace, 6 years good service without a major problem – now I need to find the receipt to see if it’s 12 months old yet). I’ve only been up for less than 2 hours. I should have stayed in bed.

Standby for action
As you may have gathered in the news, it’s a bit damp up here at the moment. Not great shock to learn that my phone has been receiving texts most of the day requesting 4x4 ambulance crews, people to help at rest centres (for those evacuated from houses), relief crews and so on. I can’t really take a day off work at the minute because I’ve got urgent things to do – but I said I was available this evening to go to a rest centre. Finished my 4pm client meeting, and left the office early to get going. Jumped into the car and turned on Radio Cumbria (the only time it’s acceptable to listen to BBC Local Radio is during crap weather). Didn’t get far before I

Fizzle’n’Die strikes again
Monday morning – Asp receives a trial bundle for a trial he’s pencilled in to sit behind counsel for on Thursday. Asp photocopies bundle to send to counsel. Monday afternoon – Trial gets unexpectedly adjourned I’m meant to have trial on Friday. I daren’t read the file until I get the waiting area, see counsel, our client, the other side and their witnesses, and know that the judge hasn’t got swine flu or something…