Published at 09:44, Tuesday, 09 March 2010

I LIVE in Seaton and can cross Barker Crossing up to four times a day.

I used to walk into town before the floods but I usually caught the bus home.

Now I'm doing a lot of walking! I walk by the Mill Race and watch the swans, or go past the Mill House to Stainburn.

I had to cross the bridge late on Sunday night and I was bit worried but I needn't have been, I found everyone I passed, old and young, greeted me with smiles, a nod or a ‘good evening.’

This is how it's been ever since the floods, people stop and have a chat or a cheerful moan.

It is really quite nice, as everyone I pass takes the changes in their stride, many seeing things they have never seen before, going places they didn't realise were so pleasant because they used to get in their cars and never really look.

New friends are being made every day and I never leave a new acquaintance without us both having a joke then departing with a smile on our face.

How lovely, and to top it all it's spring at last.

Let's hope we have left an arduous winter behind us and everyone who has been severely affected by the floods can see hope on the horizon.

DENISE J GREY
Seaton

Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk