Who would have thought that Cockermouth would hit the headlines around the world?  In general, not much happens here that could be considered worthy of media interest, although the local paper, the Times and Star, is always a good read for neighbourhood news.

The waters swept through Keswick, Cockermouth, Workington and surrounding villages like a small scale tsunami, taking away everything in their path - bridges, walls, roads, gardens, tractors, gateposts.... and for some people, all they possessed.

But this is a very traditional society, with strengths that become apparent in these sorts of circumstances: people pull together and most people have plenty of family and friends to turn to for help and support.  Many people in our town have lived here all their lives, as have most of their family.  There are long standing bonds between people, so when something goes wrong for one, everyone feels it.

There have been many stories of close calls, rescues when the water was almost overwhelming, one man swimming to the nearest house across flooded fields when his tractor was swept away, lifeboats taking families from upstairs windows.  The emergency services have been magnificent.

But now the drama is over and the duller work of cleaning up is going on.  There are workmen and equipment in almost all of the Main Street shops, cleaning, drying and refitting.  The County Fruit Store is expecting to open again on Monday 30 November.  The paper shop has opened in the local auction company's premises, which have turned into a kind of mini shopping mall.  The baker's is sharing premises with the lighting shop.  Life goes on, and business as usual is our motto.

But people are not coming here now.  One local attraction says that visitor numbers are down by 95% on last year.  That is a lot of people not walking through the doors.  This county depends on tourism, and we need people to come here and spend money in local businesses. 

Soon the media and all our important visitors will be gone and life here will return to a kind of normality.  Today the tops are white with snow and the sun has shone.  It has been a most beautiful winter's day, the same as such days have always been here.  Let's hope people are not put off by a brief and transient episode, and return to enjoy the beauty and tranquillity always to be found in our county.