Minimalist poet, minimalist lifestyle

There have been live reports on the TV news this morning from parts of Doncaster [Bentley and Toll Bar] which have been flooded, and the flood waters are still rising. This is because Doncaster is situated on the River Don, as is Sheffield, but is twenty five miles further downstream.

Some of the areas flooded are situated well away from the river, but because they're on the flood plain, and there are many local dykes which have burst their banks; they are now up to two foot deep in water - despite there being nothing more than the occasional shower these last two days.

Unfortunately, more heavy rain is forecast for the weekend; but the meteorologists are predicting that most of it will fall slightly further south and land in the catchment area of the River Trent.

Bad golfer starts brush fire

A US golfer who hit a bad shot inadvertently started a 20 acre brush fire.

The golfer had knocked his ball into the grass outside Wildcreek golf course, near Reno, Nevada.

When he tried to play back to the fairway, his club struck something that created a spark that started the fire.

"He was totally honest about it," Reno Battalion Chief Curtis Johnson told the Reno Journal-Gazette.

About 50 firefighters and fire engines from Reno and Sparks swarmed the area and spent hours putting out the blaze.

"We had a lot here," Johnson said. "We use a task force response now, three brush engines and three structure engines and a water tender. We've changed tactics this year because of the dangerous conditions."