The weather has been truly horrendous over the last few days. We’ve had winds of over seventy miles an hour, lashing rain and sleet and temperatures that dipped to -3. Our icy drive and pavements became lethal and needless to say we’ve barely left the house for days.
Storm Arwen hit with a vengeance and had the house rattling for twelve hours straight. The view outside was terrifying as debris was flying every which way I looked and the seven 70ft beech trees were almost bent double in the wind. I was petrified one may come down and destroy the properties across the road. The sounds of banging and objects smashing was ominous to say the least.
We were lucky, overall, with the damage we sustained. A tree, covered in ivy, miraculously landed between two brick raised beds, avoiding the BBQ and table and chairs.
A large chunk of roof tiles came down along with a fence panel or two and dozens of pots and other garden ornaments were smashed to smithereens. Littl’urchins’ Wendy house is in bits and her other garden toys were tossed like paper across the garden.
Not a house in the street escaped without some sort of damage and fallen trees blocked many local roads.
Hubs rang the insurance company, and joined a queue of over two hundred people. Every time he got to about twenty in the queue, he was cut off. Eventually, he managed to get through online and received a call a few days later telling him to get roofers etc in to do the repairs and to put a quote in for the rest of the damage. Clearly they are inundated with claims and unable to visit all the damaged properties.
Roofers, tree surgeons and fencers are difficult to get hold of at the moment!
Christmas seems to have come early this year. Each day more and more homes are lighting up.
Littl’urchin has been busy decorating every glass surface she can get her sticky little mitts on.
Of course this means I can’t clean the windows etc until the decorations come down. Shucks!
The village lights are now on and to celebrate the fair came to town.
I’ve bought most of my Christmas presents early this year, given the uncertain times we live in. Never, ever have I been this organised!
I think I’ll save all the boxes and give them to Littl’urchin as presents this year!
And Finally…
I received a lovely, unexpected present in the post this week. It’s been a long time since I came across such a beautiful, magical book. Thank you SO much Kitty.
Until next time, stay safe guys. xxx
Wow you did get a battering. Nothing too wild here, It was actually windier after storm Arwen.
Good to hear you had no issues, the winds are back here now. Thanks Sue.xxx
It was quite some storm wasn’t it. I am sorry to hear that you have experienced damage to your property, I hope you can get it sorted soon. We were lucky to have very little damage here no trees down in the village at all but the rest of the county had many a road closed and power lines down.
Thanks Sustainablemum. It certainly was a monster of a storm, it was supposed to be a lot milder here. Good to hear there was little damage, shame about the damage to the rest of the county.xxx
I think you got the wind worse than we did, maybe it had lost a bit of its bite by the time it got to us. I have to admit though that I brought everything in that could be blown about, the garden chairs are very light weight so they went into the garage and I think they will stay there for the rest of the winter . Sorry to hear about your damage, hope you can get it sorted soon, its no fun when its your roof. stay safe, away from flying tiles!x
Good to hear you had no damage, I should have tied things down but the forecast here was of much lighter winds. We have our fingers crossed that a roofer will be out soon. Thanks Pauline.xxx
I am relieved your trees were not the bringers of additional major problems for you. It is scary though when gusts of the magnitude we have had gather force and do what they do. Sorry to hear of the damage you did sustain.
Little sticky fingers on windows make it all worthwhile and provide a great reason for not cleaning windows till 2022. The ubiquitous cardboard box is always a firm favourite, it evoked memories of sprog going places in a cardboard box car.
Stay safe.
xxxxxx
I think we may have to take several feet off those beech trees, it was terrifying watching them in the high winds. Yes, it’s wonderful not having to worry about cleaning windows. What is it with boxes, kids, dogs and cats love them! Thanks Menhir.xxxxx
How can it be that I didn’t even know there had been a bad storm there? And one with a name, too. We always ask for “rain without a name.” You know when they name them, they’re going to be a trial of some sort. It sounds as though you came through fairly well, although it’s certainly a proper mess!
I also didn’t know a thing about that new book. I have a copy of The Lost Words, and it’s absolutely gorgeous. The Lost Spells sounds equally entrancing, and I can only imagine how beautiful the art is.
We’re just coming out of a second named storm! It never rains but it pours eh? I must buy The Lost words now, I imagine it to be as beautiful as The lost spells. Thanks Linda.xxx
Oooh, the illustrations in the book look like such a delight to your artist’s eye. Here’s to Storm Arwen packing it up for good. That is some serious wind! We had windy conditions, but warm and very drying. Hoping the orange tree won’t die 🙁
I’m very very impressed with your Christmas organization. Respect! As it stands, friends may be getting New Years’ cards.
Oh, the illustrations are just beautiful, I will have to buy lost words now. I do hope your majestic orange tree doesn’t die, that would be tragic! Haha, re cards, I haven’t bought a one! Thanks Anne.xxx
Storm Arwen has been a bad one for so many, and even now some people are without power!
Lovely pictures of Littl’urchin, I do like her hat/headdress and her pink jumper looks so cosy.
Stay safe and warm.
My good wishes.
All the best Jan
It’s astonishing to think people are still without power, during really cold weather too! Thanks Jan.xxx
Tiles off the roof and trees down is a sure sign that it was pretty ferocious there. I hope that it all gets sorted out okay.
Lucky you with the book, happy reading.
Thanks, and you too. xx
It was certainly wild here, I’m still surprised that there wasn’t more damage. Thanks Flighty.xxx
Morning dear Dina,
Glad to hear that you survived the storm….with relatively little damage. I think of those people who have had now power at all for five days and night! ——-and they say more is on the way.
Having lived in hurricane country the first thing you are told as a hurricane approaches is to remove anything moveable – ie. coconuts, etc. – the other thing is to fill bath tubs and anything else with water…..
Little Urchin is growing so quickly and I LOVE her HEADDRESS:)
I have heavy items delivered by Ocado..and buy fresh fruits (when you get them) etc from Waitrose next door. I did what I call a ‘war shop’ yesterday just in case…..as you say we are living in interesting times.
Sending much love and enjoy cozy evenings by the fire with a glass of wine.:)
Janet XXXXXXX
It’s awful that so many are still without power! Good tip about the water. Good to know you got a war shop in! I think it’s wise to have extras in these days. Oh, you just can’t beat being in front of a fire during these wild cold evenings. Thanks Janet. Love and hugs.xxxx
You can cope with smashed ornaments – it’s annoying but it’s a simple clear up. But tiles coming off your roof is really important – do hope you get that fixed soon even though the roofers are so busy! So pleased that Littl’Urchin is having fun. I love that stage where what they are really interested in is the boxes! Hugs xx
Thanks Gill. Yes, the roof is the most serious problem. Hopefully that will be sorted sooner rather than later. It’s so easy to amuse young children isn’t it. God bless boxes!xxx
I hate the cold weather, I don’t like rain and I dread it snowing, but wind is my worst kind of weather, it frightens me to death as it can be so destructive. We had a fence panel blown out and most of the polycarbonate in the greenhouse is gone, but we got away lightly. You were lucky that the tree came down between the raised beds and didn’t cause more damage. It’s been awful with loss of life and some places are still without power a week on, I really do feel for them. Oh yes, the cardboard boxes, they”ll get played with far more than any toy would, haha.
Wind and excessive rain can be deadly in the UK, especially now the climate is changing so drastically. So pleased to hear you got off lightly too. We seem to be charmed in terms of where trees fall, long may that continue. I am shocked at how long people have been without power, so many older people too. Thanks Jo.xxx
Oh my goodness, that sort of wind is terrifying. I am glad you didn’t get worse damage. But you make yourselves very cosy in front of your woodburner. What a delighful excuse not to clean your windows. I wish I had a little treasure sticking Santas all over mine.
Thanks Chloris, given the speed of those winds we got off lightly. Haha, it’s a great excuse not to clean windows! I hope she doesn’t grow out of that habit!xxx
I’m sorry you had so much destruction Dina. I remember when our granddaughter told us how windy it was in Liverpool when she lived there, but storm Arwen must have been even more scary than her wild weather experiences. Now you’ll be clearing up, waiting for your insurance claim to be settled, trying to get repairs done. Stay safe and warm Dina.
Thanks Linda, we were lucky overall, I expected more damage so will take the hit! Those winds were scary though. I think we’ll be clearing up for months. More winds on the way…yikes! xxx
Oh, my goodness!! I worried those winds and storms had troubled you, but didn’t realize how horrendous they truly were! I’m so sorry for all the losses, but relieved they weren’t worse. And icy surfaces are so dangerous. Glad you could stay in and be safe and cozy.
Every photo of Li’l Urchin is so sweet. Gracious, she is precious. She has such delightful days with you. It always looks like you’re doing something magical and creative. Love the Christmas lights and decorations, too!
Hoping for some peace and calm to descend on your neighborhood and talented craftspeople to show up to mend what’s broken. Blessings and hugs. Xoxo
Thanks Kitty. We really were lucky re the damage, listening to those winds and seeing debris hurtling about… we got off lightly! You can’t beat little kids, it’s so easy to entertain them, I think I have more fun than she does! No luck yet re the repairs and high winds predicted for tomorrow. Fingers and toes are crossed. Love and hugs to all.xxxx