windy days

It‘s been windy here. Proper windy. So much so that while in the pub to celebrate a birthday, all at once everybody‘s phone started sounding an alarm. It was quite a cacophony and a bit disconcerting to be honest. On the other hand, it is good to know that the Government can send essential messages to anyone with a mobile phone. This particular warning was a red alert for a severe storm on the Friday. This means „risk to life, with substantial disruption to travel, energy supplies and possibly widespread damage to property and infrastructure.“  I don‘t remember one of those. Schools were closed, we were closed to university on campus business, no public transport, shops closed etc. The recommendation was to stay in so we did for most of the day. I went for a walk around the neighbourhood about 3 pm because I felt the walls closing in on me and the constant  howling of the wind was making me cross. The gusts of wind were strong, even though it was calmer than in the morning. Binghams Pond was whipped up like an angry ocean. I spotted a lot of damage, a few trees down in the neighbourhood, fences, too. Quite a bit of roof damage, too and any bin not tethered was blown over. Ours are tied down with a chain, except the food/garden waste bin in the back garden. Jack found it first and tunnelled right in. An unexpected feast. Two days later, the local woodland, which is very exposed, looks in tatters, although it will recover, as it has before. Despite the damage around us, I think we got away lighlty, not power loss for example and no loss to life or injuries in my neck of the woods.  

In other news, Annie came back from New Zealand, together with the friend she was travelling with. It was a lucky coincidence that she was due to land the day after the storm.  I was very happy to see them both. I missed Annie, for sure. They had a fabulous time. I look forward so seeing all the photos. Unfortunately, Annie‘s visit was short as her classes are back on Monday. She made it onto the Deans List, while travelling. Well deserved of course but she‘ll never stop to amaze me.

James went awol for about 10 hours on Saturday, he showed up wet and cold late at night with a random teenager who needed a bed for the night because he had no way to get back to Stirling, which is about one hour away by bus. He was fifteen!! At least James didn‘t abandon him in a dark corner of the city, so there‘s that. They were soaking wet because it is not cool to wear a coat in January. They slept well after being fed and warmed up. Me, not so much. The inquisition on Sunday morning was fierce, although no dunking was involved. The boy is now reunited with his family, after spending the night with random strangers. His mum didn’t seem worried, I insisted getting in touch myself. He was after all only fifteen. I aged about 20 years over night. 

Never mind, another week is just around the corner and I am going to relax with a glass of flat Prosecco and an episode of This Farming Life on the BBC. Thanks for visiting 😊