Is anyone else a little bit anxious about the storm tomorrow?

Getting decidedly cheesed off with the wind now. More today and tomorrow. There is zero pleasure in going out so stuck in the house. Roll on Tuesday.

Thanks Shandy, those books sound interesting.
I think I said Hawaii because of the surfers in the waves. Surfing originated in Hawaii didn't it? I think it's something to do with the swell in the waves.

Josiann did you say Hawaii for a specific reason? I've just finished reading To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara -couldn't put it down. She also wrote A Little Life, and People in the Trees. Amazing imagination, highly recommended.

Josieann

The sun came out a bit here this afternoon. Surf's up, though not quite Hawaii!

Wish I was there!

That looks beautiful. It's been grotty and windy with branches still falling here. There has been an alarm going off all day and it's slowly but surely turning my brain into liquid

The sun came out a bit here this afternoon. Surf's up, though not quite Hawaii!

Now I am hearing the north will get another storm? Some very extreme weather lately

We seem to have had it all here in North Wales. Heavy rain, snow, wind and mist on the hills.
I would like to hibernate till the weather improves.

Today it’s snowing, but at least the wind has dropped.

It’s not much better here in S W Wales today. Cold, wet and windy.

On transpennine train with GC . Looks grim outside ! Sleet etc
Glad we have seats cards and blueberry muffins?

Winds apparently reached peaks of 90mph here on Friday morning. The electricity went off at 10am but was restored by 8.30pm, and as I have a gas fire and cooker I was able to stay warm and well-fed. Was touched that both my children messaged me to see if I needed rescuing but as the signal here is awful it took some time to make contact and the landline is dependent on electricity. Because we are subject to power cuts quite often I have a range of candles and torches dotted about the house, but realised yesterday I had only one elderly working cigarette lighter and no matches, now remedied.
Wind seems to be getting up again and the sky is darkening!

Son lost power yesterday afternoon, he and his GF are staying at her brother’s, I ran son back earlier to feed their cats, still off, not due back on until tonight. Daughter lost a fence panel. We’re on a yellow warning for wind and rain this afternoon, may mean the engineers don’t go out.

So sorry to read about your daughter's tenant Varian, poor her. I was terrified when it happened to me.

Do tell her to move everything out of the affected area and to stay clear of the ceiling, mine came down a few days after the roof was blown off.

Didn’t seem to post the first time so a double bit of lightheartedness ?‍♀️?

Try again..?

A little bit of lightheartedness

varian

The roof blew off my daughter;s house and demolished her neighbour's fence.

Fortunately no-one was hurt.

My daughter and family moved abroad two years ago and rented their house to a tennant who contacted them by WhatsApp
She has managed to contact a roofer and is hoping he can cover the house before it rains.

I felt very uncomfortable, even though the winds in my area only got into the 50mph range. My lounge window measure approx 4ft high by 8ft wide with a upvc panel underneath all in one frame. I could hear it creaking. I think we're in for more on Sunday.

I hope everyone that was affected is getting the help they need. I remember going to my friend's house at 8 am after Storm Arwen to charge my phone, so nice of them to allow me in, both were in their nightclothes.

I've just made a coffee with the hot water I put in my flask Thursday night - still hot!

It is sunny and calm here in Northumberland, I'm going to go to the beach early today.

Wild yesterday and through the night. Chucking it down now, more wind to come later!! Go away!!!!

Varian, how awful, a nightmare

It seems as though we had a powercut here overnight, 8 hours going by my kitchen clock. I am very glad that I put so many boxes of water into my freezer. Freezer will be good but I won`t be opening until this afternoon

My wooden garden benches started to lift yesterday, I ran out, swiped their covers off and put a concrete paving slab on each. Went out now and benches are bone dry as are their covers so they are back on now, as we have much rain to come.

The windows are now filthy, I think I have self cleaning glass so the rain will work wonders. Yellow warning now but quite honestly, after yesterday, it will almost normal. I feel so so sorry for all those with damage. Watch out for the scammers going around, they will be out of the woodwork today

madeleine45

I have lived through all sorts of things including in living in an earthquake zone and there were a couple of quakes and a few sort of rumbles. also sailed and took care but have been stuck in a force 11 when i was right out at sea and could not run for shelter. So my take is this. I look at all the information that I can glean, from reliable sources - this does not include internet sensationalists, or newspapers whose anxiety raising attitudes they hope to sell more papers and have less to do as they can fill the paper with trivia and what people thought of trivia. So firstly practicalities. Yes go round and pin down and sort out whatever you are able to do. so this to me would include cutting back large shrubs especially old ones. Not totally but I find it better to be in charge of what is cut so old branches and crossing branches. If the wind is going to wreck it all you might as well have a go at lowering the levels. Then do check round for any bamboo canes or clothes line holders or anything that could possibly fly off in a bad wind. Pack them all in an outside shed if possible . If not tie the whole bunch of whatever you collect together - I use a bungy cord to collect things together easily then also tie thickish string or thin rope round the whole lot. Go round and firm in any precious plants which should help them stay in the soil where you want them to be. Then inside I collect together my important collections from their normal place, so have a metal closing box into which I put passport, bank books, birth certificates,insurance documents etc. Lesser documents I would use your phone to get a picture of them all, so that at the worst you do have all the numbers and relevant dates etc on you if you have to suddenly leave. Whenever I have moved I always have a barrel style bag into which I put a clean set of duvet and pillow covers etc, also 3 sets of underwear, a comfortable old pair of shoes or trainers or slippers, a wash bag with basic needs and some older towels and a pair of easy to pull on trousers and t shirts and a good warm jumper - I have an ancient cashmere jumper, looks tatty, but is very light and very warm. In each bag make sure you have a torch with spare batteries. So it may seem a bit over the top. However I always feel that it is actually very calming. Once you have all this ready and near a door, whatever the storm does you know exactly where your things are, you are not panicked into putting yourself in danger trying to collect things. Any sense of danger and you can be out and away. Your lives are always more important than material things, but having your passports, wills, and in particular I always keep a spare prescription list in my bag. In a difficult condition, trying to remember the strength of your tablets when you are moved to a strange place and the chemist does not know you , is a lot of hassle. Once I have all the things I think I need, I will probably ring family or friend and tell them I am sorted and that my first port of call if I have to leave is to x hotel or whatever and that I will ring them and let them know what is happening. So now you are in charge , prepared and organised. that is the best you can do and if you do specific extra things like lifting things onto tables etc take photos so that in the future when the insurance is dragging its feet or trying to tell you that you did not do the correct thing You can prove that you did!! If you have 2 or 3 sets of house keys that you normally have one each, it might be worth leaving a set at friends or relatives who do not live on the same road as you. You can return the favour in case it is their property not yours that is affected. Look at your drive or garage. If you are near a river or large amount of water you need to look and see if the car is safer where it is or would be better moved to a higher area. well everyone to their own view. My friends think I go over the top, but they have not lived in the situation I have, and also having to explain in a foreign language , so having copies of everything is easier and better later on. i love my radio more than tv so make sure I have a battery operated radio in case the power goes and that is about all i bother with. if it starts to be very very windy I boil kettles and fill all the thermos I have so that if the power goes I still have some hot water.Havent got it now but used to have camping gaz stoves etc and a tilley lamp and used to have them at the ready too. Then you can dress warmly, make a decent drink and sit and read or play scrabble etc and dont let it get to you. I am 76 and have survived so far and intend to continue to do so, but I am not going to be frightened by such things as the papers. At that stage you can console yourself that you have done the best you can and can relax in as much as you can, prepared but not panicked!!

???????thank you for your common sense which everyone seems to lack these days, preferring instead to jump on the hysterical bandwagon.

varian

The roof blew off my daughter;s house and demolished her neighbour's fence.

Oh no! What a nightmare, I hope they are OK and haven't lost anything precious

Tiggersuki

We are in North Devon and pretty fierce here now . Friends have already lost power but so far alright but rescued the bin , full, earlier from under the car. Traffic racing about even though people have been urged to stay indoors. Friends less than a mile away just saw next doors tree go through their car and felt lucky hers is in the garage . Another friend is on the Isle of Wight and has just watched the ferry moving sideways! Staying in for now but SO NOISY

I too am in North Devon but have been quite lucky I think. On the way to work there was a tree in the road but there were people with chainsaws cutting it up and we got through okay eventually and on the way home the road was clear but lots of cut up and fallen trees to the side of the road. I didn’t know what to expect when I got home but the power is all on, as I didn’t get home till it was dark I have shined the torch around the garden and it seems to be intact but will have a proper look tomorrow morning. I am thinking the power might still go off tonight but I think I have been very lucky when I read some of the appalling things that happened to some on this site… Thinking of you all ????