Gransnet forums

AIBU

Thunder bolts! did your grannies open the front n back door to let the Thunderbold roll through!

(38 Posts)
bikergran Wed 01-Jul-15 22:20:25

we have thunder starting here in Lancashire right now and it brought memories back to when I used to be at my grans house, if it started thundering she would open the back and front door to let the thunderbolt roll through shock

I spent many a year frightened out of my wits ! waiting for this massive ball of thunder to drop down from the sky and roll though the house!!

was this a Lancashire tradition or did others come across it?

apricot Thu 02-Jul-15 19:02:28

I love a good storm, it usually clears the air after horrible hot humid weather (that's what turns the milk sour)
My grandmother had to cover up mirrors and put away anything shiny, like cutlery, because they would "draw the lightning". She had a superstition for every occasion.

Greyduster Thu 02-Jul-15 21:28:39

We were sitting in a restaurant overlooking the golf course in Harlech when the storm clouds were gathering before the most spectacular thunderstorm I have witnessed since we lived in the Far East (where they were commonplace). Golfers could not help but be aware that the worst was to hand, but hung on manfully until lightening started forking in all directions and then they ran for their lives! It was very entertaining until the storm knocked the electricity out in the restaurant and they had to abandon the kitchen and put candles on all the tables so that we could see each other!

Penstemmon Thu 02-Jul-15 22:00:55

My DH's step-grandfather and aunt were killed, struck by lightning, sheltering under a tree on Wandsworth Common (1914) sad

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 02-Jul-15 22:39:58

When my son was about eleven he swore that he saw ball lightning roll across the school playing field. They were sitting on the carpet having a story and he was looking out of the window. He still swears today that he saw it.

harrigran Thu 02-Jul-15 22:51:23

DS and DIL were hit by giant hail stones last night and have between thirty and forty holes in their conservatory roof, it is going to need a new roof. He didn't say whether the cars were damaged but I bet there are a few dents.

Penstemmon Thu 02-Jul-15 23:16:45

A bolt of lightning hit the pavement in front of me and my 2 DDs coming out of a ballet class ( approx 35 yrs ago!) Scary!

annodomini Thu 02-Jul-15 23:39:16

When DS1 was a baby, we had a freak hailstorm which tore huge holes in the rhubarb leaves and created havoc in our still developing garden. The hailstones, like golfballs, sounded like machine gun bullets hitting the windows and DS1 slept through it all.

emmasnan Fri 03-Jul-15 09:01:14

DH and I were caught in a hailstorm in Wales, must have been the early eighties. The sky went very dark seemed as if it were night time instead of day, then huge hailstones started coming down. They actually dented the roof and bonnet of our hire car. We bought a local newspaper to prove to the hire company that hail had been the cause.

Oldgreymare Fri 03-Jul-15 09:42:20

It has taken years to conquer the fear of lightning instilled in me by my Victorian Gran. She hid all cutlery away, covered mirrors and cowered behind cushions. As a Key St. 1 teacher I had do hide my fear less I transmit it to the children.... I suppose doing that for so long 'conditioned' me.. self administered NLP I suppose hmm

henetha Fri 03-Jul-15 09:52:11

There's hope for me yet then, oldgreymare. I'm still scared of it!

Anniebach Fri 03-Jul-15 09:55:58

Jingle, I am sure he saw it. When my husband was in uniform and on nights he was walking up an empty Main Street in the town, raging storm , a ball of lightening rolled across the street directly in front of him, his gripe was he wished he had a camera with him and at the ready !

numberplease Fri 03-Jul-15 11:56:04

My MIL was terrified of thunder and lightening, she`d sit with a tea towel over her head till it was all over. Myself, I`d rather be outside than in during thunderstorms, once plonked our then 2 kiddies into their pushchair and walked the mile and a half to MIL`s house in a thunderstorm, got absolutely soaked to the skin, and then she was out when we got there!