Sunday

Well, what a night we had, well, more the early morning. the thunder started about 5.00 and was really bad with heavy rain. It seemed to pass over and then came back and passed again and all went quiet and I was just getting back off to sleep when we heard a loud roaring like a train coming through the house. The house shook, as did I, and the dog was barking and it was so scary I thought the roof was going to come off. I debated going downstairs as I thought that would be safe if the roof did come off but then it all passed and it was quiet again and the birds started to sing. The most bizarre thing I have ever experienced.

I woke again at 8.00 and got up and had a look outside and apart from some fallen pot plants on the deck and lots of leaves and rubbish it didn't look too bad.

After I had showered I looked on the local paper's website and was really shocked to see photos of our street, just below our house, and the fire service was there covering the roof as part of it had blown away. There were fallen trees and three trampolines had been flung down the street with two in the harbour! Jon went outside and saw the house opposite had three fence panels down and a big tree. The tree surgeons were out in force. I spoke to more neighbours today than I have in the last ten months!!

As we noted all the devastation we were counting our blessings. There were times through it all that I really thought we would lose the roof as the noise and shaking was terrible, that is what comes of living at the top of a hill and exposed to the weather.

We went out for coffee and drove down the street to have a look and saw lots of fences and trees down and so many people out sweeping up the debris. we were very lucky!

We went for a coffee and to the recycling and then came home and it was, by this time, sunny!!

I got on with making the sandwiches for the afternoon tea and cutting up the fruit cake and finally I warmed the scones just before I left to go to Christine's house as she was the host.

The tea went off very well and everybody had a really good time - 17 of us in total.

I got back at 5.00 and felt really tired. Jon said he would be happy to have pizza and salad and fortunately I had a pizza in the freezer. Jon had also done the cleaning for me while I was out! Well, he used the robotic floor sweeper and cleaned the carpets but it all looked nice when I got home.

We had dinner and then watched some TV.

I thought I ought to call my elderly neighbour as she was expecting us home and I have been putting off calling her as I didn't want to upset her.

As there was no reply I called her sister and had a chat to her and she told me that Rene sometimes doesn't hear the phone so I tried again and she answered. She told me that she has an invitation for Jon and I to her 90th birthday lunch in October. I told her I might be there but I can't promise and I feel so bad as she was really looking forward to us coming back to live in Centre Drive which is now quite a remote possibility. Oh dear life is hard sometimes and you can't please everyone or sometimes anyone!!

Hopefully I can go to bed and sleep tonight although they have forecast more thunder!!!

WEATHER
Cloudy start then sunny and 19 degrees.