The Dogmother Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 Still drizzling and blowing a gale here Do you remember the hurricane of '87 Koojie? I was due to fly out the next day to live abroad - all the airports were closed.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted August 26, 2009 Author Share Posted August 26, 2009 I remember it well Claret. We had moved into our new house (not here and no children then) and it had secondary glazing. I heard the windows rattling and thought it was a bit windy. Not sure whether lightning woke me up, but couldn't hear the thunder and went back to sleep. The radio clock alarm went off, but wasn't any sound and so we overslept a bit. I jumped up and ran downstairs while OH was using the bathroom and I put the kettle on. Turned on the TV news while I quickly munched brekkers - saw this little man in what looked like a cupboard. Then it all became clear - no trains because of the hurricane. We would be late for work and there was a possibility that OH couldn't get into London at all. When we ventured into the streets we could see all the trees blown down. One car was parked halfway on the pavement, but it was nearly turned on it's side because of the tree being partially uprooted. Some houses had been damaged by fallen branches and trees resting on their rooves! We had one shrub blown over, but apart from that we were lucky. I remember the other one too - was on dad's birthday in January. I was telling DD about it - people were warned to stay indoors, but there were loads of people around. We looked out of the windows (the wind was hitting the other side of the building) and we saw the insulation material from the roof blown away - the messenger had to batten the hatches! We also howled with laughter as one woman had a trolley full of shopping and trying to hold her toddler while crossing the road. She sort of moved the trolley with her stomach, one arm trying to protect the shopping, while the little child was lifted off her feet and was almost horizontal! The wind died down and we were able to get to dad's for tea - OH had a terrible time trying to get home - I called him midday to tell him to leave NOW - and as he was working with his dad, they thought yep. So just as well they left early, it would have been worse. At the moment here it is all grey cloud and the wind has dropped. Oops it's back again. Oh well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 I was staying that night at my folks place so that they could drop me at the airport - my dad (typically when anything happens) was away on business. There was no electric, it was dark and howling like a banshee, trees down everywhere (goodness only knows how it missed the big trees in my folks' garden) and roads closed. I loved the sense of adventure A couple of years back, we had a twister whip through the park at the bottom of my road. The devastation was frightening, especially as it's less than 100 metres from my house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 Ahhhhhhh 1987 I slept through it all. My daughter was two and we were living in rented accommodation while the surgery and flat above were being refurbished. It had no roof, only a tarp. Miraculously that was still on!!! Trees were down in the streets on top of cars and into people's front rooms. Roof tiles were everywhere. Bushy and Richmond parks were closed but I managed to sneak in to look at the devastation. Bushy and Hampton Court lost two thousand trees which lay like strewn matchsticks. You can see a commemorative carving made up of fallen timber at Kew. I kept a piece of oak, cleaned and polished, as a memento. I had a friend who was driving her husband when their car was struck by a tree and very sadly he was killed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted August 26, 2009 Author Share Posted August 26, 2009 I have only seen a twister in Florida, but it was more of a waterspout. Several years ago here the sky went a yellowy green - we had storms during the day - mum and dad were staying with us then, so probably about 5 years ago now. I watched the clouds and they were turning around and I thought oh dear I wonder if I should get everybody in the bath, but it didn't get as far as forming anything like a tunnel - and thankfully I didn't have to get 6 people in 2 small baths. I would like to go storm chasing in the US - but part of me feels guilty at the thought of people losing lives to those tornadoes. But they are such a fantastic work of nature - and I don't like thunderstorms much either! Oh, and we've had the drizzle for a while now. I shall put the girls away shortly as it is so dark outside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy chickens! Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 I was living in Spain and missed it! Didn't find out about it for several days and felt quite shocked reading about all the destruction, seemed surreal. Very fed up with weather today - after windsurfing course for boys being cancelled due to lack of wind on Monday, no prizes for guessing what happend today! Very This afternoon the sun came out for a bit as I was out in my big coat - was so cold earlier - and felt very foolish as it was then very warm! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Bits of blue today .... I wonder what those are? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Well, after a biblical type deluge all day yesterday, it dawned bright and beautiful today, fast clouding over though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Started off nice and it still is - don't know how long it'll last Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrensWorld Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Lovely yesterday, today it's raining. Irish type misty rain, soaks you through to the skin in minutes. Everyone over here is hoping for an indian summer, fingers crossed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 We've been hoping for that all summer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 The morning has stayed sunny. I got out for a 5 mile road run for the first time for ages then have been blackberrying with the dog for an hour. I've got enough for my "nothing but blackberry, no water added" wine now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 A rainy, miserable day yesterday but lovely today... until about 5pm... persistent drizzle now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrensWorld Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 It's as black as Newgates knocker, and pouring down.................. again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 It clouded over last night and was dark by 8pm Bright enough this morning but the 11 deg showing on my thermometer at 6.30am this mornign in no way reflected the wind chill from the biting northerly we have gusting across town Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy chickens! Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 Wind, rain, more wind more rain, occasional burst of sunshine which disappear the moment I go in the garden. Am going to throw the squabbling children out there anyway! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 It's a bit sunnier here now - I managed to get the washing dry this morning despite a few squalls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 This morning, I felt I was going to need to start ark building. I have never seen rain like it and hurricane windy too. Now still a big breeze but dry for now, but looks like the heavens are going to open again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 Sighs... another sunny/rainy/windy... sunny/rainy/windy etc. etc. sort of day... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clootie Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 At last, we've got rain !! Saves me getting the hose out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 Wild, windy and wet weather for a couple of days here. Blumming cold as well. Off to buy some coal later as we have run out and it was cold enough last night to have had a fire lit. Very windy and dry at the moment but I can see some dark clouds rolling towards us, temp 10c Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrensWorld Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 Overcast and a touch of drizzle.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 Cloudy here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 Sunshine and showers. Been doing a little greenhouse gardening and those naught chickens just stole a whole punnet of blueberries I had kept for lunch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 We had a lovely sunny day yesterday Back to drizzly white sky today... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
