We knew it was coming. The forecast was for a strong gale force wind but we had experienced such a gale before in our new rural location. This would ‘blow over’ and before we knew it, all would be well again. The day started with a few strong gusts, around the 40 mph mark; however, by 10 o’clock we were up at the 80+ mph mark. The trees were swaying violently, the fence panels moving in ways that they shouldn’t, and the log store roof gave up the ghost rather quickly. Two external lights I had fitted to the walls flung themselves to the floor, as if it to say “your DIY skills are rubbish”.
A far greater problem then become evident. Our cat, Tilly, desperately wanted to go outside. We tried to explain why this may not be safe, for a sub-4kg cat in that wind; however, such arguments didn’t make sense to one who was desperate. Eventually, with her wrapped under one arm, we darted out the back door and took her to a sheltered patch in the garden. The word sheltered is relative. Another key facet to understand is that she has standards: you can’t just stand there and watch, nor even turn your back and appear not to be interested. You have to clear the area, so she can do her business without observation. Wouldn’t you?
I popped around the garden, checking upon any possible damage. Other than the fence panel flexing at a precipitous angle, the log store roof, now elsewhere, amazingly the greenhouse and shed stood firm. The barrier of a few evergreen trees were doing their job in protecting these outbuildings. Not the case, so sadly, for our neighbour whose greenhouse now lacked glass, and their shed had been returned to kit form.
Tilly, now feeling relieved, was trying to replicate a soldier’s travel across the battleground, crawling on their belly towards the desired target location. Eventually she had made it to the back door and made a dart for safety.
During the afternoon, the wind started to abate and so we felt it wise (it wasn’t) to check on the fence panel. Realising that it had been attached to another fence, we sought to reset it to the vertical. Grabbing a bag of quick-setting cement, we cleared a hole around the bottom of the fence post, and poured in the cement. This then, energised by the 50mph wind, went everywhere. Not concerned, we poured water in and gave it a stir. Taking spare planks, we gave the fence panel, we set them at 45 degrees, to offset the wind beating upon the now erected panel. {And it worked!}
The power was out, and the daylight was starting to fade. Candles were lit, and the fire was roaring. The luxury of the log burner, to someone from the city, was now a necessity for those in the country. The metallic kettle was gently whistling, allowing us to enjoy a cuppa. Jacket potatoes were wrapped in kitchen foil and placed in the fire. A saucepan was put next to the kettle, filled with soup. This would be our tea, that with some warm scones we had enjoyed earlier. It might take an hour or so for the kettle to boil but it allowed us to contemplate the pace of life today. How we maybe always looking to the future, and not living (and enjoying) the present. Without power, we controlled the use of our mobile phones, and listened to the radio. How different to watching a film on the TV!
The night was cold, and the desire to keep warm necessitated a cuppa at 1am. This meant that the fire had to be re-stoked, another log or 2 on the fire, with Tilly now very keen to lay full stretch near to this ever changing orange glow. Within 20 minutes, a cuppa was able to be made. Do we always seek the instant response? Was the cat trying to say something?
The wind in the morning was now more of a strong breeze (to the Scots – is that suitable for a short sleeve t-shirt?). The day was spent re-cementing some tiles outside the back step, fixing the external lights back onto wall, and re-attaching a panel in an external door. Knowing that we had some old laminate flooring available, we started to construct a small rectangle which could be placed onto the log store. This was quickly followed with some felting material. A bit Heath-Robinson?
Eventually the power was temporarily restored. Perhaps if the power was reconnected the timing for compensation may be re-started, or hopefully they just wanted to ensure that the elderly folk got some heating at last. This was our third power outage in 5 months. Some have yet to be reconnected.
What did we learn?
We followed some of the neighbours to take up a cheap offer of accommodation on the motorway so we could have a hot shower wash and a relatively goodnights sleep.
Tilly was able to be accommodated at a local cattery (for free due to the extenuating circumstances) for as long as we needed. She was warm and safe.
We contacted friends online, the phone battery permitting, to check on how they were doing in the gales – especially a lady on the 15th floor of a block of flats in Glasgow. Her humorous responses made our day, as did a lovely phone call with our granddaughter.
We saw the opportunity to live in the present. To listen to the radio and converse a lot more rather than watch the TV. We took the opportunity to enjoy our time in the garden, when safe to do so. Now, we need to ensure that this is not just learnt but embedded in our life as we continue living the dream.