The storm which began at mid morning yesterday continues to rage until, we are told, midnight today.
This was the view from our French windows 24 hours after we had laid down the furniture. We had left the blue wooden table standing because we thought it heavy enough to withstand the gales. We were wrong. Against the window behind the figure is wedged someone’s dustbin lid. To have reached its resting point it has to have sailed over a fence as if a giant’s Frisbee and slalomed along one or two of our paths.
Feeling as if I had joined Dorothy in the grip of a Kansas tornado, I made a very brief survey of damage. Aaron had firmly fixed the long, now broken, mirror lying on the gravel to the struts on the fence. Beside it flops clematis Campaniflora, also wrenched from its moorings on the arch spanning the path.
Between that fence and the patio stands an ornamental poplar. Its branches are being severely twisted. Out of shot is a hook attached to wire which is used to hold open the wrought iron gate. I clipped it into place to take the second photograph. With a thunder clap the gate slammed shut when the wire was snapped.
Here is a representative sample of crashed pots and a rose ripped from its ties. A final inventory will perforce be featured tomorrow.
This afternoon, to take her mind off the garden destruction – rather more than I photographed earlier – Jackie drove us to Mudeford, where I discovered that what breaks the heart of a gardener encourages pleasure seekers to rush to become blown about and thoroughly wet.
While their adults hunkered down in the car parks, the younger gulls bobbed about like rubber ducks in a wave bath.
Three or four of these unsuspecting youngsters suddenly appeared toting plastic packaging over which they squabbled.
From the quayside I was able to see both kite-surfers and sailboarders in the distance, operating from Avon Beach.
Crabbing was taking place as usual, however I was tempted to walk along to the beach for a nearer view of those engaged in water sports.
A gentleman rested his waking-boot-clad feet while his muzzled husky took a breather.
The powerful winds had been unable to uproot these secure mooring buoys.
Various groups wandered on and off the warm sands.
Skimming sailboarders and spraying surfers sped across stormy seas.
Races ensued;
other paths crossed.
While the winds were ushering me onwards, the walk to the beach had seemed quite a good wheeze. Not so the return during which, like the gulls in the air I laboured to stay still.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s tasty new “prawns and stuff” – “stuff’ being peppers, tomatoes, and garlic; with Tesco’s firm fish pie; her own piquant cauliflower cheese; and crunchy carrots. We both drank Definition Gruner Veltliner 2017.
Oh my goodness – that heavy table shows that we just never know what a storm will bring –
the pictures all say so much and my fav is the man on bench with husky next to him – wow – so interesting a shot
Thanks very much, Yvette. He was sitting with his wife and another husky, but it wouldn’t have been kind to have included her
Wondering why – but surely not needed
Unfortunate expression
got it.,…
Oh, head gardener! I feel for you. Hope the damage isn’t too bad and will anxiously waiting for a report.
Thanks very much, Laurie. We will soon be making good
Catching birds in flight is difficult — you did it though — marvelous shots, Derrick.
Thanks very much, Cindy. A lot didn’t make the cut 🙂
Stunning bird captures. Love the way the people’s faces tell you what the weather is like.
Thanks very much, Gary
Interesting observation about people’s faces!
Yes
Great photos but I’m sorry about the damage to your garden and all your beautiful flowers. I hope it can be repaired.
Thanks very much, Lisa. We will have lost quite a bit but all will eventually recover by next year
My sentiments exactly.
Thanks also Liz
🙂
Looks like quite a storm Derrick!
Yes, for us. Thanks very much, Gary
OH, my! 😮 OH, gosh! 🙁 Sorry to see some damage already! Poor Head Gardener! 🙁 Those bad winds and storm was cruel! Hope things can be righted and repaired.
Storms sure do effect everyone and everything…from the smallest creature to the biggest buildings and trees, etc. 🙁
Your bird captures are spectacular! As are you wave photos! Beautiful, Derrick! 🙂
I hope in your next post you can say that things calmed down! I do NOT want to see photos of The Tin Man, The Cowardly Lion, The Scarecrow, The Wizard, or flying monkeys! Or hear that you are dining in Oz! 😮 😛
Be safe! HUGS!!! 🙂
Many thanks, Carolyn. I’m pleased you got the Oz reference. X
In your first post about the wind, I ALMOST said “We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto”…but I refrained. Ha! 😀
Great minds 🙂
I’m so sorry to see the damage done to your beautiful garden, Derrick. I have no doubt that you and Jackie will restore it back to all of its glory. Fantastic ocean shots!
Thanks very much, Jill. And we have Aaron to help tomorrow
Wild weather indeed! I don’t know why these storms wait until the garden has reached perfection and then destroy so much! I can well imagine our beloved head gardener is heart broken. Still, I’m glad that rubbish bin lid came safely to rest and didn’t fly through the window! Clearing up will keep you two busy for the next few days – I hope to hear little Nugget is safe too. And of course I’m immensely curious about the ‘wouldn’t have been kind’ comment on the resting walker’s wife omission …… 😀
Many thanks, Pauline. We should be able to get cracking today. Just an unfortunate expression, and the dog had its head turned away 🙂
Excellent action shots of both humans and birds. I am sorry to see the damage in your garden. It must be quite dispiriting to see hard work blown away.
It is rather, Tootlepedal. One thing that has surprised me is windburn. Thanks very much. (I hoped you’d like the flying birds 🙂 )
Glad everyone made it ok.
Thanks very much, Alien
Heartbreaking after all your preparations.
Many thanks, Gwen. Jackie has been very upset, but we will recover
I am sorry to see all the damage to your garden. You both worked so hard at preparing for it. I hope Nugget found a safe spot to ride out the winds.
Thanks very much, Lavinia. We will start the clear up today and have ourselves been concerned about Nugget. We hope he will emerge
Do you often have storms in August? This year we’re having strange weather in the Pacific Northwest. August is usually our hottest, driest month. This year it’s decidedly mild, even some rain.
You did well to go to Modeford, where the waves crashed and the gulls and sailboarders frolicked. I hope the garden cleanup won’t be too difficult.
Thanks very much, Nicki, especially for your kid comments. We don’t normally have these storms in August – even those that come later are not so severe.
It’s validating to hear someone else mention the weather this year in the PacNW. Too dry and warm in April-June, now all this rain when it’s supposed to be dry. So odd.
I’m pleased you can both share this
Oh, your plants…..
Thanks very much, Arlene
only damage in the garden and work accordingly.
ps: how have the animals resisted in freedom (ponies, cows, donkeys …) during the storm?
Thanks very much, Yoshimi. We haven’t been into the forest yet for fear of falling trees
It seems we were lucky in the east and the storm had blown itself out before reaching us here. A bit windy in Grimsby but no damage!
That’s good, Andrew. At least the wind, coming from the south, is warm. Only 20 m.p.h. now. Thanks a lot
Such a shame about your beautiful garden particularly as you took pre-emptive measures!
It could have been much worse, Sheree. Thank you very much
Very nice alliteration with the sailboarders and with the winds, D! 😉
So sorry for Jackie and you over the garden, and a broken mirror to boot – that can’t be good. 🙁
With the winds and the seas (and the outfits people are wearing) it seems more like a Winter over here in ‘Oz’ ! 😉
Hoping little Nugget did not get blown away and returns to supervise the garden reconstruction soon! 🙂
Thanks very much, Bob. We hope Nugget will emerge today
Finger’s crossed! 🙂
He’s here
😀 That is very good news! Thank you.
So sorry about the damage to your beautiful garden.
Thanks very much, Sue. Not much worse today – it will recover
Quite a storm you had!! The wind can be so powerful. That’s a problem trying to get across to people here who have never gone through a hurricane.
Yes, indeed. It is the strongest I’ve ever experienced. A couple of years ago it reached 100 m.p.h. but that was overnight. Thanks very much, GP.
The sea pictures are great. They really capture the action.
Thanks very much, Rabirius
I’m so sorry about the wind damage to your garden, but I’m glad there was no terrible damage to your house. I’m happy to hear Nugget is okay. Those shots of the gulls are wonderful–though not that they’re perhaps eating plastic.
I enjoyed photo and caption of the man and his dog. 🙂
Thank you very much, Merril. Perhaps they were tidying up
I do hope the damage to your beautiful garden is minimal. I loved the shots from the beach.
It really didn’t get much worse, Jerry. Many thanks
I’ve heard quite a few people had their gardens damaged. We were quite lucky here in Mid Wales and didn’t suffer too badly.
Loving the windsurfer shots!
Thanks very much, Nikki. Ours didn’t get much worse.
such a wind. It’s good you battened down the hatches before it started. I hope the table isn’t damaged and that Nugget is safe.
Thanks very much, Lisa. The table is undamaged and Nugget is safe and chirpy
Good to hear!
So sorry to see your beautiful garden sustain so much storm damage, Derrick! The Head Gardener has her work cut out for her, it seems. Your dynamic photos of sailboarding, though, make me want to get back into the waves.
Thanks very much, Dolly. As you will see, we fared rather better than expected
You’re very welcome, Derrick
Glad to read, as I perused the previous comments, that our Head Apprentice is safe and sound. 🙂
Many thanks, Widders
Wow! Quite the storm. Those winds must’ve been exhilarating and a bit terrifying.
They certainly were. The speed at which those sailboarders sped was itself frightening. Thanks very much, Leslie
Intresting.
I’m sorry you had a mess to clean up, but glad most of the life there is safe and well. Life has so much beauty, and still, the messes, like that amazing detailed in the shot of the birds fighting over a piece of plastic.
Thanks very much, JoAnna
Good heavens it did turn out to be serious. I am so glad you had the chance to take precautions. How is your knee recovery and your stamina? Because if you’re in any kind of decent shape, I imagine you’ll be put to work, ha ha!
I can barely move unless I want to 🙂 Thanks very much, Crystal
That was some storm! I thought the roof would get blown off.
I’m glad it din’t, Inese. Thanks very much