Lady Emma Hamilton Beheaded

This post of Merril’s: https://merrildsmith.wordpress.com/2022/10/31/folktober-challenge-day-31/ and mine of https://derrickjknight.com/2014/10/06/the-uses-of-enchantment/ were both brought to mind by the night of howling gales we have just experienced on such an apt date.

Although the heavy rain had temporarily given way to a spell of sunshine allowing me to be buffeted around the garden shortly before lunch as I inspected the damage, the gales continued throughout the unseasonably warm day.

We are in a direct line from the Needles of the Isle of Wight, where gusts of 115 m.p.h. were recorded.

Numerous chairs and parasols;

plant pots and their stands;

wheelbarrows;

and various owls had been toppled.

Lady Emma Hamilton had been neatly beheaded, seemingly with one sharp blow.

This evening we dined on Jackie’s chicken jalfrezi, pilau rice, and vegetable samosas, with which she drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Côtes du Rhône.

99 comments

  1. Such strong winds cause great devastation in a garden. You are very accepting of the turmoil you must both feel about the upturned everything. Fortunately, most things can be put to rights. I like to think of you both snug indoors while the wind howls and am glad ‘order’ could be restored with a delicious meal!

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  4. Poor Lady Hamilton–and the rest of your garden. I’m glad there’s no damage to the house or any of you. We had rain last night, too–but fortunately no wind. Thank you very much for the shout out! 💙

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  8. We just get the odd freak wind but your garden seems to be hit a number of times if I recall from previews post. The hope the white pedestal can be repaired. Save Lady Hamilton in a vase for at least a few day. I’m pleased though that everyone was safe.

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  10. Those sudden gusts can cause havoc… So sorry your garden got the brunt of such wind.. though nothing can repair the beheading.. 🙁 ….
    Sending Hugs your way…. Hopefully you will soon have it back to its former glory.. <3

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  13. I thought we had a lot of gales but you seem to have had more than your fair share lately. What a night! Can you imagine being out at sea on such a one?

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  15. Oh, my! Oh, no! 😮 🙁 Poor Lady Hamilton! She was a beauty. Did she get to live in a vase or a bowl of water for a few days after the storm???
    Gosh, on all the owls down. 🙁
    I know you all righted all the toppled things.
    (((HUGS))) ❤️
    PS…Hang onto your hats and your heads! 😉

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  19. That all looks very bad, Derrick. I’m sorry to see it. I hope you rescued Lady Em and floated her in a teacup of water, although I dare say you had other priorities.

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    2. That’s what I was thinking also. And I have to find out about the Needles Derrick mentioned early in the piece. We are just no match for nature when it decides to show its teeth, no matter where we live.

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  21. Oh gosh! So discouraging to have winds like that rip through your garden and make such a big mess. Hope the damage isn’t too bad. Also hope you didn’t lose your power.

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  22. May all things right themselves in due course. Beheading on the other hand is quite devestating!
    Wishing you all balmy days ahead for the cleanup.

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  27. Well, this is interesting. I wonder who it was that made the decision to name the Needles thus?

    Why are The Needles of the Isle of Wight called that?

    The name the Needles comes from the fourth rock, which was needle-shaped and known as ‘Lot’s Wife’. The book of Genesis in the Bible records that Lot’s Wife was turned into a pillar of salt as a punishment for looking back after being told not to when she was fleeing from the destruction of Sodom.

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  29. Such damage! But I suppose you’re grateful that the wind didn’t put a pot or decorative piece through your windows.

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  36. Wow! You did have mighty windy weather.
    Hopefully your garden will be returned to its regular splendour forthwith.
    Take good care.
    x

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