Post-Katie Recovery Process

This morning we began the post-Katie recovery process. Once we could reach the broken greenhouse this is what greeted us:

Broken greenhousePerspex broken

Some of the perspex had blown round the house and, torn, come to rest against the front gardener’s arbour. In reassembling all this we could have done with a three-year-old who would have recognised where all the bits went.

Gate dislodged

The concrete base for the iron gate had been uprooted and the structure knocked sideways.

Finch

We entertained a pair of finches of some sort.

The really pleasant surprise was that large areas of the garden went unscathed. The area around the house took the brunt of the gales.

View across Heligan Path

The Weeping Birch Bed,

Heligan Path

The Heligan Path,

View across grass to Dead End Path

and the borders around the grass patch, were all unharmed.

Side path

Side path and lifted concrete

Continuing this afternoon we rebuilt the frames on the side path. The second view shows the lifted  concrete mentioned above.

Agriframes Gothic Arch

We then provided additional support for the fallen arches, and heeled them in. Through the one in the front garden can be seen the pot of daffodils returned to their perch;

Jackie adjusting arch on Dead End Path

and here Jackie adjusts that across the Dead End Path.

After this we transported the last two bags of cuttings, filled on Sunday by Aaron and Robin, to the dump, returning with two wooden folding chairs,

Stove and log bin

and a galvanised bin just right for carrying logs, which was just as well because it will be a week before we will receive our tank of oil.

I managed to load up this container before Shelly popped in for a visit.

It seemed a bit harsh to expect The Head Gardener to cook after such a day, so we dined at Lal Quilla in Lymington. My choice was king prawn Ceylon, and Jackie’s chicken sag. We shared special fried rice, egg paratha and onion bhaji; and both drank Kingfisher. The meal and service were as good as always.

67 comments

  4. Oh, it DOES look lovely – even after the wreckage. I thought that picture of Jackie was of her taunting the gods – ” You think you can ruin us? Think again! “

    Reply

  6. I am relieved to note that no reports of damage to the Old Post House were recorded. What a whopper wind that was to take out a big blob of concrete and an iron gate – the poor pots of daffodils didn’t stand a chance! It was most gentlemanly of you to take Jackie out to dinner after that massive clean-up 🙂 here’s hoping that’s the last hurricane for a while!

    Reply

  7. I was thinking that the Head Cook (also the Head Gardener) deserved a night off. Oh, the mess that storm made, but you and Jackie seem to have things under control.

    Reply

  9. You and Jackie know what’s what. You give thanks for all the things unharmed by the storm, and yes, there’s work to do to bring that greenhouse to order, but you wisely ended the day being served with good food by someone else. Well done.

    Reply

  10. Despite some of the damage, it’s still lovely, Derrick. I’m happy to hear the “Head Gardener” got a nice meal prepared for her. As my dad would say, “You’re a good egg.” 🙂

    Reply

  14. Like getting into a car the first time after you’ve been in an accident, it’s a good thing to go out as soon as possible and thumb your nose at the weather Fates.
    The “finch” is a house sparrow. Though, like starling populations, their numbers have fallen off a cliff in the last decade +, they are returning to former haunts. I’m surprised that an out-&-out townie couldn’t recognize at least THAT one!

    Reply

  17. At first I thought Katie was your wife. I should remember her name because Jackie was my mother’s name. Well, Jaquelyn.
    I’m glad no one was hurt and I like how you use pictures to tell a story. I sometimes read and do not comment but I read often.

    Reply

  19. The house itself must have caused the wind to whip around even more violently, leaving the open garden at peace. Take the recovery one step at a time, we don’t want you and the Head Gardener coming down ill again!

    Reply

  22. It’s a male House Sparrow, Derrick, quite a rare bird these days and one which indicates the good health of your garden, even if you don’t quite think so at the moment!

    Reply

  23. Nothing like Indian food sitting solidly in your stomach after a day’s labour. It’s nice that the sparrow/finch came to supervise the post storm work. We hope his advice was constructive and not flighty.

    Reply

Leave a Reply