Gales

I've just had an email from DS1 & family in northern California. They are in the teeth of the worst storm for many years. DiL has just collected DGS as the school has lost power. There are floods and mud slides forecast.

The wind was up a bit this morning, but it's dropped again now, I think the worst is due through here in East Anglia tonight.

We've never had anything to beat the 1987 "hurricane" round these parts, though.

That is right Marelli, The shops being small don't carry that much stock, the likes of bread and milk in normal circumstances usually go quite quickly.
The family that died in the storm you mentioned were swept off the causeway, on South Uist, so sad. I live on North Uist

I do hope all of you in the North and Northwest and especially the Western Isles are safe and keep that way.

I hope things soon calm down for you, newist. I saw the lady on the news saying that as soon as there's an emergency such as this, some shoppers buy everything up and there's nothing left for everyone else!
I remember some years ago, the tragedy of the family who lost their lives on the causeway in similar terrible weather (not sure which island you're on).

The Stromness lifeboat was called out in the gales and escorted a damaged Spanish trawler off Orkney to safety. One of the lifeboatmen spoke of 25-30 metre waves What brave men they are. I think the RNLI is one of the best charities to support for those of us who live on an island!

The storms here in the Hebrides have been awful. Last night was horrendous, Thunder, lightning, hail and terrible winds whistling round the house. The electric has been off and on all day, which is better than some people have had. My internet has just come back on, for how long I don't know.
There have been no ferries for 2 days, tomorrow weather permitting they might be a sailing, I do hope so because some people may run out of food.
All of the schools are closed. The waves are unbelievably high so great care is needed when crossing the causeways that link the islands together.
We are having to let our 2 cats come to bed with us because they are so unsettled by the noise of the wind

flicketyb - I too live in a timber framed house with stone chimneys either end and on an exposed small hill - rain/water will find it's way in when it is blowing a gale (last winter was when I discovered the 'rain getting in' ) so gaps have been filled and the rain still comes down the chimney when accompanied by the wind even though I have a proper wood burning stove and chimney lining.
hope my chimney is not 'destabilised' (accompanied by a sharp intake of breath) but my thoughts are that if a chimney/house has stood on an exposed spot for the best part of 300 years it will be good for a few more
here in the South Midlands it looks as if it will not be too bad.

It's windy, but certainly not blowing a gale here.

Extremely windy here in Boston, and raining now as well. Trying to figure out how to stop the letterbox clattering all night, my daughter sleeps in that room. If I stick it down, the postman won`t get any mail through in the morning.

Batten down your hatches Newist. Seriously take care, although I suspect you are used to this sort of event.
We would like a report if and when you still have or regain power. I am glad I live in the rain shadow of North Wales It takes the edge of a lot of our bad weather.

The wind is horrendous here this evening.

I am relaxing into gales this winter. We live in an old timber framed house with a central chimney stack. This time last year we noticed water trickling down the bedroom walls each side of our main chimney breast.
The cause was our electricity supply cable which was very long (50m) and when it reached the house was attached to the chimney. The gales were making the cable swing so much it was destabilising the chimney and threatening to bring it down.

We contacted the our electricity supplier, who was mildly interested. To cut a long story short, they did not finally come and replace the overhead cable with an underground supply until July so from December last year until July this year every time there were strong winds (and there were a lot last winter) we couldn't rest or relax for fear that any moment our chimney would collapse doing heaven knows how much damage to our house.

Now with our electricity supply underground and our chimney repaired we can relax when the wind blows.

The storm looks like it could be potentially nasty.

We are going to my sister's for our annual family Christmas shindig this weekend. The weather is always rubbish on this day and some have a 3 hour drive there and back! I remember my Mum slipping on ice outside the house on more than one occasion! We are hoping to use the train and have a drink or two, but the storm will probably mean leaves on the line!!

Must make sure my ear plugs are handy...