Storm Eowyn

Red warnings over Ireland and Scotland today for strong winds. Some gusts were over 100 miles an hour. Almost a million houses are without power over Northern Ireland and Eire, and the storm is moving across to Scotland.

Amber warnings for North Wales and the North of England. The rest has had yellow warnings.

I woke this morning to the wind blowing through the cat flaps, seeking the gaps around the kitchen window, and whistling round the door. The bare skeletons of the trees were rattling their branches together. I think the birds were hunkering down in the bushes. Next door has a scaffolding platform in their yard while they work on the roof and walls. That shivered and shuddered as strong gusts blew past it. I was worried it would blow into my yard. The cats have been out but quickly rushed back in.

People were warned not to travel and trees have been uprooted and structures damaged. There has also been flooding in costal areas. This is one of the worst storms recently, but they are getting more frequent.

But the large country to the West of us has a new president that does not believe there is a problem. He wants more oil and gas development.

He is the reason for a lot of hot air.

Storm Francis

The storm has been winding round our house all day. Trees bending, wind moaning through the gap in our badly sealed kitchen window. Gusts over 50 miles an hour. The fence is collapsing, the hanging baskets are skittering about, too heavy to take down from their brackets. I will wait and see what damage results from the storm. Meanwhile its blowing across the whole country, an unusually low pressure system for this time of year is tearing at the leaves on the trees. There will be trees blown over, heavy seas, gusting winds. Not fit for man or dog! Torrential rain falling and flooding towns and villages. Not fun. X