TRIAL AND ERROR

Yesterday’s weather forecast predicted a lessening of the strength of the wind and in our region…..they lied! Throughout the night the storm raged about us, the wind came in great gusts and rain fell in torrents. At odd times during the course of the night, awakened by the deafening racket we met each other on the landing and discussed the possibility of a:losing the roof :b our old fruit trees withstanding yet another buffeting and c:would we ever get to sleep .

 This restlessness had consequences,it was almost eleven before we were all up and about so that we spent the rest of the day playing catch up and I have to report that we failed in the attempt! Realising that it was useless to attempt any major tasks I set about ordering the fuel supplies which will last through to the New Year. In this rural spot there is no piped gas and so we have a large cylinder which fuels the gas rings on the kitchen range.

We have a large oil tank which supplies the central heating system and provides hot water. As a back up there is an immersion heater for hot water if we run out of oil and ,of course there are the wood stoves should all else fail! Logs, already ordered are arriving on Monday, oil will be delivered on Tuesday and coal on Wednesday. Once that lot has arrived the blasted weather can do as it pleases, we shall survive and be warm.

 A couple of years ago during a snowstorm the electricity was cut off by falling trees and it remained off for a couple of weeks. This upset the residents and they kicked up a rumpus, soon afterwards the cables were installed underground so we are no longer at the mercy of the elements as far as lighting is concerned. My other task has been trialing my son’s computer to see if I like it,my own lap top is even creakier than I am and I am in the market for a new piece of kit. I am typing this blog on my son’s new Chromebook……...at present the jury is still out.

 Darkness has now fallen and the wind has risen to screaming pitch,the sound of the rain on the conservatory roof and on the kitchen light well is terrifying .I am consoled by the fact that this house has withstood almost four hundred years of storms gales and even the odd hurricane. It is my intention now to pour myself a large glass of Scotch, put on some seasonal music and ignore the weather for an hour or two. Then with the aid of some newly acquired ear plugs I shall, with luck, sleep through the mayhem….if my cat will let me!