23 January 2016

How lucky we were.

Our weather forecast was hail and some high winds !
It all happened so quickly, we heard the hailstones on the windows,
the noise of the wind in the trees, and then saw things flying past the window.
It was recorded as a mini tornado, and we must have been in the eye of it.
We were so lucky......

If these very large high trees  had fallen in the other direction,
 the cottage would now just be rubble.
That's the corner of our cottage on the edge of this photo.

We are just thankful that it was just the road that was blocked
and the trees hadn't fallen on the cottage.

The electricity and telephone cables were brought down 
and we don't get a signal to use our mobile phones........
Fortunately the road which passes our house joins another road. 
so we were able to get out and alert the local commune.
Who quickly alerted the necessary services 
The next day a team of 4 men came to cut the fallen trees
 and clear the road so that the electric & telephone 
cables could be fixed back on the poles.
As we are so rural our cables have still to be put under-ground.
Now the huge tree trunks on the side of the road.
Not sure how long they will remain there,
as the owner of this land is now in a retirement home,
and in France everyone is responsible for looking after their own land !

Do you remember seeing pictures of our lovely pergola ?
during the summer it's covered in a grape vine 
with a Bignone/Campsis - orange trumpet climber.




This is what it looks like now.


Most of the boundary fencing was in bits
 and the rest was blown away.


I know it's sad when trees that have have been there for years, 
are damaged by storms, but these had never been managed 
and were far to high and too close to our property,
so in a way we are happy.

Can you believe that this window decoration remained in place,
it was on a sheltered wall.


I've just seen the news on our television
and seen how many states in the USA
are being given warnings of severe snow storms .
To all of you that maybe affected, I hope you stay warm and safe.

Weather permitting, I'm hoping that soon
I'll be able to get on with preparing some raised flower-beds
for the new David Austin roses I've chosen.
( with  help from Mr France of course. )

I'll be back when the storm damage is cleared up,
and the flower-beds prepared,

So until then .

à bientôt
Barbara Lilian





10 comments:

  1. Barbara I thought I commented before..I finally got a post of yours in my INBOX:)
    Wish it was for a cheerier post..lots of damage..that beautiful pergola!
    Loved that yousaid "we were so lucky"~
    And right you are! Things could have been far worse..take care ..

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  2. I'm sad that you have lost that beautiful pergola and there will be lots of work to repair everything but how lucky that nobody was hurt. We were caught in the 1986 hurricane and lost a lot of trees and we're without power for a week.

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  3. Oh my goodness gracious . . .
    How awful, so close by . . .
    Thankful you are okay, safe, not hurt . . .
    Lovely pergola . . . sad!
    ( thank you for your pretty Happy New Year card, just arrived yesterday!)

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  4. Dear Barbara
    WOW - what frightening experience you poor dears!
    The wind can be very strong especially when it can cause damage like your pergola.
    Will you Insurance company cover the cost of re-building it?
    The trees look like they could h ave been struck by lightening.
    Wish I lived closer and could offer to help you - this is when communities pull together and help one another.
    As one gets older these happenings become harder for us, I know.
    Sending love and prayers, the main thing is you two are ok.
    Shane x

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  5. SCARY!!!! So glad that you are ok and that the damage was truly so minimal . The damage that was done can be repaired or replaced but people can't be and you are so very lucky ♥ Can't wait to see the new flowerbeds and the roses .

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  6. Dear Barbara - I am just so thankful that you and Mr. France were safe. What a huge amount of damage was done but how blessed it didn't damage your home. Feel so bad about your lovely pergola but I know that in time you will have it replaced. Thank you for caring too about those in the U.S. We were so fortunate here but others really got hit hard. Well take care and keep safe friend. Sending you hugs and praying for better days ahead.

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  7. Dear Barbra Lilian, this is the first time I have visited your blog. So sorry for the nearby damage. And the pergola. But so happy your whole cottage wasn't lost!

    I am in the upper North East of the United States. We were above the big US storm, but know those who were in it. Everyone safe though. Mother Nature does what she chooses!!!!!!! We have to realize how tiny we are, in the grand scheme of things. :-)

    I look forward to visiting here. In your lovely blog.

    Gentle hugs,
    Tessa
    Upper NE of US

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  8. Oh my goodness, Barbara! So glad that the two of you are safe! That was a close call, for sure, and so glad that the trees fell the other way. It is sad about your pergola and the fencing, but these things can be repaired in due time (or just taken down). We are very familiar with high winds here in the Pacific Northwest. Every year we lose a tree or two. Right now we have a huge fir tree lying across our back fence, but we are very grateful it fell that way and not towards the house. It is always something.......now the coyotes are getting in. So very glad you are safe. xx Karen

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  9. So glad to hear you were safe through the mini tornado, Barbara. These pictures show the destruction of what one can do. I've been hearing of all the snow storms going on right now that have affected so many families. Yes, we are so fortunate to have milder weather in our midst.

    love, ~Sheri

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  10. I'm just now reading about your storm damage Barbara - so, very sorry you had to go through this. Thankfully your home seems safe despite all the trees that fell, but your pergola can be rebuilt hopefully. We had terrible damage to our home twice over the years via hurricanes - so frightening, especially the one the happened at night in the dark, we had no idea as to what we would find in the morning! I lost my car, flattened like a pancake under a huge oak tree, two more had fallen on the roof.

    Take care, hope things have calmed down somewhat by now.
    Hugs - Mary

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