Severe weather in South West France???

[garden_serf]

I was wondering how people are holding out in the rough weather in South West France.
I know Goldilox is in that region. Hows goes things???
Are you coping ok?
Anyone else there?

[goldilox]

Hi Garden Serf,

Thanks for thinking of us. Yes, we were right in the path of the storm.
It was pretty horrendous at the time and there's a lot of damage around - loads of trees down, electric poles snapped in half and lines down, roof damage etc.

We actually got off fairly lightly. We had tiles off the roof (although, reassuringly, not on the roofs which we've renovated) and part of the hangar roof ended up in the pool. Spent most of Saturday afternoon replacing that and the missing tiles. BUT, we lost our new greenhouse which has only been up 6-8 weeks. It was totally decimated by the wind, we found polycarbonate sheets at the other end of the adjacent field, which is actually quite a distance. Surprisingly, all the sheets were intact, but unfortunately we've lost a lot of the fittings, and the aluminium frame is rather mangled. Hopefully the insurance will pay out on that.

Haven't been in touch with the world for nearly 3 days - we had no power until an hour ago, but all seems back to normal for us now. Luckily we had a generator so were able to keep the freezers from defrosting, but would imagine there are a lot of people who have lost the lot.

A friend of ours in the next village is totally dependent on electricity for her wellbeing - she couldn't even boil a kettle. She's been coming to us each day for a hot meal as we cook on bottled gas, but it wasn't until today that we realised she also has no heating - all electric again - she's just been wearing lots of clothes and wrapping herself in blankets. Don't think she has her electric on yet - we can't see any lights over there.

Anyway, hopefully that's the end of it, but it will take a long time to get everyone back to normal.

Glad to be back in the land of the living,
Chris

[Johnboy]

Hi Goldilox,
I too was thinking about you when the storm details reached here and I am very glad that you are appear both hail and hearty even if a little bit shaken. Sad about your greenhouse. Hope the insurance company cough-up!
I was in Tarn in the early 1990's when a very violent storm took place. It caused massive damage and the river Tarn flooded causing several deaths as fallen trees coming down the river breached one of the hydro-electric scheme dams and released a torrent of water which reeked absolute havoc.
I am just very glad that you are both still with us!
JB.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Chris, i'm too glad to hear that you are safe and well, but sorry to read about the damage.

I would just like to say how nice it was to read that you still managed to find time to come to your friends help, with all that was going on at your own place.
Very thoughtful indeed.

[goldilox]

Thanks JB and OH - yes, we're still here, you can't get rid of us that easily
And if we'd been really thoughtful we'd have realised poor Judith didn't have any heating a bit sooner
Now we're back in touch with the world we're hearing some real horror stories and realise just how lucky we've been. Apparently Les Landes have lost 60 percent of their pine forests - flattened! And friends of ours watched their hangar rise up into the air and then smash down on top of their campervan and car.
As I'm writing this I suddenly realise just how trivial our greenhouse seems - at least we're alive and in one piece - material things can be replaced.

[garden_serf]

Just seen the messages, had a busy day yesterday supervising four 18 & 19 year old boys with painting duties!!! Aaaahhh, no hair left (pulling hair out smilie). No, I am ok really I'm used to it.

Goldilox, I was thinking about you when I heard about the the weather on news and I am really glad to hear you have survived OK and even managed to help people, very neighbourly!!

[goldilox]

Thanks GS, not really - I have to cook for us anyway, and one more isn't a problem.