Tickety-boo

The west wind howled and whipped its way across the country on Thursday night, and I came down in the morning to a power cut and several of my roof slates lying on the ground, smashed. The worst thing was not being able to make a cup of tea, but I was due to pick Ruth up at 9 and take her to the hospital where we both had appointments, so I couldn't hang about. Hugo quickly did his stuff after breakfast, and I left him secure and warm in his cosy tiger suit and headed off. Winds of over 60mph were still bending trees and flinging debris around, but we made it in one piece. Cue several hours later when we had had lovely coffees and eaten the packed lunch she had prepared, we returned here to find there was still no power. I packed for the night for me and Hugo, and we went to Ruth's. There was no appeal in a cold house for me. Next day, back home and warm again, I spent a few hours trying to organise someone to come and fix my roof, and after many conversations with the insurance company and a visit from the builder across the lane I had it sorted. He built a scaffold tower the same afternoon, and was working up there with his mate when I left for Cambridge.

That was when I discovered the car had a puncture. Oh yes, troubles never come singly. As for the cover for my ride-on lawn mower, that could be in Timbuktu for all I know. It's so big, and with the wind inside it there would be no stopping it. I've put out an alert on the community website, and will keep checking  locally. If I find it I promise to anchor it down. In the meantime I've put the mower in the garage to keep dry, which means the car can't fit inside. And now it's snowing, and looking like settling. But me spirits is high, and if I can ever shake off this bug with its horrible cough and night sweats I'll be right as rain in my snug dry house.