Awful weather - typical Brits talk

Dustyevsky

Just under 20 years ago, in 2004, DD2 and I were in Dawlish during a huge storm that stopped the trains along the cliff section of the Cornwall-bound line. I wouldn't like to have been in one! Taking shelter in the station, waves were coming over the top and landing on the line, while outside, industrial-type wheelie bins were floating about on the roads. We watched for about an hour before the police threw everyone out. By then the tide had turned, and the road was passable on foot again. It was quite an experience, though we had the impression locals had done it all before!

That was 10 years before the inevitable happened, when the storm Farway's pictured, took away part of the sea front and left the railway line hanging in mid-air. 

This image gives you an idea of what it was like:

ArbitraryRandom

I was living in Aberystwyth at the time (jan/feb 2014) - not my video, but with a few friends (young and foolish all) we did go out and watch the waves until we were called bl00dy idiots by some bods in high vis and told to go back inside:  

https://youtu.be/yAJFiefoFjk?si=tnDmt34XhNGJ2aKY

Caused a lot of damage as I recall - those student houses were closed and scaffolded until the summer at least. 

ElaniArtin

This summer I learned that Gunnera is a giant rhubarb!!!

DigSunPap

Dustyevsky said:

DigSunPap said:

Looks like we are in for a heavy storm tomorrow here down south. Apparently one of the worst for 20 years i've heard? Is that true?

Nobody knows for sure, but we're predicted to have about 50mph gusts here, which I would call fairly usual for heavy storms at this time of year. The devil will be in the detail, I expect. There's always the possibility of local gusts topping the predicted speeds, or flooding after torrential downpours in relatively small areas. Remember that little stream I could jump across in summer?

And that was in early summer!!!

We have had quite heavy rain here today but the wind hasn't hit us yet!

Dustyevsky

Storm Ciarán proved a fairly normal one here, much as predicted. DD2 got home from work OK tonight, admittedly on a bus, because the trains stopped due to flooding, but those really high 55+mph winds missed us. Hope others of you found it was similar, though I know the South Coast and Channel Islands seem to have been badly hit.

ElaniArtin said:

This summer I learned that Gunnera is a giant rhubarb!!!

A bit chewier, I'd imagine, but excellent as a sunshade!

twopenny

Elani that is such a lovely photo! Is the cute pooch there yours?

Yes, bit of a storm but nothing unusual. Lasted about 3hrs, but of rain, lot of wind. Surprising how many people stayed inside but dog walkers out in force though the dogs didn't look too happy about that.
Winds definitely weren't warm southerly, more north westerly.

I was glad that I'd left the stake in with my little tree out front. It's 3yrs old now and healthy but still in full leaf so was bending right royally.
Otherwise it didn't even blow the garden furniture over.

Doubt it's a gardening day. Everything soggy. But it's blue skies with little fluffy clouds and the sun on golden leaves is beautiful. Long may it last 
My path though is lovely and clean, algae free. Wish I'd known about that stuff years ago.

Farway

Only "damage" here is my dahlias are flat now, certainly the end of this year's show, just need a frost to kill the tops & that's them done for 2023

The storm has removed fresh water from DD over Southampton way, seems it flooded the water works , ho ho, and she is having to get free bottled water from a distribution centre. All fine & dandy except for loo flushing. Hopefully back to normal some time soon.

Sunny & bright now, but very soggy of course, and now the drunks tell us there is some Spanish chap on the way for next week

No connection to them except as customer, but Mr F and DT Brown have free P & P this weekend, I went prowling for Jetfire daffs but needed resuscitating once I saw the price, nearly £10 for 15 bulbs, for that I'd expect them to come round & plant them

My council is again offering 2-year-old bare root fruit trees, complete with stakes, for £12, all part of Eco greening, levelling up, tree corridors for wild life etc, plus free native mixed hedging for those with space

I intend getting a cherry from them early next year for the volunteer place. Cherry has nice blossom & the birds will scoff the fruit before humans get the chance to break branches trying to pick them

Just thought I'd mention it in case other councils may be doing similar schemes

Dustyevsky

Quiet and still this morning, and then breakfast was disturbed by the sound of a chainsaw and chipper in action. I wandered outside to see two guys taking down a tree on communal land owned by the nearby unstable dwellers. The chaps were shooting all the chips into a wild area owned by friends , but rather than interfere, I took a few photos and left them to it. We have enough going on as it is!

Indeed, I'm expecting a communication from the council today, being the last opportunity they have to put a damper on our plans. If there's no decision by close of this working week, we can do what we like (within reason! )

Still no new plant photos, so here's a solution to the Lidl long arm hedge trimmer puzzle:

ArbitraryRandom

Speaking of chippers - Now the bulk of the hedge has been taken down and mulched (two flat bed loads of nearly a ton each so far) the digger is back in action clearing out the roots. 

Garden looks like a war zone, but I'm feeling positive. Trying to plan what to put in my raised bed next year... and decide if the void formally known as hedge means I've got space for 2  

Farway

Dustyevsky said:

Quiet and still this morning, and then breakfast was disturbed by the sound of a chainsaw and chipper in action. I wandered outside to see two guys taking down a tree on communal land owned by the nearby unstable dwellers. The chaps were shooting all the chips into a wild area owned by friends , but rather than interfere, I took a few photos and left them to it. We have enough going on as it is!

Indeed, I'm expecting a communication from the council today, being the last opportunity they have to put a damper on our plans. If there's no decision by close of this working week, we can do what we like (within reason! )

Still no new plant photos, so here's a solution to the Lidl long arm hedge trimmer puzzle:

Sounds like trouble on the tree front, practising your sad face for front page of Daily Wail, while pointing at Dusty Stump?

Those connections are what was always fitted way back, maybe lack of Earth was reason for 3 pin plug, even though all double insulated etc? I expect it is all explained on page 129, para 4, section 2b, footnote vii of EU directive 18000C