Storm Darragh

Well I didn't sleep a wink last night! Spent most of it checking on the camera. They spent it grazing by the hedge and are now out a bit further in the fields, grazing. So that's a relief. All structures and fencing ok out there too. Lost power, roof tiles, glass panels, fencing and plants in the garden. Terrier says no chance to getting out of bed today. I braved the outside briefly and don't blame her!
 
Didn’t sleep much last night and the power kept knocking out for a few seconds and coming back until about an hour ago so no power now but luckily I’d just boiled the kettle and made some toast (so not all bad 😉). Have been out to open up the henhouse and they are sensibly staying inside. About to get kitted up in as much wet weather gear as I can muster and go and give Bradley his breakfast. No doubt the electric fence will be flattened and I’ll end up tidying it up so it is out of the way. Be back shortly, I hope ………
 
All good here in Sussex. Strong winds and a little rain but no damage so far. Horses were in last night but now out. Put some hay where they would be sheltered from the wind but no - they are out in the strong winds nibbling on the grass. Still got power but I have probably jinxed things by saying that, as we had 4 powercuts due to strong winds last year. Sometimes no power for days.
 
Trees down locally. Horses are in and won’t be leaving their stables it’s that bad.
Glanced out my back window to see what looked like a huge ghost flapping around in the neighbours garden… a big white sheet has wrapped around the gnarled branches of their half dead tree. It’s quite a sight!
 
We are in the yellow zone but woken up to no wind or rain in Lincolnshire - although it says it’s picking up in a few hours. I feel awful because I’ve left the horses in and they can’t understand why (yet) but I’m off to work and if I’m not back in time or the forecast changes again I will worry all morning and it’s not worth the risk.
 
We got through the night OK, trampoline didn't blow away again thanks to tieing it to some trees 🤣 and animals all fine. A piece of our hay barn roof has been bent more, but Bert did the initial damage. Its very very windy though and peak here isn't until 11/12, I think the hill behind has protected us from the worst of it as we are south facing. That said, we aren't going anywhere even if we wanted to. A huge tree down across our lane. At least that's next years firewood sorted 🥳
 
I’m back indoors. Bradley is fine and dry under his rug but quite keen for his breakfast. Wind and rain are really strong and a branch of one tree has come down and broken the electric tape so tied that up quickly whilst keeping an eye on the trees! Looks like there’s another tree down on a fence line so not sure whether ours or our neighbours. As soon as it’s calm, OH will be out with a chainsaw 😀. Relieved that Bradley seems quite happy and my worry was for nothing. Now just need power to come back. I’m about to make some Welsh cakes as they are cooked on the hob 😋. Stay safe everyone, one gust nearly knocked me over.

ETA: Sorry to see your field shelter ASMP, hope you can get it back the right way later without any damage 🤞🏻
 
Horses are ok this morning but no power at the yard.
They were out over night and rather wanted to come in but I had to be tough and tell them they are staying out (their stables back onto a copse)
Just to add insult to injury I mixed up their breakfasts and was wondering why S didn’t fancy hers. Then realised I’d given her Ts breakfast and she hates his powdered balancer. So S went without and T had double helpings.
I’ll make it up to her tonight.
I also delivered bottles of water to YO (she’s on a spring so no power = no water pump)
 
Horses were out last night, but are snug in their stables now for the foreseeable.

Two trees in the garden have gone (so far) since I got up this morning, a mountain ash and a whitebeam. We were watching the whitebeam teetering precariously before it went. It’s taken the top rail of the horse fence down, but fingers crossed it’s not smashed the post.

OH checking is checking it over.

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We’re only in the yellow warning area 😳. All of our garden trees were checked over by a tree surgeon earlier this year and any necessary pruning done, so these were healthy trees. We had planted them ourselves when we first moved in.
 
We have yellow warning my instructor cancelled our lesson due to weather. This would be our last Saturday lesson due to her mother being unwell and therefore no longer working Saturdays so a bit sad ending really. It is harder for me to have lessons in the week as it means taking an afternoon off work but she will still come and help with Bert's training and exercise a few times a week as she already does a few other horses.

I am in bed having a cup of coffee and toast. It is our yard xmas meal this evening and the table was booked weeks ago as it is hard to get a date when most people are free. YO sent a message saying table booked for 6.30. Not sure how many people will make it will depend on weather.

I am going to have to venture out soon as I need to get work secret santa gift for work xmas lunch on Wednesday.

The worst of the wind will be at 3pm time which is when we normally catch in. The horses have to come across a road and with wind it will be hard to hear the traffic and see what is coming. I expect I will be the only livery at catch in as normal, everyone is on part or assisted DIY and often there are normally only 2 of us liveries at weekends who catch in. Not looking forward to catching in.

I will then stay at yard until it is time to go to the meal. I go to the yard on public transport so hoping no trees down on the train bit. The bus bit goes through London so there are no trees on that route so it won't be a problem.

Tomorrow weather looking better so might get to ride if not then instructor will do an extra exercise session with Bert during the week.

I hope everyone is ok in the winds it seems like climate change is part of the stormier milder wetter winters.
 
Survived the night in West Wales .Got up horses ok fences ok left them on tthe pole barn which is very sheltered with loads of Haylege bought them into the American barn for a feed but they seem more settled in the pole barn .Have left the fields open in case they venture out
Power went down at 9.30 am fortunately had already had a cup of tea and breakfast .one of the land drains overflowed so cleared that and mopped out the utility room . Everything is blowing like crazy but okay at the moment.Rang about the power outage and major high voltage problem could be out until 10 pm 😕 😕.
Lit the oil fired aha so we can cook .Have an LPG gas fire in the lounge so with that and the aga will stay warm as no power means no central heating.
 
I hope everyone and their animals are safe. Yellow warning here in Herts/Beds and it's pretty bad. I can't imagine what it's like in the red warning areas.

I'm one of the few people who turned their horse out this morning. He's got arthritis so standing in his stable for two days isn't an option. He had some hay before he went out. There are no trees around the edge of the field. A friend is going to get him in earlier than normal to save me venturing out again.

After getting soaked this morning I came home and spent £250 ordering a new coat and a new pair of wellies. I've been kidding myself my wellies would last the winter but apparently not! I've ordered the dog walking coat made by Equidry as they had a few on sale for £130 and I don't ride much these days. My parents are usually very generous and give me money for xmas so that should cover the January credit card bill 🤞

drywalks.co.uk

Drywalks Original All Seasons Waterproof Coat

The Drywalks All Seasons is the ultimate dog walking coat for wet and wild weather. With a remarkable waterproof rating of 20,000mm, this coat guarantees exceptional water resistance, ensuring that you stay dry even in the most challenging of weather conditions. Crafted with a soft, microfibre...
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I'm in Scotland for the week, cancelled my appointments for today after a disgusting drive from South Ayrshire to Midlothian last night and it's actually not that bad here today, though wet and a bit windier further east where my fittings were planned. Still annoying.

I sat out Babet sitting in exactly the same spot, having cancelled fittings AND a workshop in Aberdeen. Blurry weather!
 
Trees down on one of the roads to the yard but otherwise everything's relatively unscathed so far. Cobbus was high as a kite going out and I nearly lost him twice...and the old farts in his field were careering around like giddy teenagers which didn't help!
 
My ponies are all out (some reluctantly). Need to exercise some and debating where right now - road hack seems safest as the arena is in just the wrong position when storms come in and catches all the wind! Roads are all sheltered by hedges or houses and there weren’t even leaves twitching for most of my journey to the yard today.
 
Busy staking my garden fence down as it was oscillating wildly and 3 panels came down in the storms 2 years ago and it was quite expensive. Used 2 lunge lines and some electric fence stakes. Seems to be dieing down now so I think I'll go check the geegees and give them some treats
 
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