Monday 22 December 2014

Pre-Christmas weather.

Our journey back from Hawes after our stupendous Christmas lunch yesterday was through a very misty landscape.   How different it became by around eight o'clock yesterday evening when the wind became what I can only describe as 'very violent'.  The wind came from the West (so a 'warm' wind) but was quite terrifying as it howled around the house.   It was still going strong when we went to bed and it was really quite scary.   It reminded me of a similar occasion many years ago when the conditions were like this and a friend's elderly mother sat with her hat, coat and gloves on all night in a kitchen chair, declaring that she was sure that the end of the world had come.

This morning the wind has not abated and, as usually happens when it is rather wet and the wind is from this direction, the River Ure has burst its banks in many places and the fields are flooded. Our only lake, Lake Semerwater, flows into the Ure via the shortest river in England, the Bain, and the water flows out of Semerwater much faster when there is a gale blowing.   The farmer and I have just been down to the feed merchants and on both sides of the road there is water standing, and what is more, there was more of it on the return journey than there was on the journey down.

Christmas is getting near now and the jobs are piling up that can't be done until nearer the time -making the stuffings, making the cranberry sauce, making an almond tart and maybe some more mince pies.  It is too early for these jobs, so the gang are meeting for coffee in the morning.   That will make me think it is Friday and my whole week will be thrown out of joint.

On our return journey the farmer bought me a tumble drier, which will be arriving shortly after Christmas - a nice appliance with which to start the New Year.

The gale blew slates off the farmhouse roof and three sheets of tin off the hen house roof.   Luckily there is wood under the tin so the hen house is not open to the elements, but it will have to wait for repair until the wind drops.   Similarly we can't contact the builder to replace the slates on the roof until it is calm weather.   Still, small worries compared with some. 

Lovely white roses arrived this morning - another Christmas present.   The house is full of flowers and plants - lovely presents as I get such pleasure out of them.   If it is windy where you are, keep both feet on the ground.

17 comments:

Jan said...

Take care! After a solid week of dark, cold and wet weather, the sun shone this morning! It was so welcome! Unfortunately it's only for one day-back to cold, dark and wet tomorrow. The forecast for Christmas day is sunny and warm though. Enjoy your holidays!

MorningAJ said...

It was a bit breezy here but nothing like as bad as you seem to have had. I hope it calms down for you soon.

Sue in Suffolk said...

Not too windy here buy Very Warm - 14℃ ! which is not very Christmassy

Heather said...

Windy here, yes, but not enough to be damaging. Keep safe, and I hope you can get your repairs done soon. It seems we might be in for a stormy Christmas rather than a white one.

angryparsnip said...

Goodness your weather sounds awful.
We have typical December weather. Blue skies sun warm afternoons and cold nights.
I hope you have received some mail from Tucson.

cheers, parsnip

jinxxxygirl said...

My goodness i can just imagine your friends mother sitting in the kitchen chair that way... gives me the heebie geebies...

No wind here just fog.... promises to be a beautiful Christmas around here.... We are not preparing a big meal around here this year as it will just be hubby and i...But i still have a few things to make as a few people will show up after the holiday... Have fun! Hugs! deb

Rachel Phillips said...

It was always something my mother did in high winds, sleep in her clothes. I was in Paris when she was old and I felt I shouldn't have gone and left her and I rang her and I was in bed fully clothed because I felt uneasy about everything. She answered the phone and said she was in her clothes in bed because it was a very windy night. I burst into tears and we ended up with her comforting me and telling me not to be so silly and everything would be alright. And it was.

Penny said...

I love hearing about your weather, here in southern Australia it is beautifully mild and the forecast for Christmas day is for a possible shower, I like that sort of forecast.

Gwil W said...

At the first rumble of thunder an old man used to get out of bed and put his clothes on and collect his insurance papers etc. and sit in a chair waiting for a thunderbolt to strike and set the place on fire but of course it never did. Maybe Santa took slates. The chimney might be too narrow these days? 220

the veg artist said...

I've been given a wonderful floral display today - my first ever at Christmas, and something I could definitely get used to.

Joanne Noragon said...

The wind is supposed to be up tomorrow and the next day. Has yours come all around the world already?

Cloudia said...

Wind (and rain) can be daunting in their incessance. I indeed feels like the end of the world at times. In my last hour, I'm certain I will still remember the howling of an approaching hurricane, as well as the glow of flowing lava seen at night. . . .
I love inhabiting the scenes you so ably paint.



ALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
<3

Cro Magnon said...

Strong wind is the only weather manifestation that really worries me. I just cross my fingers, and hope.

Yael said...

Strong winds sound to me even more scary than the missiles that we have here from time to time.I should sleep with my clothes too if the end of the world is near.

Willow said...

It's always great to get the present that brings pleasure !
Wishing you a wonderful holiday time and and New Year full of blessings.
Warm Wishes ,
Willow

Mac n' Janet said...

Merry Christmas Weaver, and the blessings of the New Year.

Terry and Linda said...

Gosh that is very frightening. White roses for Christmas seems lovely!

Merry Christmas from our little farm in COlorado USA to your farm in England!

Linda
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