Storm Darwin

What a very scary day. We knew it was coming and the country went onto Red Alert at around 11am just as I was coming out of the dentist! A whiteout occured as I battled across Bantry Square as hail mingled with the storm force winds. I waited till that passed then ventured on my way home. I stopped off in Durrus to pop into school where they were celebrating the end of an inspection, but the children were being evacuated as the power had gone. I've never seen anything like it for the rest of the journey - trees toppled everywhere and huge waves.
We lost three big trees and the tops off many others. Apparently the winds went up to 170kmph and 300,000 homes lost their electricity.
Not the most brilliant of images but a documentary collection - top left the most colossal root was exposed as this old monterey pine came tumbling down - once partly cut up though the root sprang right back! top right a large eucalyptus fallen in the borreen, fortunately not blocking the entrance; bottom right a huge cedar which thankfully fell away from the house; Himself has been hacking away at it and this the root too sprang back but in a different position and taking drains with it; bottom left- the strand where about 8 huge pines have been toppled. All you can hear is the sound of chainsaws.

Edit: Hmm, I was trying to upload this for the 12th Feb but it's popped up for today! So I'll have to add a bit more!! We've been without electricity for 9 days now and no electricity means no water either as we have a pump to the well, no phones, no internet and for a few days no mobile connection either - seriously challenging and character-building! The novelty had worn off by day one but thankfully Himself bought a little gas camping stove so we were able to heat water. Evenings were spent huddled round the wood burning playing candlelit scrabble or reading with a headtorch! Friends have been incredibly kind and we've had showers and baths, been fed and watered and had washing done for us. This morning though the milk was mouldy, the weather was shite, we were smelly (well I certainly was) and everywhere was cold and sticky. Never was I so thrilled to see an ESB 'operative' as the one who arrived this morning. It certainly made us highly appreciative of the standard of living we're used too and how much we take for granted. It also felt oddly disconnecting, as if we were waiting for real life to start again! Anyway - the range is going, the kettle's boiled, the lights are blazing and it's warm and bright! Thanks for all your supportive comments from last weekend, hope I haven't missed too much!