This weekend has seen considerable damage along the French Atlantic coast caused by the storm Xynthia with a loss af almost fifty lives. Mercifully it has now abated buit is heading north to Belgium, Holland, Germant and Denmark.
Thankfully in our little bit of France we got away lightly with very strong winds and heavy rain during Saturday/Sunday night. Strongest winds locally were recorded at Bergerac airport at some 120kph. A number of properties in the area were left without electricity including the regional meteorological centre at the airport.
Locally there was little damage caused, just a few tree branches dislodged and the land becoming ever more sodden. Living some 500 plus feet above sea level we are not exactly at risk of flooding but it is very disconcerting that our local water table is only some six inches or so belowground level in the lowest part of our garden!
More rain forecast for the latter part of this week but at least it is now returning to normal temperatures for the time of year, maximum of around 15°C daily accompanied by some sun. Must be improving as our cat, Socks, is beginning to venture out after her winter's hibernation ...
An occasional rambling of unrelated events, thoughts and trivia ... Please feel free to leave comments as you wish!
