An early morning wind.

I might have mentioned just once or twice over the years about the big winds that blow up from nowhere......sometimes they blow down from the  north,  other times  up from the southwest.   But we do get a warning as it sounds like a dull roaring sound and we just look and say "there's a train coming!"

But very early yesterday morning,  at 5am to be precise,  it started.   Doors banging,  shutters banging,  I can't describe the noise outside but it frightened Pip and she jumped on our bed for safety,    
we closed the doors and windows which made the house feel hot and stuffy but at least it was quieter.

By 7.30 it had just about stopped so I got up to take the dogs out for a walk,  but first had a quick look around.   The front garden chairs were still upright with their cushions on them, but the gladioli were all snapped.  The roses still have their flowers too.   Out to the pool area,  3 chair cushions, 2 sunbed  cushions and  4 towels all rolled up in the far corner covered in dirt and grit and leaves.  The pool surface was just as bad but there wasn't any sign of our bright pink lilo.  The sun umbrella had managed to shut itself,  the fabric had come off the spokes and was nowhere to be seen.

Hard to miss a pink lilo,  and we did look for it on our walk.  I found the umbrella fabric about 50metres up the road,  bundled up and filthy dirty where the wind had dropped it.   And later on that morning John found the lilo down a terrace - and not burst either!  None of the veg on the top terraces were affected,  not even the sweet corn,  and we only lost one small plant in the side veg garden which had snapped off,  the rest were a bit sideways but we mounded soil up to give them extra support and they're ok.

So a big clean up yesterday morning,  today back to normal picking strawberries yet again,  and making the 3rd batch of wine with them.   Still over half a kilo in the fridge,  plus some sliced for us for tonight and some for next door when they come tomorrow.   I just hope this wine is nice when it's finished,   tasted  the first lot today when I tested it for sugar levels and it's lovely.  Alcoholic and strawberry-ey and and deep pink.  Possibly will be nice in a tall glass, lots of ice and gaseosa....