They are reporting storm force winds for this Sunday along the west and North West of France. (The BBC weather that is )
So I have brought all my buildings in doors to prevent them flying around the garden, let’s hope the track stays where it is.

I got caught out last night. Monsieur Meteo had forecast a thunderstorm on wednesday but we had sunshine all day. Last night we had a tempest, thunder, lightning, the lot. Several rooves blown off the outdoor railway buildings, but no damage. Roll on spring!!

mikey

Had a sleepless night last night with the sounds of the very high winds (it was like having our own 'chuffer'). Walked around this morning; couple of branches down from the walnut trees and the top of the compost heap blown off but really nothing to worry about. Hope everybody fared OK especially in the 'condition rouge' areas.

mikey

Hight wind here, lot's of rain as well. Meteo said wind arround 130 km/h this morning.

Will see that, got to go to the backery to buy the baguette and croissant, not too far luckily.

Last night was calm but the high winds are just starting here. The sky is an angry black and the noise sounds like they've still got the V1 rocket base in the village and practising.

It's Forte tempête Xynthia apparently.

I just wish she'd blow herself away.

Gusts of 150 kms an hour are expected.

We're in the grip of it right now......

Horizontal rain, big waves on the pond, flying branches and the pergola is about to go to the next field.....

The weather has gone mad. we've got bright sunshine this morning!! Stay safe guys.

mikey

Had the wind yesterday on the Bay of Biscay Coast , I managed to locate all the gaps between the roof and the walls / windows so now I can pump foam into them. No it's not an old house, but it ain't half draughty at times. We got a "Cathedral" ceiling and it has it's own mini climate.
What is amazing is that the wind was HOT here, over 24 I think. Hardly , if any rain at all, it's really strange to stand in a "hurricane force" wind and actally feel like you are in an oven.

Mrs Cuesta says that more is on the way . She has just advised me of the "terrible noises" the house was making last night, (I use earplugs cos she snores sometimes).

BTW If you think the "Sky Weathergirls" are nice you should see the ones on Spanish tv.

And it is sunny and warm today.

We had a lovely sunny a warm day, but it was yesterday afternoon, now it's dark and windy, not as much as the morning

The pergola's hanging in there by one leg at 30°. The rabbits have all disappeared and the sheep with new lambs across the road are sheltering in a hollow. They don't even trust their shed!

....oh and I've just looked the weather bulletin and heavy snow is forecast for Thursday with temperatures down to -8.

It's getting just a bit tiresome now.

Here- this will make you all feel better:
http://dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/160556/Weather-Hottest-January-ever-say-climate-experts

Well the storm pretty well missed us, a bit blowy around 3am, but had moved most of the blow able stuff from the garden.

What is this about this snow on Thursday Carl, I am supposed to be on the ferry at 9.30 am.

Well as it is Sunday Troy : Ms Lisa Burke and she don't mean Charlotte Church

Very nice Patrick.

Well we survived so far.

A couple of small trees uprooted and the neighbours telephone line came down but apart from that all okay.

We are on a high plateau and get a bit of wind but not much flooding.

Is everyone else all right? Serious problems in Charente (Brian...) looking at the news and horrors in Spain too.

Just checked Monsieur Meteo (aussi connu comme Monsieur Menteur).

No snow now! Cold, sub zero temperatures towards the end of the week though.

Well we're still here - Just!

Thursday Night was WILD ! Sheet lightning in every direction, I unplugged everything phones electric TV so we got through OK!

Saturday was the killer though 105 kph winds. Glass coldframe smashed to bits, railway buildings scattered and electrics full of water. Various trees down and blocking the "chemin vert".

Surprised the donkey shelter survived!

Spent most yesterday tidying up!

Workshop now full of model buildings waiting for restoration!

That was a storm and a half from what I saw on the BBC news this morning. They showed footage of extensive flooding in the Vendee - has anyone heard from Geoff W at all?

I got an email from them a couple of weeks ago - they were just about to set off for France the next day. So chances are they may have been hit by it.

Update : got a reply from Geoff, they are back in Uk for a while so missed all the excitement. Apparently their place got through with just a couple of tiles blown off. Be back mid April.