Hello Friends!
Just a quick pop in otherwise this will be out of date and there'll be no point in sharing. Hope you are all doing well and keeping safe with Hands, Face, Space as lockdown is slowly eased?
The bad weather came, and came with vengeance! The winds blew gustily for over a day, up to 70mph in the midst of it all. And it rained, at times, torrentially.
After so long without very strong winds, by juxtaposition, it seemed so much more brutal than it actually was. After all, for most of April it's been dry and fairly wind free, an alien concept for where I live. When you are used to living in a wind tunnel, high winds are something you get used to. April was cold but a welcome change from endless windy and wet days we generally see. Most of us never dreamed we'd actually be praying for rain in April, or the start of May as it turned out. We certainly caught up over the weekend!
Then, as the winds slowly eased up, I was hoping to get out to the garden, but as the sun started to shine and the clouds started to leave, suddenly the sky went dark and the heavens opened with a hail storm barrelling in out of nowhere. A sting in the tail!
I rushed to my phone and hit record, something I've decided I'm going to get used to having since I got a Smartphone three years ago. It's about time I learned to use the features. So, here's what happened.
Not very pretty, and I'm glad I didn't have laundry out, nor was I out walking! I saw my neighbours give up trying to bring their laundry in. Can you believe that it only lasted a few minutes? As soon as it was over, the sky was blue again!
Also, I finally plucked up the courage to pop into a shop! Well, not exactly pop, it takes me days to mentally prepare, with all the planning and self talk that I can do this. I arrived right as they opened, and I did breathing exercises so I averted the panic attack I felt starting, donned my mask, and over the threshold I stepped. There were signs advising how many could be inside at any one time, with "one out, one in" in place; a lovely, large hand sanitising station; the floor clearly marked with tape for social distancing; and clear plexiglass screens at the counter and till point. The staff all wore masks, were incredibly helpful, and I was the only person in store!
When I came out, this was the glorious view down the Cross Square towards the Cathedral in the valley below.
How fresh and clean it all looks after the weekend weather washed away the dust! And, not busy at all! Who knows, maybe I'll go shopping again soon? I have another shop I love, and miss heaps, in the village, a super deli where I can buy some treats to eat and drink. In the meantime, you will find me in the garden.
Until next time
Stay Safe, Stay Well.
Well done for braving the shop. We are fortunate that Builth is usually a quiet town (until the pubs with outside sitting arrangements opened again anyway!) and the only busy shop is Boots. Limited customers in most of them and quite often I have been the only customer, so I was eased back into it gently.
ReplyDeleteWhat foul weather you had (no hailstones here but by golly, it rained and the trees were bowing down double).
Still cold though - I would like the sun back please and the weather from the North to jolly well return there!
Thank you Bovey Belle. We had the lashing rain too, it's a wonder there's a leaf left! I think the weather's coming from the South this weekend, but Derek the Weather mentioned lows, high winds, and rain again. Sighs.
DeleteI love how fresh everything smells after the rain.
ReplyDeleteAlso, well done on making it to the shop, and keeping your anxiety under control.
Thank you Victoria. Yes, I learned a new word for the smell of rain, petrichor.
DeleteDramatic hail storm!
ReplyDeleteCrazy weather for crazy times.
Thank you Sandra, yes, isn't it just?
DeleteThanks for sharing the videos, we had similar weather here. Not really May weather. Glad you managed to get into a shop, that was good! Have a good and safe day, hugs, Valerie
ReplyDeleteThank you, and like you we have more bad weather this weekend again! Heigh ho!
DeleteVideos show the effect well - what a hail storm!!! Great news that you have managed to get to the shop - small steps :) Take care.
ReplyDeleteAt least it didn't last too long or do any damage to plants. Yes, baby steps does it.
DeleteWhat a beautiful sight to see upon leaving -- a charming village square. And that hail -- wow! Your weather has been a little over the top here. We've had a very windy time of late and I wonder what causes it all. Last summer was, too.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you were able to venture into the shop and it was OK. I think your area is doing a very good job with making people safe. Well done, my friend! (Thanks, too, for your visits -- they mean a lot!)
Thank you Jeanie, yes, the Square {which is a triangle and a traffic roundabout!} is pretty. It's a mediaeval prayer cross. Getting there slowly, but I won't do anything that makes me uncomfortable.
DeleteGreat video of the hail storm! Beautiful little village you live in too!
ReplyDeleteThank you, yes I do live in a lovely place. I feel blessed.
DeleteWe haven't had a good downpour yet, Just enough to put paid to being outside. The only 'shop' that I've been on is the post office as I needed to send a registered letter.
ReplyDeleteNot brave enough yet to negotiate our post office, it's at the corner of a very unorganised and busy supermarket express line.
Delete