Storm Ashley came like an angry poltergeist, threw things around and was seemingly exorcised out of here.

The noise of that wind last night was enough to make me go out, in my pyjamas, to check the polytunnel. I don’t know what time it was but it was wild. Of course Scooby came out with me but he did not like it one bit.

There were pots flying around like a scene out of the Wizard of Oz but my main concern, the polytunnel caught my attention as I saw it being buffered by that wind and I could see the sides swaying – I couldn’t bear to look any longer so went back in.

I got up this morning and first job was to get outside and assess the damage.

I held my breath as I opened the door and ventured out – still in my pjs (goodness knows what the neighbours think of me!)

As you can see, nothing drastic! All the pots, chairs etc have been picked up and tidied and the polytunnel is absolutely fine! My method of burying the cover and holding it down with bricks has worked brilliantly.

Neighbours behind us however, didn’t fare so well as a fence between their 2 gardens has come down. Apart from that, I don’t see any major damage locally. We are very very lucky.

I am aware there will be some folk reading this thinking we’re quite pathetic worrying about 60-80mph winds and I get it – we don’t get the type of weather recently seen by Florida for example. But it’s still a big deal here. Folk have lost power, there will be flooding and so on.

I’m just really grateful for where we live – and that I don’t have to replace the polytunnel cover.