Tuesday 21 January 2014

Where to begin?

The lochside when it isn't stormy
The Christmas card that wasn't sent
Olek was the best snowflake on the block, even if he did have a bit of a problem keeping his tights up. 
After the play Olek showed me his class. The 'knitivity' scene and baby Jesus looking a bit like a peanut
He showed me the thinking area, which I think every home needs.
Christmas was lovely

And after Christmas I set about making a New Year card  to replace the not needed Christmas card.

At the beginning of December just as we were getting ready to journey south to visit family and friends, we had a storm on the lochside. Gale force winds in the early hours of the morning arrived with violent flashes of lightning and ominous crashes of thunder. One blinding flash of lightning struck a nearby telegraph pole ripping out cables and bringing down phones and internet connections along the lochside. The phone sockets exploded out of the walls leaving trailing wires and blackened plugs discarded on the floor. Unfortunately my computer and the printer were also effected.
Luckily no other damage was done and the house and surrounds remained in tact. It was a pretty violent storm and locals can't remember thunder and lightning like it. It was ferocious.
We left the stormy lochside and headed south. We saw so many friends on our visit. Thank you to everyone for making us so welcome. I do miss you all. On our homeward journey we went to see Olek's Christmas play at his school in west Yorkshire. It was wonderful.
We enjoyed a family Christmas.
 And now, after nearly six weeks, I have my computer back and a new printer. I realise how dependent on the computer I am. My Christmas cards and all address labels were on there. I'd managed to print a few off the day before the storm, but not enough. Yesterday I sent out a New Year card to friends who might wonder where we've been!
I've missed my blog. This year I want to try and  blog a little and often. I get 'blogger's block' when I leave too many long gaps!
A belated Happy New Year - and thank you to those of you who haven't quite given up on 'Brookwood Letters!'

14 comments:

Mac n' Janet said...

Welcome back, missed your blogging, what an awful storm! If my tv went out I wouldn't miss it a bit, but if my computer went I'd be lost.

annie hoff said...

Mac n' Janet
Thank you. It's nice to be back.

the veg artist said...

Wow! Scary, but so glad no one was hurt. Welcome back.

Em said...

Definitely the BEST snowflake ever (until Jarno starts school and is an equally good snowflake of course).
I'm glad that you're back online, it's always a bit worrying to realise how dependent we all are on the t'interweb for keeping in touch and up to speed with everything. Anyway I'll stop rambling on. Good blog, lovely photos and really great new years painting.
Lots of love, Em, Dan, Snowflake and Jarno.
p.s. forgot to say yesterday that Out Smelly Sprout is brilliant, we love it and read it all the time
xx

A Garden of Threads said...

Oh my how awful, but everyone is safe and that is all that really counts. About 10 years ago we have a similar incident, lightening through out house via the electrical wires, blew out all computers, tv's, phone, lights, kids game systems. Very expensive fix. Now when we get a storm coming I am running all over the house unplugging things:)

ju-north said...

Wondered where you were! Pleased you are safe and the house in one piece

ADRIAN said...

Glad to hear all is now well.

S. Etole said...

It's good to see you and your wonderful images here again.

Diane said...

Hi Annie! Thank God you are safe. I've been wondering what had happened to you although you had told me about the storm. So, so scary!! It was so lovely to see you before Christmas & I am delighted to see little Olek in your blog again! Take care. Love to you all, Di XX

rachel said...

Glad you're back and blogging! What a dreadful thing to have happened - I'm assuming that surge protectors didn't work with such a violent storm?

Shame about the Christmas cards too - hope you'll use them next year instead - they're lovely!

Anonymous said...

Glad to see you back, and looking forward to seeing more of your stunning photos in the year to come!

Anonymous said...

So nice to see you blogging again. That storm sounds very frightening - I'm glad it didn't do more damage. Your painting and cards are very beautiful!

Lucille said...

I'm not giving up on you although a little late catching up! Love your cards - both of them. Good to see you back.

The Village Queen said...

Glad your back and I enjoyed the outdoor photos. You live in the most amazingly beautiful place. thank you for sharing it.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...