It’s 08.45 and the talk on the Today programme is of locusts, armageddon, and impending doom. Whether it’s tropical storm, existent or ex hurricane, or a bit of a blow, the light is very strange.

The light is resonating with the Autumn colours which points out just how much leaf change has taken place 

Winds are due to wind up to 40kph at about midday, but most of the action is taking place to the north and west of us.

It’s now 10.07, and the sun appears.

Very weird light.  And the PIR lights are coming on – 11.00 am!

10.53 to be precise, and the first guests of wind have started.

13.02 and it’s blue skies and scudding clouds with a strong but exhilarating gusting wind.

16.14.  I shouldn’t be smug – the gusting winds are probably now 50+ mph

17.30. We’ve now had a few 70+ mph gusts which have been a bit scary. Two power outages but thankfully short, thanks to local investment by Western Power. 

21.30. It is still blowing a hooley, so one last torchlight patrol to make sure all is OK. Donks were snug but appreciated the reassurance. Glad the Irish Sea separated us from the heart of the storm, and certainly the impact was greater than we thought listening to the Shafenaker gang et al winding up public alarm as they do on a regular basis  What was the parable of crying Wolf?