Chris’s email to me says it all….

NEWS FROM DAWLISH (my home):

Just to bring you up to date, it’s DAWLISH, specifically, hitting the National News this morning; there was great damage done by the storm last night, just as I thought. The town is cut off by road from Teignmouth (our neighbouring town) due to a fallen tree, but far worse than that, about 30 metres of sea wall down by Riviera Terrace, I believe, has been “ripped away” , to quote the local Spotlight news just now.  They had a reporter in his wellies speaking from under the arches at the station, where a section of platform has been washed away(!), and there’s damage all around.  Residents of Marine Parade were evacuated last night to the Leisure Centre (don’t think I’ll bother with the gym this morning!) when up to three feet of sea water came across the track and the road, and into their homes. This morning’s storm, which promises to be pretty well as bad as last night’s (95 mph reported in some places), is in the process of building right now, and, with high tide just an hour-and-a-half away, it’s all hands to the pump and red alert all round. I expect poor old Rob (my fireman, paramedic and piano-tuner brother) is pretty busy right now!

I’ll try to get some photos for you, but its not yet fully light, and, with the rain lashing down and the wind building upwards of 60 mph, I don’t feel that inclined to put my head over the parapet just yet! I may be able to get some shots from our house, of course, but the Environment Agency have apparently issued, for the first time, a “Danger to Life” warning  for all West Country coastal areas, so I guess the Sea Wall isn’t beckoning that strongly right now!

Anyway, just thought you’d like to hear the weather update; I see Geoff (our brother-in-law) posted a similar report on Facebook, replied to instantly by Lorelle (my old school friend in Australia)!  Anyway, at least I’m safe and snug here in the bastion of San Remo, and you begin to appreciate the great solidity of Victorian buildings like this when under severe meteorological attack. Poor Mary (my beloved sister) was so worried about me being on my own last night, but, as I told her, I’m probably in the safest building in Dawlish!

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I hope so! Isn’t Chris a dear for writing my blog for me?