It Was A Dark And Stormy Night...

 Julian only had one full weekend off in December, so we designated last weekend to be his "Christmas Family Weekend In Norfolk" The best laid plans...

He arrived mid morning on Friday, but Bob was away at a funeral till teatime. We went out in the evening to a Christmas Production [more on that later] which was brilliant.

Saturday, up early, and after getting the evening meal veg prep sorted, the three of us went to church to set up for the Craft Fair. Home for lunch, Oven timer set, and back again for the 2pm start.

People had worked so hard, knitted goods, pottery, cakes, millinery, books, woodcraft [Bob] textiles [me] ...there was lots on offer. Crystal, the Pastor's wife had a table of children's activities in the back room [all free] Beforehand, Julian helped her set up, then he came through to manage the card reader [useful for all those who didn't have enough cash!] 

Quite a few people from the village came in, not just church folk. A couple of the Mums and Toddlers said they'd really enjoyed Tuesday's story, and were reading the little book to their children each evening. It was cold and wet all afternoon, as Storm Darragh rained down. When we got home, we noticed the lights in the Nativity Tableau were off "I think we have had a power cut" said Bob. "My oven!" I said. Fortunately, the power had comer back on again, and we were able to switch on the oven straightaway, and realised our meal would be only about half an hour late.

We all worked hard getting ready. Menu was roast chicken and loads of veg [potatoes, carrots, broccoli, sprouts, red cabbage] plus pigs in blankets, yorkshire puds, cranberry sauce, gravy.... to be followed by choice of two puds [frangipane tart with cherries, apple strudel - and creme fraiche or custard] There were a couple of candles on the table, and napetties elegantly folded in the glasses. I'd just got all the veg in their serving dishes in the warming oven when Adrian and Marion arrived. Bob ushered them into the lounge. I started bring food through to the table and summoned everyone for dinner [this was the second call, first call was the smoke alarm which went off when I opened the oven door!] 

As the other four came to sit down, all the lights went out. I found and liut more candles, switched on the three little battery pillar candles- and Bob fetched his huge worklamp. [Think searchlight in the tower at Stalag Luft III]

We ate our meal by candlelight. It wasn't quite how I'd planned...
We retired to the lounge, without our usual after dinner coffee. Adrian and Marion went home at 9, to their own, dark, house. We loaded food into the fridge and crocks into dishwasher by torchlight. Power back on at 9.30 and we went to bed promptly, in case we were plunged into more Stygian gloom.

Sunday morning, up early [again] Bob and Julian went off to church in Wymondham [Bob was guest preacher] stopping to pick up Joseph, who had toppled over outside. It was wet and windy. I set off to our church, and was just over halfway when I encountered this fallen tree blocking the road...

No option but to turn round and take a more circuitous route. I got to church 5 minutes late. 

It was announced we had raised well over £700 at the Fair - and excellent result, and great community involvement. I came home, in the rain, and picked up a fallen Wise Man before going inside to prepare lunch.

Oops! Julian and Bob got back [safely] and we ate our meal, then J drove back to Essex. He messaged me later to say he was "home and dry"

It was so good to have him with us for a couple of days, and we had fun despite high wind, rain and powercuts. Other people in other places had it much, much worse. I hope you have not been badly affected by Storm Darragh. 

Alexa and the 'smart' gadgets took a while to recover from the powercuts, and resetting all the electric clocks took a while too

Make sure you have torches and blankets on hand, and take care when you have to go outside.