We were very lucky in that apart from an olive tree in a pot that blew over and an ornamental chimney pot (used as a flower pot) that was smashed, we - or at least the house - were pretty unscathed after the storm. I really feel for the thousands of people stranded across the country with flights and trains cancelled.
We decided to go for our traditional Christmas Eve walk. First to the river to see how high it was - we were out for only 20-minutes during which time we got soaked and promptly had to return to get changed! The second time we went out to Bushy Park and Hampton Court to see the ice rink, it was closed and flooded. It started raining again so we made our way back. Just as we were about to leave, the sun came out. Sadly this tree in Bushy Park was a casualty of the storm. I think it is a twisted willow, either way it was very pretty but being next to the pond, the wet weather undermined the roots and so the high winds last night simply blew it over. It is very sad and I actually think it looks rather like a hand and fingers grasping upwards to stop being blown over.
Fingers crossed for good weather tomorrow - an early Happy Christmas to everyone on the 365 Project.
