Monday 23rd October 2023
When you live in the south of England and tell people you want to move to the Scottish Highlands, the first thing the more negative people tend to comment on is the weather.
“It’s too cold” or “it’s too wet” – ironically enough, these are often the same people who then complain the second it gets above 20 degrees.
Neither James or I really like the heat. We haven’t had a holiday abroad since our honeymoon five years ago and the last few times we’ve had 30 degree heatwaves, I’ve complained and refused to do anything like a five year old. My maternal families Scottish blood has always given me a preference for cold and with the expectation of when I’ve just straightened my hair, I really don’t care about the rain either.
All that being said, I’m very much aware that the weather up hear can be a lot more serious and when a Highland weather warning warns of potential danger to life, I’m taking it seriously until I learn otherwise. In Sussex, the worst we’d get would be three and a half snow flakes which would grind the local train network to a halt.
When Storm Babet was forecast to hit, I tried to make sure we’d be safe and wouldn’t have to leave the house. I made sure there was plenty of money on the electric meter, we had plenty of food in and the order of dog food would arrive before the storm.
Life had other plans. James decided this would be the ideal week to ‘pop’ down to the London office. The dog food order didn’t arrive (again) and it wasn’t until I read the storm updates online, I realised I had no idea where things like the stopcock are or even the torches.
I drove James to Inverness airport just before the storm hit. He was due to fly back home the following day and get the train back home.
Whilst EasyJet wasn’t going to let something as trivial as a red weather warning stop their flights (Logan Air were offering their passengers the option or rebooking if they didn’t feel comfortable flying), the train were all cancelled. The roads remained open between home and Inverness but the A9 was closed further down and the Dornoch Bridge was closed to HGVs as it wasn’t safe.
As I needed to collect James from the airport and as I needed to find somewhere to buy raw dog food, I had to venture out into the storm. Luckily it wasn’t as bad up here as it was further down the coast. Nearer Aberdeenshire people lost power, their homes and unfortunately, deaths were even reported.
Luckily we didn’t get it too bad. It’s the most ferocious I’ve seen the sea here. The tide covered the entire beach which I’ve not seen before. The roar from the waves was so loud (even inside the house) and everywhere got covered in sea foam.
Having worked on a few pet food websites over the years, I know a lot of the brands, I know the industry and I know which foods I do and don’t trust. Only one brand (Natural Instinct) would deliver to us and it would take a few days. After some online research (in between mini power cuts), I found a pet shop in Inverness that stocked raw pet food. Off I headed to collect James from the airport and pick up some food for the dogs. As I stepped out the door and walked to the front of the house, the wind hit me with so much force it actually made me lose my balance. I’m not a small person but I’m also not great on my feet but I’ve never been literally blown over before. Given it was pitch black, it made me nervous for the drive.
Once I got out of Dornoch and over the Dornoch Bridge it wasn’t too bad. There was a lot of surface water but some sensible driving (from both myself and other drivers) and everything was fine. I got James and the food and we made it homes safely.
For us, the worst part was seeing the damage the storm had on the local wildlife. The sea often washes up the birds that fly out to see to die but suddenly, the beach was covered in dead birds. In less than 1/4mile we must have stumbled over 50 of them.
There were thousands of washed up starfish. Just as we were wondering if we should try and throw some back into the water, a local told us they’re already dead. Next to all the starfish were dead crabs, lobsters, jellyfish and fish.
Stretches of beach that were usually covered in deep, pale sand was nothing but jagged rocks (apparently, east winds takes the sand away and west winds will bring it back).
It’s all part of the circle of life and it’s just nature being nature but it’s still sad to see so much dead marine life
My Highland Haven 