h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It's Stephen's Day, also known in other part of the world as the 2nd day of Christmas, Boxing Day or just plain 26th December. It's the traditional day for sitting around, gnawing the leftover ham, watching old movies on TV, and wondering why you got into that argument with uncle Joe last night.

There were 16 of us for dinner in my brother-in-law's. Thankfully we managed to avoid the arguments and had a singsong instead. A great Christmas day, and thanks to everyone who cooked, particularly Paula.

We had a Kris Kindle and I got a pack of make-and-mould rubber which can be used for fixing, strengthening and protecting things.

I didn't drink too much, having only 3glasses of wine and 2 beers over 8 hours.

A good Christmas Day.

Had a leisurely breakfast, did some tidying, had lunch, went for a 6.5km walk around our local park, then came home and did more tidying. Put some photos of Christmas Day up on the computer.

There's a storm coming and it's already starting to blow. Winds of 120 forecast.

Again?!

Indeed, bad enough a number of people in the UK went without power during Christmas.

It is Status Orange at the moment. The west of Ireland has a Status Red with wind speeds up to 150 km/h and heavy flooding.

I hope you survived unscathed.

It got pretty violent overnight, but it can't have been too bad - even the trains are running.

Here it was the worst storm in 15 years. Nobody killed, but 45,000 people without power and transport disrupted. One window pane was blown out of our greenhouse. I'm about to put it back now. Just as well it is a day off for many people - otherwise it would be mayhem.

Glad it was only a pane in the greenhouse, sounds scary!

Any idea what the weather's like in Co. Antrim? I'm getting very worried about my poor horse - I left him in the holiday field while I'm away; I thought he'd prefer that to being stuck in the stable...

I know there are 3,600 people without power in the North, so it must have been windy there too.

I got "a pack of make-and-mould rubber" for strengthening and fixing stuff too, if by that you mean the wonderful Sugru

http://sugru.com/

Last night was pretty wild. I was abed trying to sleep through a bad head cold, a howling gale, and an intermittent knocking sound that made me wonder whether someone was looking for help.

TRiG. (Um. We could probably do with a sneezing smiley.)

Will this do?

Get well soon, TRiG.

"Guten Rutsch" everyone.