Friday the 3rd of October was our 38th wedding anniversary. It was also the day that Storm Amy hit the UK. My husband and I spent a very wet few hours wandering around Helmsley where even the market stall holders had decided to pack up early and go home due to the awful wet weather. We enjoyed a lovely lunch in the Black Swan before deciding to head home, wet but happy.

The ponies and donkeys had been left having a duvet day in the stables with plenty of food and entertainment. Once the pigs and goats had been fed their breakfasts they had retreated to the warmth of their homes and even the sheep had refused to come out of their shelters.

After Storm Amy

Storm Amy damage to the tree

Chopping logs

Chopping up the branch

As the day progressed the weather deteriorated so much so that when we arrived home shortly after 3 pm, the winds had begun to pick up and the rain lashed down heavily. I checked on all the animals, making sure they were all happy and safe from the weather before retreating inside to the warmth of the freshly lit wood burner and a mug of hot coffee.

I hadn’t been inside long when my husband Mark tapped on the kitchen window, indicating for me to get my coat on and come outside. Fearing the worst, that an animal had been hurt I rushed for my coat and wellies and ran to see what was wrong. Thankfully, it wasn’t an animal, however it was a problem.

A large branch had been blown from a huge sycamore tree in our garden, which I would say is a good hundred years old. It had missed the fence and the chicken hut by inches which was a relief! We scanned the area to make sure no further branches were looking like they were about to drop and assessed the situation.

On a positive note we had something that would occupy the goats in their pen, providing we could cut it down to a suitable size to be able to move it. It would also provide us with logs for our three wood burners for some considerable time, which was also a bonus. The branch would certainly be put to use.

The next day, the storm had receded and the rain had stopped. When I went outside I could see Mark trying in vain to start his chainsaw - he had always had difficulty with this particular piece of equipment as it was forever temperamental. In a light bulb moment, another problem was solved as I persuaded my husband to accompany me to our local store, one that sold everything for farmers, Sam Turners, so I could buy him a new saw. To me it was the perfect anniversary present for a man who never asks for anything and never appears to need anything.

Watching him tackle the huge fallen branch with his shiny new saw, I had to consider whether he regretted walking into that pub thirty eight years ago!


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