The Calm Before the Storm - Saturday 18th p.m.

Well, quite an apt title really, considering my cruise blog on cruise critic and now it really is coming true.

Well Justin is still in work, it has been a long day for him and I want him home with me, now, this instant, not because I fear for my life but because I fear I can't survive on hummus and chips for much longer!  Those that know Justin know that he is a brilliant cook, I do all the washing and Ironing and cleaning and he does all the cooking - after ten years of inactivity in the kitchen, I'm afraid I can just about manage to open a tin of beans (I'll never let on otherwise - that would mean having to get back into the kitchen and doing some cooking again now and then).

So anyway, after a pretty busy morning, pulling down all the shutters and providing extra security to them by wrapping strong string round them to hold them well in place, the garden is empty of everything and my plants are now in the lap of the gods - god willing they survive but somehow I doubt it very much.  All that hard work of tendering, nurtering, pruning, feeding and caring for them will be gone in 24 hours!  I don't live in Kew Gardens, actually I have just a few plants in my garden, but I want them to survive!

The landlord has been round again, he has my moped stashed safely away in his garage, he's sealed up all the water pipes on the top of the house (that collect our water - that we use for drinking/washing etc.) if he didn't seal them up the salty water in the air along with the heavy rain we are due would go into our tanks and make the water unfit for consumption.  The Landlord has also dropped around a very long extension lead.  He has a generator in the *likely* event that we lose power and will run it to our generator in case we want to keep the freezer running or have a light on - we won't use it for the air-conditioning units, that would be a frivelous waste and would rather preserve the food in our freezer.  Besides if we lose power for too long we can easily pop into Justin's work and use the facilities in the gym for a shower.

Apparently the seas are whipping up a storm on their own at the moment, even though winds are still slight on land, the seas are getting pretty ferocious.  This picture was published on our local paper just recently showing the water at John Smiths' Bay

Already you can see just how strong it is - imagine what it will be like once the hurricane really does hit us. (yoikes)

OK, the landlord has just called with some news that won't impress Justin and I won't spoil his day just yet by telling him what he said.  He has just called to advise that as we are served by the Bermuda cable service "WOW" and we use a dish on the side of the house, he is coming round tomorrow to take it down.  There may be trouble ahead.................  Still, as long as we have internet connection then he can download his footy and watch it on the PC!

Looks like we're not going to make it to our friends for dinner tonight after all which I'm a bit peeved off about but understand that part of Justin's job description is to ensure that all IT systems are up and running and that customer support continues undeterred - so although he has been at work all day, I'm hoping he can rustle something pretty spectacular up with the stuff I purchased from the shops today!! :O)

In other news re Igor, the Royal Navy's ship HMS Manchester which has a helicopter on board has been put on standby to assist with any aftermath of the storm.

The last flight before the storm has now left and the airport is closed and the Causeway, which links the airport and St. Georges to the mainland will close when easterly winds reach 50 knots (57 mph)

Some of you may be aware that during Hurricane Fabian back in 2003 the Causeway was devastated cutting off the residents of St Georges from the mainland, plus 4 people died who were swept away from causeway during Fabian.  The picture below shows an aerial view of some of the damage caused during Fabian - hopefully now that the causeway has been repaired and reinforced there will not be too much damage this time, shutting the St Georges and St. David's islanders from the rest of the country.