Last night’s (June 8, 2011) storm

Looking out my front door

This photo doesn’t really do it justice. The trees behind the neighbour’s house were blowing like crazy from all directions at almost the same time. The rain was coming down almost horizontally, the wind was so fierce.

I have a small roof over my front door – similar to those in the photo – and I was getting wet standing in my front hall, foyer, vestibule whatever you prefer to call it!

I shot this picture with my Blackberry and had it held tight against the screen so that the camera wouldn’t focus on the mesh. Not bad but…

Still pretty freaky sky. I was only home from work about ten minutes when it all started. It was really black north of the 401 and I watched the sky darken in my rear view mirror the closer I got to my wee house.

First it was the wind. Violent. Then the rains came. Then the thunder and lightning. Mostly just rumbling thunder but every now and then, to keep a body on their toes, there was a huge boomer!

Storms don’t bother me. I’ve sat outside and watched many a good thunderstorm over the years. And after the power goes out, what else is there to do? That isn’t to say that an unexpected loud clap of thunder doesn’t make me jump – it does. But unlike some people who have a real phobia when it comes to storms, I’m not that phased by them. Luckily, our lights only flickered a couple of times and the worst was over in time for us to cook supper on the BBQ and better yet, it didn’t interrupt my viewing of Coronation St.

june 8 2011 storm video I shot a video using my Blackberry from out on the covered portion of our deck overlooking the back yard. Because our yard slopes downhill away from the house, the effect of the storm wasn’t nearly as dramatic. The biggest event that happened was my disused, rusted out metal clothesline pole came down. I was hoping that when I was shooting the video I would have captured some good lightning flashes or loud thunder claps but alas, I wasn’t so lucky. However, I did manage to capture some emergency vehicle sirens… in addition to the water pouring out the end of my gutter.

Again tonight there’s a chance of another thunderstorm. Call me weird, but I can’t wait.

 

1923: A Memoir by Harry Leslie Smith

World War II veteran, Harry Leslie Smith, was born in 1923 in Barnsley, Yorkshire England. After the war, he worked in a number of professions and now splits his time between Canada, the UK and Portugal.

In this first volume of his memoirs, Smith chronicles the tragic story of his early life. He presents his family’s early history-their misfortunes and their experiences of enduring betrayal, inhumane poverty, infidelity, and abandonment. )I can relate to this because my father’s family was poor and they were forced to send some of their children to The Orphan Homes of Scotland.)

1923: A Memoir presents the story of a life lyrically described, capturing a time both before and during World War II when personal survival was dependent upon luck and guile. During this time, failure insured either a trip to the workhouse or burial in a common grave. Brutally honest, Smith’s story plummets to the depths of tragedy and flies up to the summit of mirth and wonder, portraying real people in an uncompromising, unflinching voice.

I can’t wait to curl up and read it. I think I had best keep a box of tissues at hand because I think I’m going to need them.

Paperback: 312 pages
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9781450254137
ISBN-13: 978-1450254137
ASIN: 1450254136

1923: A Memoir is available in paperback or for the Kindle, Nook, or Kobo at the following

Amazon.com (buy) US: http://amzn.to/kxlKsv 
Amazon.co.uk (buy) UK: http://amzn.to/m3sbtN
Nook (buy): http://bit.ly/kxnjDY 
Kobo (buy): http://www.tiny9.com/u/1664
FaceBook 1923 A Memoir: http://on.fb.me/lboRcM
Twitter Account @1923Memoir: http://twitter.com/#!/1923Memoir
Author Website: http://1923thebook.ca