Ruffled

We left slightly later than intended, going to Augustow for Y's birthday. The wind was so strong we were concerned that the road would be blocked with fallen trees. As it happens we were right. There were several spruces already cut up by the main road through the forest. There was great disruption to the power supplies in the area. When we returned rather late, the house was dark and we had to light candles and boil water in a pan to make tea. We were just beginning to enjoy the atmosphere when the power came back on again.

We all had a pleasant meal in Augustow and had coffee afterwards in A and Y's newly refurbished house. They have knocked the old outbuilding down to build a garage. It was difficult to demolish since the concrete was particularly well reinforced. The house was built by a party secretary.

I caught this swan on the river as we arrived when it was still rather blustery. There was a thin layer of fresh snow on the way back, as promised by the weather forecast.