John Stevens

Currently sat in Dorking library getting planning work ready for the return to school next week…still no power in the village…nice warming breakfast earlier after a very chilly overnight!

I have to say we were lucky today… we got off the IOW at a time when the winds were beginning to ease, when no other ferries (not even Dover) were running…we got across, got home easily, albeit the last three miles, taking 1/2 an hour, were hampered by structural damage and fallen trees…. Oh and the power is out until tomorrow pm…. Honestly I think the warnings were correct! it wasn’t, thank God, as bad as 87/ 90 vividly remember them both and have been telling my daughter the stories this evening about 87…. But it certainly wasn’t pleasant…. Anyway, have certainly enjoyed the comeraderi and community on here today (despite a couple of knobs!) …whoever first posted Big Jet TV this morning was a genius when we were waiting patiently for the IOW ferry! Great posts!

@FlightlessWings the journey back home to Holmbury was pretty uneventful.:. Until we got to Gomshall.. then took 1/2 an hour because of trees down on the lanes. And the A25 shut because of a fallen chimney. Dorking is fine from what I’ve been told! Had to come to Wotton Hatch for food, light and mobile reception!

Finally…. On the way out of Cowes Harbour….. The Solent looks choppy …..and it is very bumpy…. Some huge waves …. Interesting manoeuvring…. Clearly couldn’t turn ferry broadside to go towards Southampton, so swung completely into the wind, stopped and then went in the opposite direction…benefits of a double ended boat I guess!

Waiting to leave…. The captain has clearly been given a very narrow window of opportunity in the wind direction and strength in which we can leave…has just come on the tannoy and said in the next 1/2 hour…all the other ferries for today have now been cancelled

Suspect that the BBC updated using older data, as usual??? Conditions must have calmed sufficiently for Red Funnel to have restarted the vehicle ferry…we’ve just been loaded…. Fingers the drive up the A3 will be ok and will be back The Surrey hills by mid afternoon…. Will give you an update on conditions when we get there @FlightlessWings…our neighbour said we’ve got no power and is not too bad at the moment

The weather for Cowes on the BBC has changed…There strongest gusts were supposed to begin tailing off from around now earlier this morning…. Now they are continuing until late afternoon….

We’re staying put on the island tonight as well I think…our neighbours in Holmbury are looking after our rabbits, I’ll get in an update from them soon…. My parents in Haywards Heath are saying not too bad there at the moment

This is very true…. Having just checked the BBC and MetO apps for my current location, the two show a 22mph difference in the gusts speeds at 11am ….Rookley IOW: 87mph(BBC) 65mph (MetO)…sustained wind speeds are only shown if you open the full forecast…which most people will only focus on the headline figures…. Also, more fundamentally the app data is not updated on a regular basis, but on the various runs some hours earlier…so many people are easily misled.

Meanwhile in Shanklin you would not think anything is going to happen…

It’s going to be a very tricky crossing from Cowes for us at 1:30pm tomorrow…. All earlier crossings today are now full….

I’ve literally just been at Freshwater Bay…. Very benign at the moment, but the waves are already pounding the seafront

Quite agree @nick sussex…. Having lived through the aftermath of 87 in Mid-Sussex with two weeks with no electricity, the following storms in 89, 90 and more recently in 2014 living where I am now….I would not wish those storms on anyone…. I’m actually on the IOW this week and due to return on Friday at 12:30…zero chance of that happening given ferries have been cancelled most of today…. Think we’ll wait it out until Saturday and leave then! Wish Eunice would drop south and just bring snow!!!

The problem is the large majority of the schools are not on half term…down here in the south it appears only Surrey and a few private schools are off. The school my sister works at in Huddersfield isn’t off until next week either…

Thank you @Mapantz

Hi all…. Normally reside on the SE pages but need some ideas from those with local knowledge… Any thoughts on this would be welcome…. Currently enjoying a half term break on the IOW…due to be returning on Friday, ferry from Cowes booked for 12:30…bang in the middle of Eunice…at what point will Red Funnel release cancellation of service details given the forecast at the moment…. Very much doubt we’ll be able to get an earlier crossing Friday morning so in all probability we’ll end up needing an extra night on the island…. Thanks in anticipation!! John

A little family break to the Isle of Wight…lovely photo taken on Sandown beach today following a sharp shower…. Not looking forward to the ferry back to Southampton on Friday though….

What a fantastic achievement! Just watched it…that and the bobsleigh teams is something to really watch at the Olympics

@carinthian I was quoting you in the local pub tonight…. Many friends are planning on skiing in the next couple of weeks…I suggested your ski area…. Unfortunately myself, I will not be skiing for an unprecedented third season…. How in wish for even a covering here in the Surrey Hills!!! Enjoy the skiing and keep posting the pictures…. Despite my jealously at least I can enjoy the picture

Steady snow here in The Surrey Hills for about the last 15mn or so. Too wet on the ground to settle. EDIT- proper heavy snow now

@TN9 you should look at Search Results for “Speedferries” – Dover Ferry Photos WWW.DOVERFERRYPHOTOSFORUMS.CO.UK

Looks like a few of us might get a few flakes in the breeze later on this evening If it makes it this far

@TomSE12 I’ve loved reading Sammy’s pantomime these last days and the fantastic model analysis! I hope you are well best wishes

Hi guys. My mum is looking for a weather station for my Dad for Christmas. She has found on Amazon for £45. I was wondering if anyone might have any recommendations for reasonably priced ones that have wind/ rain functionality as well that can also have their data shared as a weather station on Weather Underground - a neat trick my my Dad would love!! Cheers, John

A nice bit of falling snow here in the Surrey Hills this morning…settling nicely