Lightning Strikes

We were woken several times through the night by hailstorms hammering in from the northwest, culminating in a terrific lightning strike at ten past seven.

The Diary was at the back of the house emptying the ash from the fire, and saw the transformer on the power pole fizz with orange sparks, just like some sort of giant Guy Fawkes firework. The power went down, and came on just in time for another strike, which knocked it out again, followed by two brown lightning streaks - our cats heading for the safety of the house.

Later, the sun appeared briefly over Tobermory in a ruddy, angry orange, and then disappeared as the next hail shower came in.

There are reports around the village of telephones not working and broadband routers burnt out, so if you've not heard from a friend or relative, that's probably why.