Whooops

Lovely day and we nearly got through midnight to midnight self-sufficiency on electricity with our PV/Battery system - just had to buy 2kWh. 

The last remains of sunset can be seen on the horizon as we stopped to look at another casualty of the storms at what is Luna's favourite swimming point. The tree had often provided the odd stick she demanded were thrown in.

Had a longish chat with a regular dog walker with his "Ruben" Border Collie Mix who Luna loves. He had just been to a small forest patch he owns to inspect the damage from the storms. About 30 trees down lying criss-cross like Pick-Up-Sticks and too dangerous for him as an amateur with no proper equipment to sort it out safely, so he will get a contractor/farmer to clear it. It is not uncommon for "ordinary" people to own a small patch of forest. More a "good feeling" thing than of any financial worth.

It was very dark by the time we got to the furthest point on the "Schickling Walk" and saw the administrator/handyman of the estate who had just finished a day of pulling fallen trees out of fields they had fallen on to. He had taken the decision straight away to get a farmer with a crane to do the work.

Less severe storms are forecast in the next few days, a shame for the carnival lovers - Thursday was "Women's Day" which kicks off the last phase of carnival, the highlight along the Rhein around Mainz, Cologne & Düsseldorf being Monday - Tuesday in Bavaria. Then we are into Lent and the more important "Strong Beer Season".