We've had weather events in the last week all over the atmospheric map in this area. When we returned from our trip on Tuesday it was very warm at 26C, and sunny. The following day we had copious rain in the morning after an all-night rain event, but the sun came through and we had a lovely day, after all. More of the same in the day to follow, but Friday capped it all. Again, Thursday overnight heavy rain, on into Friday morning, and quite cool, around 14C. Then the sun erupted out of the cloud-shrinking sky and the temperature rose precipitously along with the humidity levels to reach 29C. Throughout the day there were really strong winds.

In the morning my husband had driven his truck to Canadian Tire to find out why the engine light had come on again. Before our trip he'd had it tested and everything was fine. The test analysis result was that a part needed replacement. By the time we'd had our early afternoon walk in the ravine, and my husband mowed the lawn, it was time to retrieve the truck, and he walked through the neighbourhood to the Canadian Tire store to pick it up. All the way he battled heavy headwinds, as the sun receded and heavy dark clouds returned.

He stopped by the supermarket close by to pick up a few food items and when he exited, rain had once again begun to fall, amidst raucous thunder and he watched on the near horizon as lightning lit up the sky and bright daggers erupted from black cloud to penetrate the ground below, then he reached home just as the wind increased and the rain came pelting down. I was at home, noting the flickering power in the house.

It was only the next morning that we realized the depth and extent of the weather phenomenon that had passed through this area. Two tornadoes, one hitting West Ottawa and Gatineau, Quebec with 235kmh winds, and a slightly weaker one hitting elsewhere in the area. Fifty homes were destroyed, a quarter-million people left without power, trees uprooted, hydro lines cracked, vehicles overturned and people evacuated from their homes until it was deemed safe for them to return. Two days later some have been allowed to return, and power has been restored to about 200,000, others will have to wait until emergency crews working frantically are able to fully restore capability.

Meanwhile, we've been able to resume our normal daily routine with no disturbances whatever. Going out daily for our usual ravine walks with Jackie and Jillie, working in the garden to begin the fall clean-up in preparation for winter onset. We've seen no damage in the forested ravine, other than a sprinkling of fallen twigs and foliage.

And we consider ourselves personally very fortunate indeed. Able to take satisfaction in the security we enjoy, while appreciating the misery visited upon others who have the misfortune of -- in this instance -- living in the direct path of a freak, weather-anomalous system whose powerful dimensions have shredded the security of their lives however temporarily. On the positive side of the ledger, no one lost their lives, and no injuries were reported.