This time last year Matthew hit us, but at the time it was only a Cat 1 at the center and the winds that were hitting us 100 miles away were Tropical Storm force.
I thought that was impressive as I watched from our bedroom window.
It wasn't even remotely close to Irma last night.
The really heavy rains started about 4pm and I was bummed that we'd lose the game, but remarkably we probably only lost 10 minutes tops. The DirecTv signal disappears so easily normally I can only presume there is a heavenly body supporting our Rams!
We knew about 11ish that it had taken a slight turn to the east and instead of hitting Tampa straight on was coming straight over the top of us about 15 miles west of Orlando.
I have to admit I was excited to begin with - not so much a couple of hours later.
Noise is the thing you notice the most. It's not like normal wind, it's eerie.
And then when the bands of the really super heavy rain hit the windows it's hard to believe they will withstand the force.
Helen was convinced the windows wouldn't make it and neither would our fence.
Meanwhile all 3 dogs slept on.
Whereas we watched Matthew from various windows, we didn't lift the blinds or move rooms for this monster.
I have never heard anything hit glass so hard and the glass not shatter. I can only presume that the code in Florida means the windows have to withstand greater ferocity than in the UK.
At about 2am it started to quieten down and for a few minutes I thought it was easing up until I realized it was just the eye because within 20 minutes or so it was back to the previous intensity and then some.
Remarkably we never lost power for more than a few seconds and there's no sign of any damage.
We dodged several bullets as all our friends are without power still and one has part of a roof missing.
I've ticked seeing a hurricane off my bucket list and quite frankly I'm not arsed about ever seeing another one!
There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.
