A battering on the beach Guadaloupe style.

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A storm came in from the sea right before dawn this morning. Most of the fishermen had not set out for the fishing grounds last night and they pulled their small canoes well up the beach and spread out the nets on the sand for the women to repair. By the time the first squall hit the island the sky was just starting to lighten and trees could be seen bending under the invisible wind. The air was soon full of spray and waves were thundering onto beach. No-one could have slept through the noise but even though everyone was awake and out of bed no-one could leave their house. For a few moments I tried to sit on the veranda at the back of the house which is fairly sheltered from breezes coming off the sea, but the wind was lifting large branches off the ground, throwing them against the house. I was shure to get hit so I went back inside and made coffee. The day never got bright enough to read and all that was left to do involved coffee, cigarettes and lying on top of the bed.