Xynthia

Xynthia is the name of the storm that gave us a couple of hours of discomfort on Saturday night, and an awkward journey to church on Sunday morning, but that deprived 1 000 000 homes of electricity, 50 people of their lives and caused the evacuation of many others.

She's caused a big discussion of the pattern of development in rural seaside towns. Holiday homes are very popular here. In fact it's far from unknown to rent the home you live in and buy a maison secondaire - this can be quite practical if you're in a job where they love you round the country. And a holiday home on the beach - what could be better ?

Well - perhaps retiring to a house on the beach. A beachside home. Lovely !

Until a combination of an extremely high tide and an extreme depression move the sea up the beach, through your garden and halfway up your stairs...

So there's a big debate opened up on beachside home-building.

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