Hi Hicky. 
Very windy here most of the day. No damage as such, but my lawn is covered in twigs and leaves that have blown off the trees.
I thought it was calming down a bit by 2pm, but then the rain started. 
So I decided not to go out, as I hate trying to work in high winds, and it makes everything more difficult.
Losing one day's work shouldn't set me back too much, as long as we get dry weather from now on.
Yes, it must be difficult for you knowing when your fruit is ready.
Good that you are getting in more Samosa making practice. 
Pity your OH needed a complete new exhaust, but 10 years is pretty good going for the original.
You are right, a petrol hedge cutter would be more powerful and no battery problem, but they are much heavier and spew out exhaust into your face when you hold them up at eye level. Plus I never found them reliable, I was always having problems with them.
I still have one that kind of works, but I haven't used it for about 3 years, and have just used rechargeable ones.
Watched Humans tonight.