Scary Event

By skinner_jennifer

Thu, 25 Sep 2025
  • 200 reads
12 comments
 

Dear diary,

 
it was the evening of Wednesday 24th September 2025. I was stood in the bathroom cleaning my teeth, when all of a sudden there was an almighty explosion, the whole house shook, I thought a bomb had gone off, it felt so scary, a bit like those images you see of war zone countries.
 
My partner called up the stairs: "Jen! You okay?" Thinking I'd fallen. I thought to myself! I know I'm not exactly light, but come on, I'm not that heavy.
 
We checked outside but couldn't see anything, so assumed all was okay. But I couldn't help having this niggling feeling that the experience had left me shaky and scared. I kept checking the news, but nothing was shown.
 
I still couldn't relax, so went back to my writing to take my mind off the thoughts I was having of being in a war torn country. I even had trouble sleeping, so listened to some music which normally calms me down.
 
Of course my partner had no such second thoughts or problems sleeping...which is just as well, it wouldn't be any good both of us suffering with anxiety.
 
Finally I did get off to sleep, after a lot of thinking and tossing and turning, but awoke at about 6am and checked the local news, only to discover there'd been an explosion at a warehouse on the local Groundwell Trading Estate. I really hope nobody was in the warehouse at the time, or anywhere near the building, because the fire was horrific and could be seen from a great distance as the flames grew higher.
 
Now my thoughts go out to the people who live local and their families. Anyone who had to be evacuated, must have been terrified on such an evening while just chilling and relaxing, not something I would ever want to experience in my lifetime.
 
Peace to the world, let us live in peace dear diary.
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Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

It sometimes seems easier to find out about things happening far away than near!

Quite a few years ago, a factory very close caught fire, and there was danger of explosion from the contents I think. We were sleepily hearing some noises and then a policeman banged on the door saying we had to be evacuated. As our mother-in-law had just damaged her knee, they had to send an ambulance for her. Later in the day, a bit weary of the school we were encamped in we went to see our son's family about 30 miles away, and after school, one of the girls said they'd been learning about evacuees, so I said, 'We are evacuees today!'

I think when we got home, there was a lot of soot deposits around the area, but none in our garden, they had blown further! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Rhiannon, it wasn't that far away, in fact it was only about three miles away from where we live which made it even more scary. The fire brigade were brilliant and it's just a water logged mess now. Thank goodness nobody was harmed, it would have been much worse if it had happened during the day.

Your experience sounded frightening, being woken by a policeman banging on your door saying you had to be evacuated. Thank goodness you managed to get an ambulance out for your mother-in-law.

Those kind of incidents don't often happen...thank goodness. But at least you managed to get through it and understand what it must be like to be an evacuee.

Thank you for sharing your story Rhiannon. Also appreciated your comment and reading.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Turlough on

A noise in the night is always ten times louder than a noise in the day so I'm not surprised you couldn't sleep Jenny, especially as bombs seem to be so much more popular these days.

I hope there's no repetition.

I Googled Groundwell Trading Estate to see exactly where it is. There were so many place names on that map that came flooding back to me. It's 26 years since I worked in Swindon but it seems like a lot less. I was always tempted to go into Fish Brothers and ask for cod and chips.

Turlough

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Turlough,

honestly it felt like the explosion was in our garden it was so loud. I thought the house would crack open...thankfully it didn't, but being upstairs, the floor shook violently, I do not kid you. I hope there's no repetition too.

I don't live that far from Groundwell Trading Estate and we'd only just driven past there during the day, so that added to the thought of: What on earth would it had been like if it happened during the day? Thankfully no body was injured. The fire people did an amazing job and worked so hard during the night.

Ha! Ha! laugh Fish Brothers I'm sure would be amused. Swindon's changed so much in 26 years. Honda doesn't exist anymore. So many buildings have been demolished, yet time rolls on and doesn't wait for anyone I'm afraid...not even little old me, ha! Ha. wink

Thanks for stopping by to read and share your thoughts.

Jenny. 

 

Submitted by Turlough on

It's hard to imagine Swindon without Honda. I bought a Honda Civic in 2002 and was mocked for buying a foreign car but in actual fact it had been built only thirty miles away from where I lived.

It's funny how I have a soft spot for the town even though I hadn't wanted to go there and neither had my wife and three young kids. I worked for National Power (originally the CEGB) in Harrogate but they closed that office and relocated me (i.e. dragged me kicking and screaming) to Windmill Hill Business Park near the M4. Three years later they made me redundant. I lived in Wiltshire twenty years in all (eighteen in Chippenham and two in Devizes) before moving to Bulgaria. It's a lovely county. I loved walking in the Marlborough Downs and along the Kennet & Avon canal almost every Sunday.

And it's nice to see the football town rising from the ashes at long last. Up the Robins!

 

Turlough

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Turlough,

didn't realize you'd lived in Wiltshire twenty years, that's a long time, plus you worked in Bristol. Wow! You've certainly got around.

Me and my partner have had some great walks along the Kennet and Avon canal, especially when we lived in Swindon town itself, but not recently.

I have to admit that the countryside is glorious around Wiltshire, walking up by the White Horse and around Avebury and up on the Ridgeway, so many more places I'm always attracted too.

Thanks for coming back and commenting.

Jenny.

 

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

I hope everyone's ok - what a shock you must have had Jenny!

My partner called up the stairs: "Jen! You okay?" Thinking I'd fallen. I thought to myself! I know I'm not exactly light, but come on, I'm not that heavy.

That made me laugh though! )

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi insert,

yes we're fine and all is back to normal thank goodness.

My partner always worries that I'll have a fall, something I'd rather not contemplate. I'm definitely more careful these days. Glad I could make you laugh...that's always good to know.

Thanks for reading and leaving a comment.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

How frightening! I hope you have stopped thinking of it so much, now, I would be shaky like you! And I would be miffed if people downstairs thought I could cause the whole house to shake just be falling over!!! I loved how you put it though, as Insert said, you made me smile, too :0) It's so lucky nobody was hurt, those fire services are so brave, aren't they, not even knowing what could be inside and if the place might explode again, and still working so close to the danger

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

All is well now Di, but thank you for your thoughts. Still not certain what caused the explosion.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Tom Brown on

Must have been very scary I had something similar Jenny, as I slept a heavy book case fell smashing down I thought it was thunder I thought lightning hit the house, checked on my mother she was fast asleep. The book case was up above the door it just came crashing down by itself blocking the door probably wasn't fixed properly.

I had been busy there with organising my books. My uncle Nolan passed on that same night.

Also while I was in the midway house a plastic factory burned down I watched the whole thing, firemen are very courageous strong young men it burned most of the night I thing maybe it was arson looked like the buildings took fire on opposite sides at the same time. Horrible stench of burning plastic. Maybe it was for insurance.

You've got lots of stories here hey?!

Keep well, I admire your courage to go to sleep again!

All the best! Tom

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Tom, I'm a bit like a cat, any loud noises have me jumpy, so I can imagine how you must have felt when the bookcase fell.

You're right the firement are very courageous and it did take all night too put the fire out. I'm just glad no one was hurt.

Anyway thanks for reading and leaving a comment.

Jenny.