I suppose I could tell you that all is quiet in the bodega at the moment (apart from starting to make our preparations for the harvest). The “lull before the storm”, you might say. I deliberately used this expression as I thought it might make a clever link to today’s topic. Tornadoes, Hurricanes and Storm Chasers!

There have been quite a number of extreme weather situations in recent months, and in the wake of Hurricane Isaac in New Orleans, it remains a highly topical subject. If you ever watch the Discovery Channel on your TV you will also know that Storm Chasing has become quite a fashionable past-time in some parts of the U.S. (if not a very dangerous one too). All in the name of science we are led to believe, although I can’t help but think that some treat it more like a form of extreme sport and/or adrenaline rush. Before I go any further I should at least reassure you that, despite a day or two of strong wind in our region, we are not expecting any extreme storms here in Galicia – albeit it appears that some might be preparing for it……

Over the last year or so, about 200 metres from our front door, the construction of a private house has been taking place. Nothing unusual you might think, but it the manner in which the house has been built that caught my attention. Even in the infamous ‘Tornado Alley’ houses are not built with such a solid, sturdy construction. Solid granite walls and a roof secured by one of the most elaborate steel frames I think I have ever seen on a private dwelling. To say that this house would be hurricane proof is perhaps the understatement of the year.

Just to complete the story, the one thing that I didn’t realise is that this house is actually being built by Angela’s uncle, for his son Jorge – perhaps he knows something about the local weather that we don’t!

I suppose I could tell you that all is quiet in the bodega at the moment (apart from starting to make our preparations for the harvest). The “lull before the storm”, you might say. I deliberately used this expression as I thought it might make a clever link to today’s topic. Tornadoes, Hurricanes and Storm Chasers!

There have been quite a number of extreme weather situations in recent months, and in the wake of Hurricane Isaac in New Orleans, it remains a highly topical subject. If you ever watch the Discovery Channel on your TV you will also know that Storm Chasing has become quite a fashionable past-time in some parts of the U.S. (if not a very dangerous one too). All in the name of science we are led to believe, although I can’t help but think that some treat it more like a form of extreme sport and/or adrenaline rush. Before I go any further I should at least reassure you that, despite a day or two of strong wind in our region, we are not expecting any extreme storms here in Galicia – albeit it appears that some might be preparing for it……

Over the last year or so, about 200 metres from our front door, the construction of a private house has been taking place. Nothing unusual you might think, but it the manner in which the house has been built that caught my attention. Even in the infamous ‘Tornado Alley’ houses are not built with such a solid, sturdy construction. Solid granite walls and a roof secured by one of the most elaborate steel frames I think I have ever seen on a private dwelling. To say that this house would be hurricane proof is perhaps the understatement of the year.

Just to complete the story, the one thing that I didn’t realise is that this house is actually being built by Angela’s uncle, for his son Jorge – perhaps he knows something about the local weather that we don’t!