Hurricane living

6 months ago....

Bruce: I mean, they do get hurricanes but not that often. We'd be unlucky to be there when one hits.... the last bad one was Fabian...

6 months later...

We got two in the space of a week


Hurricane living

• Is not remotely fun - when it actually hits it's really scary (I was convinced our windows were going to blow in), and being stuck inside while hurricane force winds hit for 24 hours is horrid.
• You might need to board your windows up... the whole of the front our house was boarded up so it was very dark indeed.  
• The emergency radio station is amazing - I was expecting a lot of classic hits, but it was an interesting mix, including some rap!
• People do stupid things in a storm - emergency services had to go out in the middle of Gonzalo because someone was using a gas BBQ indoors... big mistake!
• Eating by candlelight post-hurricane is sort of fun for one evening.... but after that not so much!
• You might end up having to shower at your husband's workplace.
• You'll probably get a day off work - which sounds great, but not when you have no power at home and wanted to use the showers at work!
• It's very possible to be without power (or lights as Bermudians would say!) for three weeks
• Pretty much everyone loves Belco.  
• It's an excellent way to bond with your coworkers - mine now know my name, what I do, what my "boyfriend" does and that I only work part time.
• It's also about the only time Bermuda makes the UK news.... although somehow it was in the Caribbean... the facts about the storm were wrong and they misspelled Bermudian. Pretty shocking given that Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory.
• The UK have a warship that basically moves around the Caribbean/Bermuda to help out in hurricane season. When interviewed on the emergency radio station, the interviewer was more interested in the massive drugs haul they had picked up on their previous stop. And they got a nice bottle of dark to thank them for their assistance with the clear up!
• The island looks so different to how it did a month ago - much browner where it used to be ever so green!
• Some cats are braver than others. Bert really hurt his nose in Gonzalo (trying to hide from the storm)... it's still not back to normal.

Hurricane cuisine

• In a hurricane, pretty much anything constitutes a decent meal - I don't think Bruce would normally let me buy spaghetti hoops!
• Tinned fruit and custard or rice pudding is AMAZING when eaten in the eye of the storm in a small bathroom with your cats.
• Red wine is an essential.