The tempest blew in from the Atlantic on Saturday, January 24th, with hurricane-force winds of 180 kilometres (110 miles) an hour. The wind and rain began at 4am and finally eased off after 4pm, leaving 1.7 million people without power and caused innumerable damages from Northern Spain up through Bordeaux.
Our normally rigid cypress totems bent severely but held, as did the vines. Deep roots and being resilient is the motto.
The French weather agency Meteo France issued a red alert for the region and asked all residents to stay indoors. We were only too eager to comply. We built a fire and toughed it out. 
Last evening we had a semblance of order; the birds were singing and we had completed the week of filling barrels with our 2008 wine. With a heightened sense of appreciation, humour, and thankfulness, we have a sunny weekend ahead of us.
