Have you heard of the Samoon? That’s the name for the hot, Saharan wind that moves the dunes around, creating the waves of sand as far as the eye can see. Interesting fact: its name is derived from the Arabic word for ‘poison.’

How about the Brickfielder? An Aussie summer wind that brings with it the hot breath of the outback as it flies through the cooler coastal regions. It gets its name from being so dry that the soil is left as hard as bricks when it passes. Or maybe because it stirs up clouds of thick, red brickyard dust… not sure, actually. Accounts vary.

The wind around here lately has been strong, but not warm like those others. More of a Bora, perhaps, what the locals along the coast of the Adriatic call the cold wind that comes up as a result of pressure differences between the Mediterranean and the higher elevations in the Balkans. Maybe more like that. 

Whatever you call it, it’s been a strong blow for a week or so now. On and off, but never far away. These are the long days of winter.

There are a few new items added to the calendar, on the right side of the Home Page. Check them out… see you out there!