h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Last night: sitting on the porch, watching the rain.

Me: 'Don't touch the tripod. There's lightning out there.'

Elektra: 'It's okay. The tripod has rubber feet.'

Me: 'All the rain seems to be over by Hoggetts'.'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdLJStrQApk

A few hours earlier,at the Hoggett Farm:

Mrs Hoggett was altering Kitkat's new dress. The younger Mrs Hoggett was resting after work, and Farmer Hoggett was working. Outside, it was raining to beat the band. Then it stopped.

Mrs Hoggett and Kitkat went out as usual to see if they could spot a rainbow. Rainbow-spotting is a tradition at the Hoggett Farm. They didn't see a rainbow.

What they saw was much more alarming. A tornado was coming up the gravel road from the cemetery - straight at the 200-year-old farmhouse.

Hoggetts went flying. 'Quick! Everybody into the cellar! NOW!'

Kittens were scooped up and tossed downstairs. Wet dogs were shuttled into shelter.

'Somebody grab my shoes!' called barefoot Kitkat. She was handed a pair of wellies. Importunate cats were let in from outside. The family closed the cellar door and stayed away from windows.

Microbursts are fairly common up on the mountain. This particular tornado? It split in two. One part went around the farm on one side, the other on the other.

A call came in from Nicola Tesla Hoggett. 'Can somebody pick me up? Track practice has been cancelled due to rain.'

Hoggetts' is a magic place.

so it's ? the rain in Spain falls mainly on the Hoggetts' then

but they've been lucky of course

Yeah.

Dark and stormy indeed! Hey you've been through it frame by frame to see the forks?

No! That's an idea!

Wow, that is a great video - very atmospheric indeed...

Glad the weather was bad but not too bad...

Thanks, Sasha.

Oh yes, very good video! Also interesting about the tornado. I didn't know they can do that.