Tag Archives: rain

A River of Stones, Day Twenty-Four: Punctured

by

My tyres were a bit muddy, so I was quite pleased when I saw a shallow puddle I could ride through just before arriving at work. That, it seems, was my mistake. Wet weather, explained my uber-cyclist colleague, is deadly for tyres; all those little bits of glass floating about just waiting for the chance to slice through the unsuspecting rubber.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Hidden Take Two

by

The rain began on Thursday evening, and I went to sleep with the sound of it on the roof of the boat. When I woke in the morning it had stopped and the temperature had dropped. The marina was cloaked in a shroud of mist that was deeper by the river’s edge and stretched away across the fields, hiding the flat landscape under a white cloud.

Continue reading →

Afloat Again

by

This is from last night, when the connection kept failing, as it well may do today too.

Due to the rain earlier today, I ummed and ahhed about coming East. I don’t like the mud/boat combination. Too much cleaning and dirty bits of newspaper are involved. So it was as the sun was setting that we arrived. The view across the fens on the approach road was beautiful.I was tempted to stop and get out my camera, but common sense prevailed. It had been a lovely afternoon and the countryside in its late autumn colours, under blue skies, was like a travel brochutre with knobs on.

We are alone. There is no one else at the marina, and from the lack of cars, I’d say no one out on their boat from here either. It could be scary but it’s not. I rather enjoyed showing Not Cat the ropes. He hasn’t been on das Boot since May, though he had a mooch about the marina a few weeks ago.

Some bad moments when I came aboard ahead of Not Cat. I wanted to turn on the electrics and run the engine for a while to get us hot water. The engine wouldn’t start. My heart fell. But I got a new battery earlier in the year, so even while I was envisaging an evening with the battery charger on and the floor up, I persevered. Hurrah! Lift off.

I didn’t think the Ginger Ninja would particularly enjoy the sound, so I left him in his box while I unloaded the car. I hope that in future I’ll be able to let him out to sniff around and then make his own way down to the boat as Cat learned to do.

Not Cat explored while I unpacked and wiped surfaces, cleaning the spider poo of the last few weeks and washing down the draining board. He seemed fine, so I guess he must have left his territorial marks, fortunately not pungent ones, back in May.

I thought the boat would be cold, but although I’ve added a fleece and the electric blanket is on to air the bed, I‘ve only just closed the windows, open to clear the condensation from cooking supper. Which I thought might also be off the menu when the gas wouldn’t light. I seemed for a few crucial moments to be facing a meal of old Bombay mix and cold baked beans.

Not Cat has had a good look out of the windows and signaled his desire to explore outside, but is now asleep in the cat bed beside me. I’ve brought lots of toys to entertain him, and I’m hoping he’s not going to be too active tonight.

As usual I had overestimated the fridge’s capacity, so I’ve got some lagers chilling outside on the gunwhale. I think, now I’ve had dinner, it’s time to pop one open. I’d hate them to go to waste.

Rain, Flowers and Not Cat

by

I’m taking a short break from my struggles with the various forms I need to complete for Mother’s move.

Mother is still in hospital, for at least another day.

Someone gave me a beautiful bunch of flowers earlier. The vibrancy of their colours a contrast with the grey skies beyond the window.

Yellow

Continue reading →

After the Rain

by

On Val’s blur criteria, http://valzone.wordpress.com/2011/06/21/a-blurred-ladybird/, none of these would cut the mustard.
The raindrops with their magnificent surface tension jewel the lost poppy petal.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Incy Wincy Cyclist

by

I usually bath before bedtime. Showers are more of a morning activity.

But it’s only just gone six thirty, and yet here I am, newly out of the bath, in comfy clothing, and my hair still damp.

I didn’t just wash my hair. I did that this morning, and no, it hasn’t stayed wet all day.

Imagine the headlines in the tabloids. Well, no I can’t quite either, but they’d probably have a word like freak in there somewhere.

I have been working in a glass building today. The sort where you shouldn’t throw stones. Magnificent when it rains and you can watch the water cascading down the sloping roof above you. Which I did periodically this afternoon.

Then it got to the time when I could begin thinking about going home. The cascading water was spectacular. I admired it some more and looked out at the grey clouds. Thunder and lightning joined in. Lots of wow factor.

Hail stones bounced noisily down the roof. Mega wow.

I cycled to work, so it was logical I should cycle home again. I had my waterproofs with me after all.

Half an hour passed. Teasingly, the rain would pause for a few seconds, but it was only taking a deep breath, ready to renew its downpour. Continue reading →

And Down Came the Rain

by

As I’ve said before, I’m a fair weather cyclist, but today I decided to risk taking the bike and trust to missing the forecasted heavy showers.

You could say it all went swimmingly.

My journey to work this morning was completed in sunshine. I took the precaution of tying a plastic bag round the saddle, and I had a big plastic bag to wrap around my bag if it rained. The waterproofs were a bit bulky in my bag; but it seemed a good way to placate the summer shower gods.

Second bike journey to Creative Writing was also a dry experience. It must have rained during the class as I came out to a soggy plastic bag on the saddle and lots of puddles. I congratulated myself on my good luck, but decided that this evening, when I am going to see a  play, I’d take the bus.

Halfway home the first drops of rain began to fall. Not much and I was confident I’d be alright. But then a long low rumble of thunder, and from just a pale pearl grey sky, a deluge.

I pedalled as fast as I could. Two children, running into the road, nearly knocked me off my bike. Regaining my balance I sped for home, locked the bike up and dripped my way into the flat. Cat was hoping for attention, but I was literally soaked to the skin. Water from my hair was running into my eyes.

I peeled off my clothes and flung the light-coloured ones into the washing machine. I had to wring out my trousers. My shoes, I left on the doormat outside.

I got into a warm bath.  The sun came out.

British summers: don’t you just love ‘em!