Water, water, everywhere, Nor…

With apologies to Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

Regular readers will be aware that it has been a long time since one of my weather ‘moans’.
Not only am I determined to stay ‘more positive, in 2017’ I must also confess that we have had a record lack of rainfall over the last couple of months. In fact, the local TV news reporters have been out and about featuring drought issues. They have told us that we have not had such a dry Spring since 1905. Farmers are worrying about crops, water companies are concerned over reservoir levels, and gardeners are concerned about planting. Before you know it, we will have a hosepipe ban!

Not long ago, I was happily cavorting in shorts and a shirt, enjoying unseasonal warmth, and worrying about being bitten by flying insects. I had put away my heavy boots, stored the bulky weatherproof clothing, and furled my umbrella. Walking with Ollie on dry ground was a joy, and flinging open windows to enjoy the fresh air and warmth made me feel like Summer was almost at our door. But Mother Nature was offended by my smugness, and lack of concern. So, she took her revenge.

In the space of twenty-four hours, the temperature fell from 20 C to 9 C. The sunny skies were replaced by threatening clouds, and we had to put the heating back on in the house. Soon after, we experienced frosts at night, followed by bitingly cold, if bright, days. We were heading back into Winter, and travelling quickly. The rain started a couple of days later. “Still not enough”, lamented the TV weatherman. His cry was heard. The rain got heavier, and more persistent. Farmers turned grateful eyes to the skies, and the water companies continued to report that they still didn’t have enough water, if a hot Summer follows.

Then we got light snow. Then hailstorms. Lots of them. I got the heavy boots out again, and shook out the waterproof coats. I even had to find my gloves, as daytime temperatures struggled to get above 6 C, in a cold northerly wind. By this afternoon, we had experienced almost eighteen hours of reasonably heavy rain, and I headed off for my walk with Ollie in a considerable downpour, clutching my resurrected trusty brolly. Nonetheless, both the weathermen and the water companies say it’s not enough.

I’m no expert of course, but it begs the question. After almost four years of constant rain before 2017, where has all water gone? What are reservoirs for? Or did they just not bother to save any? We definitely need someone better in that job. Someone who knows what they are doing.

Staying positive, in 2017. Despite the weather.