Wet, Wet, Wet

No this is not a boy band appreciation page it is merely a comment on the recent weather. I say recent but it seems that it has been raining intermittently for many many weeks if not months. I have a recollection that whilst we were away in Poland during the summer enjoying lovely hot sunny weather, comments were made about the exceptionally wet summer in Britain. How lucky were we!

A beach in Poland

In recent weeks blue sky has been as scarce as hens’ teeth. The cloud cover has been obstinately low and dark and we have experienced every kind of rain from mizzle (a mixture of drizzle and mist) to unremitting deluges. In fact there was one occasion when every single road out of the village was flooded.  Deciding that discretion was the better part of valour I did not attempt to drive through the deep water and returned home and informed people that I was flooded in. Fortunately this situation was soon rectified though caution is needed as the roads are still very drenched.

Out walking with the dogs is not very enjoyable. Wellington boots are de rigueur. (We have used them so much recently that we have found it necessary to purchase new ones for all the family). Walking over the fields is like skating as the probability of slipping and sliding about and ending up covered with mud is high.

In other fields there is a musical accompaniment. With each step there is a wheeeeze as your foot sinks into the ground and the sodden earth slithers over your boot. Then as you pull the other foot out there is a squeeeelchhhh as the soggy earth clings to your footwear and oh so reluctantly slides off, leaving a thin coating of brown droplets clinging on.  Short walks become marathons and everything becomes coated in mud.

Campsite beside a river

This prolonged spell of wet weather has quenched my desire to go out in the van.  I am a bit wishy-washy in the rain especially in the van.  Space to dry wet clothes is limited and the dogs odour when wet is pungent. In the confined space of the van it is overwhelming and not very pleasant.

I can only sit here and imagine how challenging campsites must be finding this prolonged wet spell. It must be taxing times for them especially those which operate with a proviso “depending on the weather”. Similarly those sites close to a river must be finding these times worrying.

I do hope there is an improvement in the weather in the New Year. I hope that my wish to go away for a few days can at last be realized.