Friday 8 June 2012

An English Summer.



One of the photographs above is of a typical English Summer scene - a field of buttercups in the sunshine. I took the photograph at 1.22pm today; by 1.25 it was raining again. By 1.35 there was almost enough blue sky to make a pair of sailor's trousers, so I took Tess (and my umbrella) for a walk. By 1.45 it was raining again. Lord knows we have seen precious little sunshine and blue sky for the past week, but between 8pm last night and 8am today we have had an inch and a quarter of rain. Will it never end?

One bonus I suppose is that it makes everything so lovely and green. The pedigree Limousin cattle opposite the farm are very inquisitive and they do look lovely surrounded as they are by fresh greenery. Another plus is that the damp air does seem to enhance the bird song. The mellifluous tones of the blackbird and the chaffinch accompanied me on my walk - they were exquisite.

Our friends from the Netherlands are set to visit us for a few days next week. They came over from Rotterdam to Hull on the ferry last Friday evening and are at present in Wales - coming up here in the middle of next week. Our hearts go out to them - if we are wet then a pound to a penny Wales is wetter. The only thing is that it does not seem to be better anywhere in Europe. The Times today suggests that if you want warm weather on a last minute holiday then go to Marrakech. This brought back memories of Hotel La Mamounia and afternoon tea to the tinkle of a grandpiano - shorts and sandals forbidden - an echo of a bygone era. This was almost twenty years ago - wonder if it is still the same today or has it been 'modernised'? (what a horrible word.)

If you are here in the UK and you get a snatch of sunlight (and that is all it will be) enjoy it while you can.

12 comments:

Pondside said...

We have buttercups in common with you!
I hope the weather is better in September when I'll be in the UK. It will be wise, I'm sure, to bring a rain jacket.

angryparsnip said...

So green, so beautiful so wet and so different from where I live.
In Tucson it is, sunny with bright blue skies but no clouds.
We are very very dry (wildfires) with the temperature yesterday at 104.
In Tucson that is considered a warm day.
We are waiting for the monsoons.

cheers, parsnip

Reader Wil said...

Wonderful green scenery, without doubt! If I have to choose between warm Marrakech and rainy England, I'd always chose England.Wales is also very beautiful, even if it's wet. Thank you for sharing your beautiful country.

Joanne Noragon said...

My Englilsh sister-in-law never trusted the weather here in the USA, midwest. Her boys were sent out in layers, which they shed each step they travelled.

Rachel Phillips said...

La Mamounia has been modernised - all the art deco has gone. It was closed down for about two years to bring it "up to date" and is now themed "North Africa" and the playground of the rich. It is a shame about the art deco. We bluffed our way in a couple of years ago and spent £100 on a light lunch for two. We spoke to some of the staff and were eventually introduced to one person who remembered the hotel in its 1930s style. My friend, an interior designer, was most disappointed about the changes.

Heather said...

Your photos are beautiful. No sun for us today and rain on and off throughout - very strong winds too. I had to re-tie the broad beans as they were all over the place and Dick had to cut a lot of the honeysuckle which grows over a metal arch as it was top heavy and the wind was threatening to topple the arch and break the shrub. Very sad as it's just coming into flower. It's been more like late October for the past few days and we have weakened and switched the heating back on.

Rath Savinders said...

If this rain continues we'll need your Dutch friends to do some more drainage work on the fens!

Bovey Belle said...

Reporting from Wales - yes, very wet. Our river has shot up about 5 feet overnight and is a dark coffee brown colour. In the paddock, my herb and flower beds are afloat . . .

Dartford Warbler said...

Very wet and windy here in the New Forest.

We too have a fine crop of buttercups this year. Too many really, but they are beautiful and cheer up a day of grey skies.

I hope the weather improves for your visiting friends ( and also for my son and partner who are on holiday in the Lakes next week!).

Hildred said...

One of my Grandmother's sayings - enough blue to make a sailor a pair of pants... You bring back memories, Pat. Still raining here, too - looking for sunshine on Sunday and then back to rain again on Monday. But you are right about the gorgeous greenery...

Loren said...

Sounds very similar to the weather we're having half a world away, Pat. I try to convince myself it's still Spring, not yet Summer.

Strangely enough, this has been the hottest Spring in the United States this year, but we in the Pacific Northwest have seen precious little of it.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thank you for visiting. Keep your brolly handy.