This blog was supposed to be about cricket. Joe is covering a test match between South Africa and India today, and I had planned to go with him as I’ve never seen cricket before. But instead, I am sitting at home and Joe is sitting at the stadium, not photographing cricket. Because it’s raining.
Rain in the front yard.
Over the last ten days I have witnessed rain in every imaginable form. Rain showers, rain storms, rain-bows. Cold rain. Warm rain. Sheets of torrential rain. Gentle, steady rain. Light drizzle. Thunder (both the quiet, rumbling variety and the spectacular crackling variety). Bolts of lightning. Hail.
Rain in the back yard.
I never knew it could rain so much. At first it was pleasant but I’m ready for it to stop now. And from what I’ve heard, this isn’t a normal weather pattern for Johannesburg in summer. We’re supposed to have bright, warm days with a quick thundershower at 4:00 in the afternoon. You can set your watch by it, everyone says.
Well, my watch has been stuck on cold and rainy for over a week.
The herbs are drowning. It might be time to build an ark.
Update since I started this blog: The rain has stopped and the sun is trying to shine. Scattered showers are still predicted for the afternoon but tomorrow is supposed to be sunny.
Behold: Sunlight shining on bay leaves.
If you’re yearning for a cricket blog, don’t despair. Cricket test matches can last up to five days. (Yes, you read correctly.) So you might be in luck tomorrow.
My advice, as an Englishwoman: be careful what you yearn for; you just might get it. Cricket is the most boring game on the planet.
I used to feel homesick for England when it rained in South Africa; now I’m here in the UK and it never stops raining, I’m homesick for a bit of sunny South Africa. There’s no pleasing some people!
Heather,
You sure have a refreshing sense of humour…and I love the way you write these blogs. You make them most interesting. Keep up the good reporting. I just realized that I don’t have to go to SAfrica because I’ve already been there. 🙂
Deano
Dean, I’m glad you’re enjoying the blog. It’s great to know that my very first fan is still reading 🙂
It’s been raining here since last night. The wind is blowing the water in through all the cracks, but I’m not complaining (yet). I’m just so very glad we finally have rain that lasts longer than 30min.
Hang in there 2summers 🙂 This is actually great weather for pancakes, or melkkos and cinnamon-flavoured vetkoek.
Mmm, pancakes. The rain seems to be over now (yay) but I’m going to save the pancake plan for the next prolonged rain storm. I’m glad you’re finally getting rain down your way too!
I agree with Tilly. I think I would rather watch the rain, than a 5-day cricket test! Maybe you should start your cricket education with a 1-day game instead?
Been raining all day here in the Southern Cape too. Not complaining though as we have just experienced a severe drought. The weather in South Africa has changed a lot in the last 10-plus years (global warming). I remember those 4 p.m. thunderstorms in Gauteng when I was a child.
I’m only planning to attend one day of the cricket test. I think that will be plenty. But who knows — maybe I will become a die-hard cricket fan! I grew up watching baseball so I’m used to slow-moving sports, although baseball games only last three or four hours. We’ll see…