I know lots of places arround the world suffer from drought and water shortages….but this is middle England, in April, and we are now officially living in a drought area. Admittedly, unlike other parts of southern England we have no water restrictions (as yet) but it is clear that we do need water to replenish the water table, reservoirs and rivers.
Mind you, right at this moment and for the past week or so you could have fooled me that there is a shortage. April has lived up to its reputation for being the month of showers…..only showers is perhaps an understatement!
Up on the Isle of Skye in North West Scotland. they are very familiar with Rain. So I guess this Art Gallery on the harbour side at Portree was named with the owners tongue firmly in cheek…..
The forecast for the immediate days ahead, that no doubt will please farmers, gardeners and of course the water authorities, is for more rain. I suppose we should be grateful but somehow it does seem like a hardship. So I guess it will be sometime before we can get the sun hats out again!
18th APRIL
DAVID OAKES - IMAGES. 
Today there was a storm in here, the temperatures changed suddenly and made me afraid. And now it is raining… I think all seasons are going strange… I loved your photographs but the last one much more. Fascinated. Thank you dear David, I wish you to have a nice rains soon… with my love, nia
LikeLike
Hope you get the rain. We live in a desert climate. The winter snow totals and Spring runoff from the mountains are very important for us, but we had such low totals this past winter.
LikeLike
WE do need the rain…doesn’t mean that I like it! Cannot last for ever….or can it!
LikeLike
I think, down here in the south of England, we’ve had to be careful with water usage for many years in a row. There just doesn’t seem to be enough rainfall.
LikeLike
Yes it is very strange. We had a very dry summer and winter with little snow, so this current rain seems unusual and perhaps as a result more unpleasant. The dividing line between wet and dry is not that many miles to the north of us and for friends who lived there they found it strange that they have had such a wet summer, autumn and winter and we were enjoying the sunshine. Probably be the other way about this year!
LikeLike
There is something unusual going on with the weather, but is it just a temporary blip or evidence of climate change? I’m inclined to think the latter but will be much happier if I’m wrong!
LikeLike
I think I would prefer you to be wrong!……Odd is the only description that fits the weather (climate) at the moment.
LikeLike
I love the hat! You remember the TV series The Darling Buds of May? I now understand where that title comes from, thank you! Let’s not talk about floods…..
LikeLike
Just hope that the sun hats will get some use this summmer!
LikeLike
Hi David, heard about the water shortage on BBC news, terrifying. Some say fresh and clean water is becomming the limiting factor for this world..
LikeLike
I think we should be worried for the long term. Though some say it is just that we have too many folk living in high concentrations that cause the shortages….but when it doesn’t rain you cannot blame numbers for that.
LikeLike