Rain!

We've had plenty of liquid precipitation today. Bucket-loads of the stuff. Yes, I got wet too!

I still find it fascinating to watch and have fond memories of it at key points in my life. Well, perhaps not all fond memories, but mostly so. I love my rainy day experiences.

Whenever it drops and I have time to stop and stare, there is invariably a memory attached.

One family totally wet day of the past was on holiday at lake Coniston. We had set our tent up next to the lake. It was a lovely holiday but with little opportunity to windsurf, which was one of the main reasons for going there.

I was woken up very early on the last day of the holiday by the howling wind and rushed with great excitement and anticipation to the lake with my windsurfing equipment...David was already there, zooming along and hanging on for dear life! It wasn't even light yet!

We were on that lake with Donald Campbell somewhere beneath us, wetter than wet, but totally overjoyed. It was just incredible!

The family did not share my joy. After a few hours I returned to learn that they were also wetter than wet. When I left, I hadn't noticed that the tent was virtually floating and I had, in effect, abandoned the family who had to cope with packing everything without me.

I have felt a bit guilty about being so selfish as I look back... and Bev has often fanned the flames of my guilt and selfish actions of that day. But what an incredible two hours that was and worth every bit of criticism over the following years. I've long since been forgiven as Bev is very forgiving once a decade or two have passed!

The other incredibly wet family day was a truly family affair...again shared with the Flinn family.

We'd reached the summit of Mount Snowdon and the family were very tired. The train wasn't available to go back down so we set off on foot just as the weather turned. Long before we reached the bottom we could be no wetter if we had jumped into every puddle...which we did! We have never been so wet in our lives and couldn't imagine ever being warm and dry again.

We were stretched on that day and found out a great deal about ourselves and each other...as is often the case when we are stretched.

Fond memories indeed.