You may have noticed that my blog has been a little more downbeat and negative recently. Even if you haven’t, I certainly have. Evan’s illness had something to do with it of course, but the grumpiness had set in well before then.
It’s the weather. For the past two months there has hardly been a single day when it hasn’t rained. And we’re not talk about the gentle pitter patter of raindrops here. No, it’s been absolutely pissing it down. And so, instead of spending a glorious summer frolicking outside in the suns gentle rays we’ve been stuck inside, glumly looking out of the window and dreaming of better days.
I’m convinced my performance as a parent is directly proportional to the amount of time I am able to spend outside the house. If I spend more than one day in a row without stepping out the front door I go from a relatively patient, creative, and fun loving father to somebody who puts a DVD of The Sound of Music on constant repeat, scatters some cheerios on the floor, and just lets the kids fend for themselves.
See. There’s a graph. That means it must be true.
When it rains not only are you prevented from doing outside activities, but you are prevented from doing a lot of inside things too. Because for every child friendly place you can think of that’s out of the rain you can guarantee that all of the other parents in the area have thought of it as well. The playgyms, the butterfly houses, the aquariums, the libraries, they’re all teeming with thousands of grouchy, stir crazy children. And what’s more, it’s now the school holidays so 85% of these children will be twice the size of Amy and not particularly concerned if they trample on her head on their way past her.
No, I don’t like it when it’s raining.
But today we had a brief reprise. The sun came out, and for longer than an hour too. We went for a walk, we played football, we sat on the grass, we got out of the bloody house for a change. It was good.
It won’t last of course. The forecast is for more torrential rain and the weatherman says it’s going to stay this way for the foreseeable future. But today we all got a bit of fresh air, and for now at least my mood has been lifted.
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I well remember our spring this year, when the rain seemed to never stop. You’re right, it’s very depressing for everyone. Of course, now we’re baking in the heat of summer… The kids feel like they’re stuck inside unless we’re at the lake or the waterpark. So, we go to the lake and waterpark a lot, naturally.
Sadly, I’m on the other end of the spectrum. I honestly can’t remember the last time it rained. It’s been months, and we need it.
if it makes you feel any better, imagine sitting in an office where you can clearly see it’s a glorious day out, but instead you’re forced to work twelve hours day after day after day…
you cannot out grump me this summer, my friend!
I heart the Queen’s Isle *cough*
Just to reitterate Ms Bon Bon’s point, it could be worse…
Been waiting for a clear day so can have some fun. Don’t even require it to be sunny, just not windy and no rain.
Get weather reports at work on a daily basis and on Saturday it said more of the same rain/dull/nasty weather expected for Sunday. Boss convinced me to help out as short of staff, ‘never mind’ I thought ‘there’s nothing else to do’.
Cue 12hrs of looking out the window fuming at the fact the sun even came out, been so long had forgotton what colour it was! Not impressed at all.
Glad Evan is okay, hope to be up in a couple of weeks.
p.s. Yet another great photo!
I was having trouble putting my finger on why I was so grumpy, but your Peter Snow-like abilities with visual aids have clarified things completely. Thank you!
Island Girl – I’ll have you know that, according to my Weetabix World Atlas I got when I was 12 by sending off tops of cereal packets, New Zealand and England share the same climate. (that’s a Maritime Temperate climate according to the Köppen climate classification system).
It’s us, you and Seattle. So shut it Kiwi.
Neil – The photo was one of Kerry’s. She didn’t even look through the viewfinder when she took it. The talented swine.
More like lucky beggar… I have been trying to develop my shoot from the hip skills as you never know when it might come in handy. Good old digital means I can play as much as I like.
Yes, we’ve all had SAD this year, all year round. Not good.
We’ve had a freakish amount of rain here in Texas as well. Little boy wants to go play outside, but the clouds say no. Of course, without those clouds, the temperature blasts into the high 90s or 100s and everything gets covered in a layer of dust, so I’m not sure which is worse.
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I know what you mean. Hey, guess what. It rained again today. I blame the governments. All of them.
How freakin’ cute is that picture? We’ve finally found the fifth Teletubby.
People in the Sun – I read your comment in my email account rather than on the blog, and for a moment there I thought you were talking about a photo of me.