Yesterday was a rainy day. We haven't had a proper rainy day in months. It came down like stair-rods - bouncing on our road, gurgling into gutters. It was as if countless Olympic swimming pools were being dumped over the city. There was even flash flooding in some of the valleys.
I always know when we have had heavy rain overnight by checking how much water has been retained in our green wheelbarrow. This morning it was brimful.
The forecast today was for high wind and rain showers interspersed with bouts of sunshine. I tootled off to The Loxley Valley to the north west of Sheffield and came back two hours later with a bunch of photographs, including these:
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| A view of Haighenfield Farm |
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| Eighteenth century guidepost on Onemoor Road |
"Coming down like stair rods", I haven't heard that for a while.....
ReplyDeleteWe've got it this side of the pennines today. A yucky day indeed.
Great photos. As usual.
Never mind Christina. The Blackburn rain will go down your four thousand holes.
DeleteI use my garden cart/wheelbarrow as a rain gauge too!
ReplyDeleteGreat minds think alike - though not very accurately!
DeleteI like the photo of the sheep grazing, it reminds me of the view from my old school classroom in Yorkshire.
ReplyDeleteYou should have been concentrating on your times tables, not staring out of the window!... I just liked the whiteness of the grass in that scene.
DeleteNever heard that before. So I had to look it up. Seems like raining stair rods is only used in northern England. Well, I'll be!
ReplyDeleteUses for a wheelbarrow are varied and many. My most useful piece of equipment on the mountain.....when I could keep the tire inflated!
Our wheelbarrow's wheel does not require inflation. By the way - I had no idea that that expression was unique to northern England. Thanks for the research.
DeleteClean washed landscapes with sunshine on pale subjects against a dramatic dark sky. I absolutely love your photos today.
ReplyDeleteBetween the clouds, the light was indeed delicious Kate.
DeleteI don’t have a wheelbarrow so I’ve been using the birdbath as a rain gauge ever since the real rain gauge gave up the ghost a few months ago.
ReplyDeleteWhen Mrs B asks what you would like as a Christmas gift say - a new rain gauge and maybe a lime green lycra suit and a shiny helmet for cycling.
DeleteRain is needed desperately in many areas down this way. Our poor farmers are battling horrendous drought conditions day after day, and have been doing so for the past six years in some areas. I don't know how they find the strength, the
ReplyDeletemental strength, in particular, to carry on. Many don't.
Our rural communities face unimaginable hardships. They're a tough log, but every person has a breaking point. Many city folk and those living in regional towns think our food just magically appears on the supermarket shelves, in the butcher shops and greengrocery stores!
Rain, glorious rain...please let it fall on our drought-ridden areas...and not just for one day.
I love rain. The night before last I enjoyed listening to some fall upon my roof...albeit for a brief time only. The hope in this country is that our spring and summer will bring drought-breaking rain to the areas that are in desperate need.
On Thursday we had enough rain in South Yorkshire to give every resident of Tamborine Mountain their own Olympic swimming pool of water but I would have given you an entire lake. I have read about drought in many parts of Australia and I realise that it is certainly not a laughing matter. Very worrying for the future.
DeleteNo...it's not a laughing matter, Yorkie. It is very sad, indeed, and very worrying in many, many aspects. Our farming communities are having it extremely tough at present...with no signs of the situation changing any time soon.
DeleteA person I was talking with the other was lucky he walked away still with his head remaining above his shoulders. I had to turn and walk away quickly before I did damage when he declared, in all seriousness, when I made mention of the difficulties our farmers in the country are facing at present...."Oh! Well! You know...we really don't need to depend on our farmers in this country....we can import everything!"
And he was serious in his statement!!!!! Even though this was said to me about two weeks ago....I'm still angry every time I think about what he said to me! I don't understand some people!
We're okay up here on the hill. Even though we're dependent solely water from rainfall and the aquifer. And this property here, like many others on the mountain, has its own bore, as well as water collected by rainfall - in tanks. The mountain aquifer produces beautiful, crystal clear, pure water....but I don't believe in wasting water...no matter what.
Lovely shots. Is the first photo a fence post? (I'm noticing the barbed wire through the hole) Love the sheep picture.
ReplyDeleteAt one time it would have been a gatepost and through that hole an old wooden gate would have been secured but now it just sits in a wall and yes the barbed wire is to keep animals in their field. Well-spotted Miss Marple!
DeleteHi Yorke, I want to comment about sunniness.
ReplyDeletePeople regard me as bouncy, sunny and indomitable but I also have regrets which haunt me. I tend to think that anyone who wants to be their best will naturally reflect on what they might have done differently.
Tabloid media takes full advantage of our tendency to focus on the worst, you are not alone.
I read the post about Michael. All I can say is the damage done to him was too deep and happened too early to be repaired by the best of caring professionals.
Thank you for looking back on these posts and thinking about them Kylie.
DeleteWell, keep on tootling because you came up with some great photos.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mr Sunny!
Delete'Coming down like stair rods'
ReplyDeleteOuch!!
Alphie
Raindrops come in different sizes as you know. When it's raining stair rods you stay inside.
DeleteIt was supposed to rain here yesterday, but it never arrived. We did have strong stormy wind, though; I noticed it particularly as I was working on the 9th floor.
ReplyDeleteThe pictures here are once again nick-worthy!
You are always welcome to "nick" my pictures Meike. I wonder how many German speakers of English are even aware of the word "nick" for stealing? Steve taught you well!
DeleteA bit of rain here but extremely strong winds. I had to hang on to my hat (not that I have one!)
ReplyDeleteThat old guidepost is great. I can see why you love your corner of the world, YP. It comes through in every photo you take!
ReplyDelete