Rain, Rain, Go Away

We are now into our third day of rain. Of hammering, driving, ceaseless rain and inky black days. This is the longest it has continuously rained since we first arrived in Karratha, almost a year ago. Of course, we haven’t been here in February before so for all we knew this could have been a normal occurrence. Except the data published online told us all we needed to know. The Pilbara received more rain in January alone than it normally does in an entire year, and the sky has thrown down bucket loads more of the wet stuff since then.


It’s odd, seeing roads swamped with rain, the ground struggling to drink more water than it’s normally given all year, the sky dark rather than blindingly sunny. It’s rather nice though, the unexpected, a break from the norm. I love warm, sunny weather but it does the soul good to have a bit of a change now and again, to break the monotony. No matter how much one loves the sunshine, one can get bored of it appearing day after day after day. Plus, it’s far easier to work knowing that I’m not missing a lovely day outside, I don’t feel that pull to shut down the computer, pull the reclining chair out and go and bask in the warmth of the day.

However, I do feel that it is now time for the rain to go away and the sun to put his hat back on. It’s been a nice change but I’m ready for blue skies and sunshine again, for sunlight pouring through the windows rather than artificial light shining down from the ceiling, especially as the weekend is approaching. It’s starting to feel like England, except without the chilly damp that comes with prolonged rain over there. The creeks are already raging, the ground can’t take much more saturation. Schools are shut, some roads are closed, widespread flooding seems imminent. But, alas, it seems we are not to be relieved – a cyclone has formed off the coast a few hundred kilometres south of us and further heavy rain is expected. Oh well, at least the flies have scarpered for a bit.