4th November 2019 Wet or dry?

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Monday 4th 50F, breezy, dark grey and wet. With some sunny periods or no sunny periods. All depending on whom you believe. Since it was raining lightly it was chance to walk around the block. Later, it was coming down in sheets on the 3rd leg driven by an easterly wind. Not large droplets but heavy drizzle with no gaps between the drops. My new jacket was beading nicely and I was snug and dry with the hood up. I kept taking pictures despite the rain.

The jacket is [literally] standing up in the bath now to drain off. This was the first real test of its waterproofing powers. I wore the shell trousers too and remained dry and comfortable. This is a strange new experience for me. I have never really had suitable clothing for rain. The man-made fibres may be light but those I have had were either leaky, or sweaty, or both. Now I can actually look forwards to rain. Instead of getting cabin fever when I should really be out enjoying my morning walk as usual.

Denmark is already close to the record rainfall of 1967. With still, nearly a month to go, it only needs another 52mm. Nobody, except the farmers, remembers last year's record drought. Though areas of our lawns, subject to hours of direct sunshine, turned white! Australian farmers have been celebrating the end of a five year drought, which ended with flooding!

Tuesday 5th 42F, dark overcast & wet again. It rained for most of yesterday.

The USA [or rather, Herr Chump, the 2nd generation immigrant] is pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement. Thereby throwing away trillions in potential earnings and tens of millions of jobs. Casting it all into the cesspit of extreme right wing dogma. Instead of enjoying all the fruits of the next great stage of human, technological development following the Tech wave.

Never try to take a close-up in heavy rain with the camera inverted and reversed. At least, not without setting the camera to macro first.

No longer able to protect its present global monopolies with global, tax-free status, the US will descend into a third world nation status far behind China. No doubt Chump's impeachment will lead to a civil war if wealth, justice and power division get any worse. They should have scrapped the Statue of Liberty decades ago and put up a vast effigy of a middle finger. To represent the absolute power and colossal arrogance of the 1%.

Meanwhile China will become a global magnet for increasingly well paid jobs in the Green Economy. Russia, Most of Asia, India and Africa are all far too corrupt, to enjoy anything but continuing, malignant dictatorship.

China may well be more corrupt than all the rest put together. However its sociopathic dictators have a wider perspective than merely robbing their own people of the everyday freedoms enjoyed by most other nations. Or stealing their paltry wealth to make a derisory billion or two to stash offshore or to spend on gold toilet bowls and sports cars.

The Chinese despots could still get it all horribly wrong of course. Nobody would accept another Tienanmen Square in Hong Kong. When mere survival and finding the next meal is no longer the preoccupation of the working poor, then they have enough time to place greater value on freedom.

Can Sly manage the mindset of the Communist Party psychopaths? While allowing more visible freedoms in exchange for continuing dictatorship? Herr Chump "The Immigrant" has damaged the Chinese economy. Lashing out at the newly unemployed, as would normally happen in Europe and the USA, will not further endear the Great Lifelong Leader to his billion downtrodden people.

An hour and half walk down along the road and past the marsh pond. Up through the steep fire breaks in the forest and then back along the main track. Lots of small birds foraging in flocks. While there were dozens of pheasants hanging about at the edge of the woods. Steady rain throughout and very wet to waterlogged underfoot. The track was literally a stream from field run-off.

The waterproof trousers proved not to be quite as breathable as hoped. I also need to replace the ridiculously slippery cord at the waist. It would not hold a knot for two minutes! Despite being made by a household name in outdoor clothing it is no wonder nobody stocks these particular waterproof trousers any more.

Click on any image for an enlargement.  

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