21.07.2025 Definitely Ark weather.

 ~o~

  Monday 21st 64F/17.8C [5.30] Overcast and raining. Category 2 warning of extreme rainfall. Localized and thundery cloudbursts over the next two days could lead to local flooding. A weather system will stall over the country. A month's worth of rain [for July] could fall in two days.

 75F/24C in the room. Wide awake, so I got up at 4.45. Sweating under the light, summer duvet. I had already removed my t-shirt in the night. 

 7.30 The band of rain [heavy in places] has already moved north east away from our area. 

 8-845 A walk. Almost no traffic until later. My back wasn't hurting today and my posture was more upright. In the security cameras. Modesty prevents further exposure. The baling of the field at the lane junction is complete. They just need to collect the last of them and take them to dry storage. I saw two Black kites bombing each other. There was no sign of aggression. More like they were playing. 

 New project: I have been ignoring the surrounding gable end of the bedroom window I fitted. The wind-stop paper I used around the window is steadily deteriorating. It is supposed to be covered. I have tons of grooved plywood and the necessary tools. 

 First I need some aluminium flashing to protect the cement block sill below the window cutout. More flashing to go under the window itself. To throw the rain over the top of the plywood panel below. 

 The upper half of the gable end was covered in the same grooved plywood that I used for the observatory. The original panels were already painted white when we bought the place. Now 30 years ago. Ideally I would cover the entire gable end again. Above the sill level.   

 The heavy rain warning has been raised to extreme Category 3. For the first time ever! Locally this could result in 100-150mm [4-6"] of rainfall. My own location is just on the lower edge of the danger area. Though still category 2 with up to 80mm.[Over 3" locally.]  

    Today's rain is supposed to start at about 16.00. Though we seem to be uniquely favoured. Because we are lying in the path of a hole in the rain clouds as they head north. The rain may forget to stop until Wednesday night. 

 I hope that drainpipe under the neighbour's embankment/drive can manage the sheer quantity of water being dumped onto the surrounding fields. The entire eastern slope of the hill up to the summit forest. Drains downhill to the area where the stream runs to the west of my garden.

  There has always been a marshy quality to the field to the north of Chez Hovel. In the past the back field would regularly flood. Usually because the iron drain cover was blocked by weeds and woody debris. Brought down by the stream. Which runs through woods. 

 I haven't really noticed any rain. Dinner was cheese on toast, tomatoes and Heinz tomato soup. 

 

  

  ~o~