Just walking in the rain

There is something uniquely soothing about walking in the rain.

We had a call from some friends that we hadn't seen for a while this afternoon, saying that they were at a children's party just down the road and asking if they could drop in for a while. It was good to see them, but for some reason the house always descends into chaos when their two children are around. There was screaming and shouting, toys being thrown around, Alicia screeching as the younger ones invaded her room and Barney growling at Jessica who is nervous of dogs to start with. Aaargh.

After making cups of tea and coffee, and polite conversation for as long as I could stand I had to escape for a while so I took Barney out for a walk.

The rain was coming down fairly heavily but I have a good double insulated waterproof coat and I had my wellies on, so I was warm and dry. I love the sound of rain drops pattering on my hood, and then the more resonant sounds of the rain on the trees in the wood. Barney loves wet weather too and got fabulously muddy running in and out of puddles as we made our way to the top of the field to watch the sheets of rain marching over the distant lights of Chapeltown and beyond.

By the time I got home I felt calm and centered, and ready for a little more of the controlled mayhem within.