Here Comes The Rain Again
Sorry for the absence of posts for the past couple of days, but life intervened in the form of a collapsing wardrobe and the realisation that it’s nearly autumn, none of my clothes fit me, and I really own a lot of crap I’m just too sentimental to throw away. A big sort-out was definitely required, which led, as it tends to, to root and branch reform of domestic arrangements, and a big bag of clothes to go to the recycling bin (which no doubt will still be in the hallway waiting to be taken there come Christmas).
Not really what I wanted to be doing in August. This time of year is for draining the last dregs of summer, sitting out drowsing in the hot sunny garden with a book, half-listening to the bees sporific droning in the lavender and hibiscus, not getting out the winter boots and sweaters.
Instead August has come and gone in one endless blur of constant thunderstorms and torrential downpours that still show no signs of stopping. The poor garden that I worked so hard on, that should be in full bloom now, is a bedraggled sodden mess. It’s getting to the point where the drainage systems can’t handle any more water in some southern parts of the city – this August’s been the wettest ever and given Amsterdam’s precarious situation vis a vis flooding, it’s a bit of a worry. Thank you so much, industrial revolution! Thank you even more the Rijkswaterstaat for saving the city from drowning, the danger of which the Katrina anniversary is a salutary reminder.
Unlike regular, sensible rain, where you can just take an umbrella with you and maybe just get a bit damp if you’re unlucky, these tropical downpours have meant my being mostly confined to quarters other than for the occasional walk across the road to the supermarket, which doesn’t even have the saving grace of being any good. I’m going pale, wan and stir-crazy because after 3 weeks of sitting at the computer either staring at the endless rain or at the endless brutality, venality and corruption of politics onscreen it’s all just getting to be a little bit too much.
So a collapsing wardrobe was actually quite a pleasant distraction. Now for the trip to IKEA, what larks. At least it’s out.
I was trying to find video of Mitch Benn in a horned helmet and furs singing the IKEA song to illustrate this post, but it’s one that YouTube appears not to have yet. So we’ll just have to make do with ‘Hezbo-hezbo-la-la-la.’
I guarantee you’ll be earwormed for days.
Normal blogservice will be resumed as soon as the wardrobe’s put together (about 3 months, then) and all the stuff’s put away tidily.
Read more: Amsterdam, Weather, Global Warming, Floods, Mitch Benn, IKEA
