Apart from a shower on August 19th, we’d had no rain since June 15th. And for most of this time, the weather has been pretty hot, between 35 and 40ºC in the shade most days.

Unsurprisingly, the garden has suffered. Thanks to the system Nick installed, which allows us to use the treated water that comes out of the septic tank, along with water pumped from the well, we’ve been able to water the veg plot and plants in pots, but that has taken all our water and up to two hours a day. Plants on the banking have died, trees and shrubs in the park are looking very sad and the grass is brown and crunchy underfoot. Friends reliant on rainwater butts have had to stop watering as the cost of using tap water is too high to justify. The vines look green enough, but the vignerons are expecting a small crop of grapes this year, about 10% less than normal, due to lack of rain.

So yesterday afternoon, when I heard distant rumbles of thunder as I picked tomatoes, I was quite excited at the prospect of some rain. The clouds were gathering in the south, obliterating our view of the Pyrenees; the air became heavy and sticky; we could see that it was raining across the valley. Finally, the sun disappeared and the first few drops arrived, big, heavy drops. We moved the geraniums out of the shelter of the house, pushed the chairs back from the edge of the balcony and I have to admit to jumping around the garden for the joy of seeing the rain, before adjourning to the balcony to watch nature’s firework display.

It rained steadily for several hours and I’m sure the grass looks ever so slightly greener already!