Rain Season

Weather in South Africa can be unpredictable at times, but this is about the time when most of the rain comes down along with some pretty nasty storms. Today it was peace and quite with the sun shining bright then the next moment it was all rain, wind, and thunder. There are also times in the afternoon when there is a big storm but the sun is shining just as bright as a hot summer day. It really makes you think, what is up with the weather?

Swimming to Work

 

What a Monday ride to work. When I set out for work this morning, it was misty with a light drizzle but not even half way and the heavens opened up. Thank goodness I was wearing my rain suit yet that did not stop vehicles riding next to me from spraying up tons of water. My boots wear soaked and I had to wear wet socks all day.

First thing I did when I got home was strip and jump into the shower. Shower therapy is simply the best.

Rain Sets In

 

Ahhh, this reminds me of my school days in Natal, as the weekend comes round, the rain sets in. Oh well it looks like I am going to enjoy a lovely quiet weekend at home. Noice!

Overheating Rain

 

After the heat wave of last week, rain has set in. Rain is an awesome sight but along with the rain comes the traffic snarl ups. My Vespa still has not been fixed and I am still using my pickup which is starting to show here age, 20 years, after 2 months of daily runs to work and back. One of the problems is that she is starting to overheat while sitting in traffic jams.  Oh poor old girl.

Stormy Monday

Things are getting a little busy at work and this is a short week with Friday being the start of the Easter weekend, so I am getting a little behind on my posts. 

Heavy rain came through during the day and thankfully stopped for a little while so that I could ride home dry and resumed after I get back home. It was as if I made it while the eye of the storm past over us, but cyclonic storms don't happen much here on the highveld. 

Deluge

Somewhere out there in that deluge is my Vespa. The heavens opened up this afternoon but thankfully stopped before I had to leave for home and only resumed after I got home. When I managed to check the rain gauge this evening it was to the 45mm level. That was a lot of water in just a half a day.

Cloud Burst

It was still sunny when I was riding home but up in the mountains it looked black and ominous. By the time I got to into the hills, it wasn't raining but it looked like it bucked down as there was water everywhere.

I asked the boys at home when I finally arrived about the rain, apparently it rained for only half an hour and it came down dogs and cats. I went to check the rain gauge and it measured 18mm. It must have being a cloud burst because there was not rain elsewhere. 18mm of rain in half an hour is a lot of water and it is showing by our overflowing swimming pool.

Fun in the Rain

It is good to be back in the saddle again after been caged while my Vespa was out of commission and it began to rain. Yip we still in the rainy season, yet I didn't mind the rain as I sliced pass the standing traffic. I just had to be a little cautious with the new rear tyre as there could be residue from the rubber molding that can cause a little slip and slide.   

More Rain

And so more rain starts to fall. This has been a good week rain wise, in the last 2 days alone we have had over 30mm in my my rain gauge. I forgot to check yesterday, hence for the last 2 days. Wow that is a lot of water. Earlier this week it was raining even harder.

First Rains

Finally the first rains of the season have finally arrived with a thunderstorm in the early hours of the morning. It wasn't supposed to rain during the day but someone forgot to tell the weathermen that. So now I sit a work while it gently rains outside on my Vespa. 

And it Rains

Driving home yesterday after visiting my mom the rain started falling and it didn't stop. By midday today our garden started flooding and our swimming pool started overflowing. Yesterday the pool was about 10cm below the edge and after raining all night and all morning. The 10cm is now minus with water over flowing since midday. 

Cloud Burst

To match my sombre mood from yesterday, the gods in heaven decided it best to give me a cloud burst of rain that would wash away all those sad thoughts. Depression is a reality for me and I am walking ever so close to that line. All I have to go on is my faith and that 1 verse that is found in Psalm 32:8 that God gave me late last year, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”

Can’t handle the Rain

We have been blessed this Christmas with rain in abundance as the drought stricken ground has soaked up. The rain falling here flows north to the Hartebeespoort Dam before flowing through the Kruger National Park into the Indian Ocean. It is a pity as we rather need this rain water to flow into the Vaal Dam where it is needed the most.

Driving to church this morning, our way was blocked by a tree which couldn’t handle the rain. So we had to find an alternative route out of our suburb.

Rain Expected

It looks like it is going to be a rainy Christmas weekend with all these clouds building up. In a drought torn and thirsty land, these clouds are most welcome as we lift up our hands to the sky and say thank you, Lord.

But as for the cats and dogs, cold rain means bah humbug to them as now they have to stay inside in the manger where it is all warm and cosy and dream of expected tasty treats which will come on Christmas Day.

Freaky Storm

The storm came out of nowhere; I had to run for the washing drying in the sun only moments before. Make sure all the animals where in and safe from this freaky storm.

Soon the power had tripped from the lightning ground strikes. The rain gusted nearly horizontal at times with nothingness interspersed between the squalls.

All I could do was stand in the darkness and look out into the whitewash of downpour and small hail stones, into the weird and kind of freaky storm.

Two in the Rain

The relentless rain seems to have no end, although thankfully the weather bureau states that it will start to clear tomorrow.

In the meanwhile we just have to make do with the few umbrellas that we have, as Terrence and Rob shows us how to share a brolli.

Unpleasant Pheasant

Rain, rain, go away, come again another day, this pheasant doesn't like the rain. Here is one sad looking pheasant seeking shelter on my windowsill. I am not 100% sure what type of pheasant he is as he looks like a juvenile Common or Ring Neck Pheasant but does not have the red facial wattles around the eye. So whatever pheasant he is, he sure finds the rain unpleasant and wants in.

Rain on a Tin Roof

As I lay in bed tonight listening to the rain on the tin roof above my head kind of appeases my senses.

In the early morning and later in the late this afternoon it rained, no it poured and I found myself at work with my Vespa. No I am not afraid of getting wet, it is the other drivers and the lightning which I can’t control, that bother me.

I send a prayer up towards the heavens and the rain stops. Stops just for a while so that I could make it safely home while lunatic drivers race on wet roads.

And now as the rain continues falling on the corrugated iron roof of my cottage, I find myself safe in my warm bed the thoughts of the day quickly fade.

Rainy Friday

Wow, the weather was way out for today. With no rain predicted I took the Vespa into work and oh boy did it rain. By afternoon the skies got heavy with pregnant clouds and soon the heavens opened up to torrential rain. Thank goodness the heavy part had blown over about the time it was for me to head home.

Uncle Harry's Roadhouse

Today we decided to have traditional Sunday lunch at Uncle Harry’s Roadhouse outside Randfontein. Sunday lunch at Uncle Harrys comprises of a slice of roast beef, a chicken thigh, served on a bed of rice, roast potatoes, all smothered with gravy, along with side 3 vegetables. Afterwards malva pudding with ice-cream, cream, and custard is served. All this for only R59.90, not bad I must say.

Storm clouds were threatening while we sat at the outside dining area and sadly one of our meals arrived cold which we had to struggle to get our waitresses’ attention so that she could take back and reheat. Here is our waitress serving the puds with an umbrella as by that time it was raining hard. Other than the cold, the food was enjoyable especially for the price that we paid.