Wednesday, August 25

I woke at about 2am to the sound of driving rain and then woke up again at 7:30 to the same sound. The rain continued as I ate my Weetabix and I abandoned any thought of going for a walk.

At 9:30 I sat reading in a sweater with the room light on, to the sound of a high wind rattling the trees and throwing the rain against the windows. Since when did Finland have winter in August?

I have to go out to check the mailbox and make sure that the cover over the front door has held in the storm. I wear a floor length hooded raincoat that I bought years ago in Chaudi when we spent part of a monsoon season in Rajbag in Goa.

I look down at the ground as I pass and snatch a photograph that captures the day’s mood: gray and empty.