Rain in January!

We did go to the MAS concert. The pianists were really outstanding. However, most of the programme was of modern works and I often find that music jarring and not very melodic; yes, I know that that shows me to be old fashioned and not very with it. So be it!

I have to take back some of what I have been saying about the weather; it is not as monotonous as I have been saying. The forecasts had been saying that it was going to rain, but I did not believe them. Yesterday, late in the afternoon, it got very cloudy and dark as if it were going to rain. In fact, there were a few drops; I really mean a few and if you were not quick, they dried up and disappeared without a trace. A little while later, it brightened and there were breaks in the clouds. In other words virtually nada (notice the Spanish). This afternoon, it again clouded over and there was even some distant rumbling of thunder. I thought, here we go again. But to my surprise, it did actually rain. It was never hard and eventually (after about an hour) had diminished to drizzle and then stopped. But it was enough to get the ground wet. We went out under the gazebo with a glass of wine to enjoy the rain. This is not very usual this time of year. Jack and Kate said it never happened last year. The latter had an engagement just as the rain was heaviest, but with the rain they were unable to get a taxi. We gave them a lift. It is not raining now in the evening so I expect that they will be able to make their way home.

There are things to do almost every day. Today, there was a woman from Haiti visiting and gave a talk. Following in her father’s footsteps, she is involved in trying to provide an example of good ecology. Apparently, her farm area is practically the only area in the entire country with any significant amount of trees and vegetation. Haiti is notoriously deforested and severely eroded as a result. Slowly, others are beginning to get the idea and follow the example. It was very interesting to hear her interpretation of Haiti’s history.