A silver lining

Our first year on Reunion is listed the driest in 50 years. The drought brought faded and yellow colors to the green hills and gardens of this beautiful island. People were advised not to use sprinklers or waste water. The wet season last year gave us one hurricane with more wind than water, so the rivers and the reservoirs in the fields went empty and one could question why we need the wide and steep drainage next to the roads.

This summer however we are racing towards the award of wettest season in ages. It has been raining for over a month, painting mountains and valleys green again. So far we didn't have any hurricane, although they are swirling around in the south-western part of the Indian Ocean leaving us with daily, heavy rainfall. The drainage is often not wide and steep enough and the rain is coming down the hills in small temporary waterfalls.

The children will start school in a week. They had 6 weeks of summer holiday, without the usual beach and pool parties. And when the heat returns, they will be in classrooms of 30°C or more, without air-conditioning or a cool breeze. It does not seem fair.

I am happy to have indoor hobbies and my painting skills are improving every day. There is always a silver lining!