Rain

Rain. Lots. And not too heavy to overflow the spouting because of leaves blocking down pipes. I have cleared the down pipes a couple of times this summer but not for perhaps 4 weeks. I was worried there'd be enough leaves fallen lately to cause a problem, as the eucys constantly shed leaves in the heatwaves. So far so good, but the sound of rain on the roof seems to be louder now.

When the spouting overflows it falls on our deck between the spout and the veranda roof, in copious quantity, wetting the dogs bedding and anything else that may be there. As diligent as I am I get caught out sometimes. The hot dry weather makes me busy watering and short of time. The clearing of leaves from the down pipes and gutters is one of those things often put off till the next day, repeatedly, and after a long hot dry spell a storm can come quickly often bringing a torrential downpour which may only last 5 or 10 minutes but that is enough sometimes to punish the house dwellers and he who is responsible for such maintenance.

Mind you, sometimes the huge volume of water that can fall  in a few minutes is too great for the spouting and down pipes no matter if they are clean of leaves. On these occasions the worry is not really a bit of wet furniture and bedding on the deck but ground surface water that cascades where it shouldn't due to the build up of leaf litter that blocks normal flow and sends water in unexpected directions. This is not uncommon, and such deluge results in driveways and roads being washed out. Indeed in that big rain in Feb some years ago friends of mine (Hi Bill and Paula, if you still read) had water go through their entire house as it came down the hill behind their house when drains in the road above them blocked and redirected storm water straight in the direction of their back door.

I just went out to check, all is OK, there's the lovely sound of water falling into the near empty tanks.

I'm going to bed.