Cat and mouse

Close hot sticky weather. And everyone I meet says it’s not what like it used to be. Much hotter for longer with less rain.

The anomalous has become the nomalous.

Thunder rattles around after lunch as the heat builds. Cumuli cummumulate but just don’t precipitate. It’s a to-do alright. Women in the village look at the bruised towering clouds and shake their heads: non piovera’ - it won’t rain.

Itches itch and bites redden and call out in the thick unmoving air until evening brings brief respite.

Best be up early to enjoy the cool before the flies and hornets get going.

A guy in the coop checkout queue says it never used to be like this, maybe 25c but not 38 and in June you might still need a little central heating.

It’s all changed.

The miserable guy in the garden nursery agrees. What are we leaving our children, he asks.

What indeed.