WELCOME SUNSHINE

The regional Tuscan news last night showed houses engulfed in mud with firemen digging out bodies. A terrible sight. The soil had had as much water as it could take and had given way on a hillside. The rivers were lapping at the top of their banks. The forecast was for more rain.

This morning the hillsides were still oozing water which was running down the roads but! The sun was shining! Bless met offices everywhere that get it wrong.

I'd heard that the river was roaring and a sight to see so off we went. It was lunchtime so we stopped at the coffee bar near the river for a sandwich and an espresso. We sat outside because the temperature has shot up to 21 C -- 70 F. A man came along, grabbed a chair and carried it off to a spot in full sun. He spent some time texting, kept checking his watch, sitting back, sitting bolt upright, etc. etc. He was quite a fidget.

We walked to the riverside where I took pictures of bewildered geese staring in disbelief at the swollen river roaring over the weir, pictures of the water, of the bridge and then, all snapped out, I walked back to the car. And there was this fellow doing what he'd come to do in the first place, soaking up some sun. I took one picture as I walked past. It's not in great focus but it says it all. After days of darkness and hammering rain, welcome sunshine.

Bewildered geese.