The rain it raineth……

When I sat down to write this afternoon this poem kept coming into my head.  Very apt, but I could not remember where or when I heard it so I had to look it up.  It just has not stopped blowing and raining for days.  Mud everywhere, wet clothes hanging  to drip in the shed and no sign of respite. As in the song below; I think I would be happy to have a drink or two and take to my bed if it doesn’t stop!!

Anyway it would appear it is a “song” from Shakespeare’s “Twelth Night”.  Something I studied in school and saw many years later outdoors at Ludlow.  For the life of me I cannot remember who took the lead – someone very famous played Malvolio as well; that may have been Robert Hardy ….  Perhaps GOS will remember….

I know we saw Kate O’Mara in “Taming of the Shrew”, but that doesn’t help!…….

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When that I was and a little tiny boy
With hey, ho, the wind and the rain,
A foolish thing was but a toy,
For the rain it raineth every day.

But when I came to man’s estate,
With hey, ho, the wind and the rain,
‘Gainst knaves and thieves men shut their gate,
For the rain it raineth every day.

But when I came, alas, to wive,
With hey, ho, the wind and the rain,
By swaggering could I never thrive,
For the rain it raineth every day.

But when I came unto my beds,
With hey, ho, the wind and the rain,
With toss-pots still ‘had drunken heads,
For the rain it raineth every day.

A great while ago the world began,
With hey, ho, the wind and the rain,
But that’s all one, our play is done,
And we’ll strive to please you every day.

 

I couldn’t ride out on Wednesday, which was a slightly better day weather-wise,  due to a funeral.  But I did venture out Saturday with the horse.  Only to be seriously whipped by hail, wind and rain… again.  I stuck at it ’til two in the afternoon then left for home; cup of tea and a nice hot bath. After which I felt very self-righteous about having braved the elements.  With two coats on and waterproof leggings most of me was dry underneath; there was just a wet strip where a rivulet had been running down the back of my neck!  Apparently, I missed the drama, towards finish,  with 2 visitors, who had come up  from London for a day’s “trailing.  This involved two lost horses (caught again quite quickly thank goodness as it was getting dark ) and a broken down lorry which necessitated 3 horses and riders requiring “lifts” home so as not to be stranded in the wilds.

Sunday was a day of wind, rain and  gales as well (Gale “Clodagh”), but that was a warm, civilised and sociable day; spent with the wider family in a very nice pub near Gloucester. We were celebrating an 80th Birthday at a “half-way to Oxfordshire” meeting point.  It was lovely to have a very nice roast lunch (not cooked by myself – a bonus) and sit in comfort with good company.

Because of all the wind and rain getting out to pick vegetation to paint hasn’t really been an option.  A very up-market local, hostelry has asked for some of my cards to sell as they keep a small cabinet of essentials guests may want when staying with them; gifts to take home etc.  They took a few Christmas and “botanical” cards and expressed an interest in “animal” cards.  So I will have to consider widening my portfolio (sounds a bit pretentious doesn’t it!)  This at the moment means working partly from photographs.  I will have to see you this works out – thought I would start with a few more dogs.

I have a soft spot for mice (as long as they aren’t in the house – that’s another story).

When I was first married we lived in a semi-detached cottage on the edge of a village.  “Tied” accommodation came with GOS’ job as agent to a big, landed estate; stately home open to the public and all that.  One evening having a bath I turned on the hot tap, to top up the cooling water; water stops running when there should be plenty left in the tank? Why?  Next morning estate workman is summoned to check the plumbing.  He discovered a mouse had fallen into the hot water tank, drowned and been sucked into the hot water system.  I had been merrily bathing in “dead mouse water”!!! Still gives me the shivers now when I think about it….. Yuck.

Meeting tonight must get on and do agenda. . . .