It seems like quite a while since we experienced drought-like conditions, but really, it was only a few years back. I remember visiting Warragamba with Ann and seeing just how low the water was in the huge dam. That was 2019. Now it is spilling over, such is the quantity of rain that has fallen in the past few days.

My garden is like a floating pool, with eddies here and dashes of water there. Along the lower side fence, a torrent streams by every time the rain becomes heavier. The upper drive is becoming rutted once again. This will be the fifth repair of the year.

A little while ago I crossed the road to feed my neighbours animals - a cat, a dog and six chickens. They are away down south, hopefully somewhere drier. The chook yard was mired in inches of mud, the poor birds seeking a higher footing wherever they could. There was much clucking but not a lot of grumbling, except from the man in the wellies who kept sinking into the dismal slosh.

I welcome the sun again, soon.