According to the weather forecast, the sky was covered with dark clouds, rain was falling and there was a thunder storm in progress. The view from the window showed the sun shining from a blue sky dotted with fluffy white clouds. Who do you trust: the forecast or the view from the window? We plumped for the window view and set out.

If at first you don’t succeed…

In Claremont Square, we found that work on the water leak has started again.

The excavation

This is the third attempt to repair it, the third time that they have dug up the road. Will they succeed in putting it right this time? I’m sure the neighbours hope so.

Sunshine and blue sky in Claremont Square

Meanwhile, I was photographing the square to show how pleasantly sunny the weather was. I was beginning to chide myself for wearing my heavy coat.

Ominous dark cloud in the north

Then I turned and noticed the ominous dark cloud to the north. It had a leaden colour, presaging stormy weather. It was still far away, though, so nothing to worry about.

Sunlit window box

The sunshine was still bright and made this window box glow cheerfully with colour.

Sunshine in the trees

In Myddelton Square, too, the trees were bright with sunshine.

The dark clouds coming closer

A glance to north, however, showed that the dark clouds were coming on apace. But surely, nothing to worry about…

The dark clouds roll in

The made our way in leisurely fashion to Myddelton’s, still bathed in sunshine, and decided to take our coffee on the terrace. That was when the dark clouds came rolling in, the rain began to fall, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled. Fortunately, we were fairly protected under the shop’s canopy. We would have to stay here until the rain eased off – assuming that it would do so.

The rain began to fall

It began to rain – hard. Fortunately, there was virtually no wind to blow the rain in on us so we were sheltered under the canopy. On the other hand, as Tigger had a light coat on, we would be prisoners here until the rain eased off.

Caption

Fortunately, after a while it did ease off and so we made a dash for home. There was water running running in the gutters and rivers flowing across roads.

An eerie light shone on the church

The clouds thinned slightly, allowing an eerie light to shine on the church and the surroundings.

Reflected in a puddle
Photo by Tigger

There was still plenty of water about in rivers and in puddles, as in this photo of the reflected church by Tigger.

Blue sky appears in the north
Photo by Tigger

There were hopeful signs that the storm might be over as blue sky appeared in the north.

Water dripping from trees

The splashes in this puddle, although made by water dripping from trees, argued for caution.

Sunshine but an ominous sky

The sun was now shining again but there was still ominous cloud cover in the sky making for dramatic contrasts.

Threatening sky at the crossroads

We took a chance and walked down to the crossroads to take more photos of the dramatic sky in contrast with the sunshine.

The Angel clock tower with sunshine and storm clouds

We went as far as the clock tower then turned back to return home.

No storm clouds

In the direction of home, the sky was completely different: there were no storm clouds and it looked like a fine sunny day. You would not know it had rained at all. We reached home safely in the dry.

The storm was not really over, however. As I write this at home, I can hear thunder rumbling and the forecast is for more of the same to come. Then again, forecasts are often wrong, and things might yet turn out better than expected!