Summer Evenings

[rosiphelee]

It's amazing how fast it gets dark. I've been sitting out here on my patio for a while. Five minutes ago I decided to go back inside because I was getting cold. It was so warm inside that I came back out, this time with my poor, overheating laptop for company. In those five minutes, late dusk has become full night.

It's been another still, sweltering day. Tucked away up here, it's not too bad, but I ventured out in search of fresh fruit and vegetables this afternoon. Down in the town centre, the streets smelt of traffic and dirt as if the pavements were sweating. Only the discovery of nice, plump peppers and sweet plums made it worth while (and, of course, two big plastic jugs to make iced tea in).

Later, I decided to venture out into the cool of the evening with my after-dinner glass of wine. I was planning to use the last of the light to read more about the Persian Wars. It was a beautiful evening, with the sky half-filled with soft, watermark blue clouds and half golden with the sunset. It was the sort of sky you half-think you could reach out and smudge with your hand.

As I was reading, I realised that the flicker I could see in the corner of my eye wasn't the security lamp on the side of the Conservative Club. It was lightning, so far away that I couldn't hear thunder.

Even after it was too dark to read, I kept watching it. No one else seemed aware of it. I could hear laughter and the clatter of plates from one of the neighbouring flats. A woman in high heels walked across the empty car park below. The man two doors down came out onto his patio and started pruning his hanging baskets.

I was the only one watching patches of the sky silently turn gold and silver.

The lightning has faded now, and I really am going inside, because there are suddenly specks of rain on my screen.

Edit: Hurrah for dancing in torrential rain! In the dark! *goes to find a towel*

Comments

[coastwallker.livejournal.com]

According to the Bracknell weatherman the storm was centred there. The hail caused white-out conditions and planes were diverted round the storm. Quite a distance away.
We heard one or two rumbles but nothing much.

[rosiphelee.livejournal.com]

Wow. It was very peaceful from here. I didn't even hear rumbles.

[saltnester.livejournal.com]

I think I might've seen flickers, too - that or a defective lamp somewhere on the estate. [rainhandjives, being unable to dance]

[rosiphelee.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't have noticed it at all if I hadn't been sitting out there.

*sighs* The rain has stopped again.

Have a good time in France :)

[saltnester.livejournal.com]

The front door's open... ! Thunder! thunderthunderthunder! ee! [hopes for rain]

...thank you. [appreciates]

[wispywillow.livejournal.com]

What a beautifully descriptive post... I could see it all ^_^ Makes me wish to be in England at night with flickers. Maybe one of these days...

[rosiphelee.livejournal.com]

*smiles* Storms always make me poetical. Even my funny little bit of town centre seems pretty with lightning. It's such a odd little place, right in the middle of a really scummy town. From the main road, it looks grim, but out the back we've all got our own patios, and most people have flowers or garden furniture (the little girl down diagonally from me has a paddling pool and her own little plant pot and watering can), and we overlook a really quiet bit of carpark and the back of the shops, so it isn't noisy.

[magnetic-pole.livejournal.com]

I adore summer evenings like that. When the rain stops, it's especially quiet, like the world has let out its breath and relaxed. M.

[rosiphelee.livejournal.com]

*grins* The bit I love most is when the rain starts. I'm one of those people who get listless and miserable before a storm, and the rain brings me back to life every time.

[silvanime.livejournal.com]

That was very lovely indeed. It felt relaxing just to read it. I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying your holiday.

Iced tea sounds like a lovely idea.

[rosiphelee.livejournal.com]

Thank you :) It's nice to just be able to sit out and relax.

I've made seven or eight jugs of it over the last two days, trying to get it right. It tastes all sweet and refreshing, but it's got quite a caffeine hit in that quantity. *twitches*

[silvanime.livejournal.com]

I can imagine it would! I take it you don't use herbal tea, then?

[rosiphelee.livejournal.com]

No. I daresay you could, but you'd have to use a lot to get any flavour at all. On the other hand, as cold caffeinated drinks go, it's got to be healthier than cola.

[liquorice-eyes.livejournal.com]

I wish it would rain here, we had a little in the night which came with a bit of a breeze which was nice but it needs to thunder really, it's still too damn hot.

[rosiphelee.livejournal.com]

It's much cooler here today. Hope it cools down over there soon. :(

[nostoi.livejournal.com]

Hello, I hope you don't mind that I friended you; I saw you over on LibraryThing and wandered over here. :)

I love storms, being outside dancing in torrential rain is good fun! :)

Helena

[rosiphelee.livejournal.com]

*smiles* Of course I don't mind. Welcome along.

I love summer rain. It's exhilarating.