When I started this blog, I had in mind blogging about mountains, moorland, downland and coasts. However outdoor pleasures can be much closer to home and very simple.
Whenever my wife and I either had a garden flat or house we had the priveledge of a reasonably positioned terrace. In Germany we rented a garden flat at the base of a highrise block, then later a large terraced house; both had due south-facing terraces which were great in summer. Our current property has a SW facing decking which gets good use for eating outside or sitting outside when temperatures allow it.
Our German rental house had a typical Bavarian design with a one metre roof eave. This generally meant that unless there was a strong south wind the rain rarely hit our windows - saving window cleaning - but also meant that you could sit outside when it was raining and stay dry. Most of our neighbours sat out a lot in summer evenings but my wife and I often enjoyed sitting with rain falling. Like the sound of waves breaking or a waterfall I find rainfall soothing.
When we designed our current home I wanted to have a one metre overhang again (though it is our 1st floor bedroom rather than the eave that overhangs). Yesterday evening, after our evening church service, we decided to sit out with a glass or two of wine. The rain was fairly strong and persistent but the sound was soothing after a hard week. Even the trickling sound of the drainpipes was enjoyable.
Now back to the grind....a 2.5 h wait for a connection at Helsinki airport. Oh to be sitting outside....
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2007-06-18 @ 22:15