rain..

it's been raining non stop since last thursday.

For the driest state in the driest continent in the world, this is no small feat.

The drought-striken farmers in the Murrayland must have been doing their rain dance conscientiously. I can picture them jumping up and down for joy in the rain, thanking the heavens that water has finally poured unto their corn and wheat and barley and what nots.

Initially it was nice, I loved the change in weather to bits. It brought the temperature down, it helped clean the windows and it made it so so nice to sleep at night.

Now it is just getting plain annoying. the park that i walk through every day to reach the bus stop is flooded. the pond that was previously the size of a small backyard has miraculously transformed into a big splashing pool much to the joy of brown native ducklings that inhabit that area.

It is no fun walking in the rain. Everything you own gets wet. You get drenched. The wind blows mercilessly at you. and you enter the house yearning for a cup of hot tea to warm your chilled insides up.

and this annoying rain business only reminds me dearly of one place on earth -- London.

I was blessed with minimal rain during my stay but there was the inevitable sprinkling period. (thank goodness NOT on the wedding day) The grey clouds would hang like sad dolls that nobody wants to buy in Hemley's, and no one, not even BBC, can predict when the next rainpour would occur.

However, the lively atmosphere in the streets embraced me like an old friend. It was easy to navigate around, the underground was a old but mostly faultless system and for places that the underground wouldn't go to, our dear sturdy legs would bring us there. (not without the help of andy and fidz) London is a place with the oldest and most historic buildings in the world, but yet it boosts some of the coolest new abeit weird things too.

London is where I witnessed how special weddings are meant to be. I was brought up to think that weddings have to be big, noisy and grand events where you invite every human being you are remotely connected to. From the classmate you sat next to in secondary school to the Auntie of the 5th son of the husband of your grandma's sister.... Most people just spend their wedding day shaking the hands of these people that they may only see once every... 5 years or something.

My dearest fidel showed me how intimate and special weddings can be without the 50 tables of guests. Just a small group of close friends, champage and a crazy photographer is enough to cause spark and magic happening.

Most of all, london is a place (I think) I can never get sick of. There is always something new happening. A new musical, a new eatery around the corner, a new bear collection at Harrod's.. Alright, maybe not a new queen anytime soon.

So now when it rains, I think of dear old London.

And that, that really makes me smile.