Tag ArchivesFor the word: weather
Cyclone Gabrielle – Preparation Lessons Learned
2023 has been a tough year weather-wise.
January saw record-breaking rainfall across much of the North Island of New Zealand, with more than 260mm of rain falling on south and west Auckland in just 24 hours. In the far north, wind-speeds of up to 140kph were recorded. Four people were killed in flash floods and landslides and hundred of homes were destroyed.
But that was just the start…
A Good Winter Day
Well, it’s been a pretty good day, all things considered.
I awoke around 7:30 to find a steady rain falling. By the time I had washed and eaten, it was pretty clear that there wasn’t going to be much pruning done today.
Rain! Rain! Rain!
Unbelievable July weather. Since I left the NPIA in the middle of June, we have only had 2 days where we got no rain (and both of those were overcast).
Still – by comparison to the poor devils in Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and large sections of the Midlands, we have got off very lightly. Residents in Gloucestershire wont even be compensated for loss of drinking water for 17 days!
And then when I got up this morning, it was like someone had flicked a switch and summer was here! A glorious blue sky, warm with a light summer breeze.
Welcome summer – better late than never!
Rave: Summer in England

Today is the Summer Solstice – the longest day of the year. Hard to believe that the days will now start to get shorter again, but there you go…
All over the UK, the last few weeks have seen many a clear blue sky with temperatures as high as the mid 30′s (C).
At the site I currently work at in Hampshire, all the trees and flowers have burst into their full bloom. Everywhere, the whole place seems to be teaming with life and I find myself looking for excuses to get outside – just for a few minutes – at regular intervals.
Most evenings when I pull into my driveway, I catch a whiff of one of the smells of summer; freshly cut grass, BBQ lighter fluid (and later more mouthwatering smells!) etc. At times like this, I can’t think of many other places in the world that I would rather be.
Forget France – come to England!




![Longford Inn's new moat, Gloucestershire July 2007. Photo: Nicholas Mutton [CC-BY-SA-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons Longford Inn's new moat, Gloucestershire July 2007. Photo: Nicholas Mutton (Wikimedia Commons)](/images/Blog/flood-longford.jpg)
