Reprieve

The past few days have given us a taste of what summer might have in store. Temperatures have hovered around 30C in the day, and 20C at night. In the breathless heat one tosses and turns in the dark, hoping the electric fan going full-blast will move enough air to cool the entire house.

Dogs wander around restlessly all night, panting and unable to find a cool, comfortable place - either on the bed or under the desk. Birds awaken early to eat and drink before the sunlight appears and they are left open-beaked in scraps of shade.

And then this morning, very early, repreive came in the form of high grey clouds rushing over from the north. Too high for rain, but they cover the sun in a cool blanket.

We stood outside in our pyjamas and breathed in quenching moist air.