"Is very raining" (20 - 28 February 2016)

....is the refrain on every Thai's lips as they look disappointingly at the sky as more back clouds roll in. There's been an odd pattern of weather over the last six weeks. Every two weeks, a pulse of stormy weather is pushed down into the Gulf of Thailand leaving extremely cold weather in the North of the country and stormy conditions around here. There's a few days of high winds and heavy rain with small craft told to stay ashore and cancelled ferries. The high winds mean the narrow strip of beach disappears under them meaning all the small beach places have to close up for a while. The snorkelling boats can't go out, but on a positive note neither can the dangerous jet skis! Such a pity as a lot of these small businesses depend on this, the high (and dry) season, to make their money. But the massage parlours and beauty salons will be making loads as people look for alternatives to the beach and the pool. But this time the stormy stuff has gone but we are left with heavy clouds and that persistent rain. It's also quite cool. Now I know I am not going to get any sympathy but even though the thermometer says 26 (very low for here in the day), the winds coming in from the sea mean it feels such a lot cooler - and yet again the long sleeved t shirt is out. But this rain is having one other consequence - the "pool is fix" miracle that I thought had happened is in danger of being declared a failure. I think all the rain is diluting the chemicals and a faint tinge of "gareen" is coming through.....