The rain in Spain...

Andalucía seems to be a land of extremes. At the end of August, as temperatures soared, the emergency of the day was the raging forest fires in the mountains not far from Alhaurín. Hundreds had to be evacuated from their homes in the Coín and Mijas region, and at least one person lost his life. Now,  just a month later, this week's emergency is due to the widespread thunderstorms and the torrential rain that has deluged this southern part of Spain. It's the first real rain we've had in four months, but we seem to be getting four months worth of rain in just four days! Buildings have been damaged, some cities are flooded, and a woman in Granada is being treated in hospital after being hit on the head by a large falling branch.

Here in Alhaurín, after a week of strong winds and pouring rain, I've decided it's time for this blog to have a more "autumny" look. I've also faced up to the fact that our summer swimming days in outdoor pools are now a thing of the past. At the beginning of this week, a friend told me that he would be emptying their swimming pool this weekend, and that I should pop over to their house if I wanted to swim one last time before the water was drained out. Well, I did go over for a visit, but the cooler windy weather was already beginning, and I decided that the water would be just too cold for these old lungs! And it truly was my last chance, because the next day the heavy rains began with a vengeance!

However, the arrival of autumn rains also heralded a new experience for me and a couple of friends. Alhaurín's sports centre and indoor swimming pool is conveniently situated right in my street, just five minutes' walk from my house. I've been saying for some time that I wanted to join the sports centre, so that I could get some exercise over the winter by going swimming now and then. It didn't work out last winter, because of my extended trip to Scotland when my Dad was in hospital. So, this week, very early on a dark rainy morning, I headed to the "piscina cubierta" with friends, Anja and Mariasún. I'm pleased to have made a start on my winter exercise programme and I hope to keep going once or twice a week during the weeks that I'm not travelling or busy with seminars at the retreat centre.

Meanwhile, it looks as if the rains are going to be with us for another few days, and I'll need to wait until the middle of next week before I'll get some more sunny weather for hanging my washing out on the line to dry. Whatever the weather in your part of the world, have a great weekend!!