Bad news for airlines, but glad tidings for doggies

Fiona is fed up with this relentless rain, but she isn’t quite ready to brave an airport any time soon – not even for a dry, hot holiday

Will this rain never stop? Yes, it’s good for the vegetable plot. But enough is enough. Whisper it, but even the MacNaughties are fed up with the relentless stream falling from the skies. Shout the “w” word in the past and you had a near riot on your hands. Say “walkies” now and they look disinterestedly from their baskets. You can try force. If pushed, they might put a reluctant paw on the doorstep, before deciding that it is easier not to.

Then again, I cannot imagine why I am complaining. For it is summer. And it is a Scottish summer at that. If May was one the driest calendar months on record, June has felt like the soggiest. Yet it could be worse. 1816 was apparently so horrible it was called the Year Without A Summer. Fast forward a century to 1922 and the average temperature at this time was a miserable 10 degrees.

Five of our wettest years have occurred in the last two decades. And I can remember when it didn’t just rain.

One time, in early July, I recall hearing great hailstones raining down on the roof.

But, hey, this is Saturday and you probably don’t want to hear about weather doom and gloom. So, how is your lockdown going? And are you able to get out and about a bit more? More to the point, do you want to?!

The chief and I have been discussing the matter. At some stage he has unfinished business in Africa. He must return there to continue taking photos for a new book on Namibia.

Meanwhile, this week I learnt that

I am due to start filming again in September, which will involve some local travel. Although I suspect it will be a matter of working with a super long lens and a very distant microphone.

But, work aside, we have come to the conclusion that we will probably stay put for the rest of the year.

I do not fancy an airport any time soon and it looks like a case of “Scotland here we come”. Which is bad news for the poor airlines. But glad tidings for the doggies, who do not want anyone to go anywhere – at any time.

Airline travel was down by 95% during lockdown. Folk are nervous and I wonder if travel habits really will change?

I am told that in normal times – whatever they are in these most unusual days – the average Scot would

If May was one of the driest calendar months on record, June has felt like the soggiest. Yet it could be worse.

make around two trips abroad annually. Indeed, research shows that some were quite happy to spend a quarter of their income on these foreign jaunts.

We like Mallorca, it seems. And Spain and Greece – all places where it doesn’t rain – and maybe the confidence will return. I hope so.

I’ve been to a good many places in my time. I haven’t been everywhere, but when this is over, I suspect it will be on my list – and it better be dry.

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