Not content with raining on my parade last weekend, it seems that there’s unsettled weather in store for at least another couple of weeks. Well thanks. Without wishing to bleat, my roof still leaks, and rain – which I normally love – has started to depress the hell out of me.

There’s no doubt that summer rain is one of life’s joys, particularly when it comes after a week of balmy sunshine and a day of crackling tension and towering, pregnant clouds. I’ve had some great times in it; pretending to swim in overflowing gutters, actually swimming in pools, standing in the middle of a field shouting “is that the best you can do??” to the heavens… you get the idea.

In fact, all the best times have been a little reckless, now I think about it. So being outside in summer rain makes me reckless, and being out in winter rain just makes me cold. Either way I’m never unhappy unless I’m stuck inside; turning on lights, watching it stream down the windows, hearing it spray from car wheels, and wondering which ceiling it’s going to drip through next.

Wondering how it made other people feel, I asked around the Living office. While I was at it, I got people to recommend rainy day songs and made them into a playlist that Spotify users can listen to by clicking here.

“When it rains, I want the sky to open up with a vengeful God ready to wash away the sins of the earth with buckets of precipitation, thunder and lightning. A drizzle just will not do.” – Brad (Purple Rain, Prince & No Rain, Blind Melon)

“In general I hate rain, but if I’m inside and I can see others outside and its tipping it down I enjoy that smug moment.” – Matt (Southern Flood Blues, Big Bill Broonzy & It’s Raining Men, The Weather Girls)

“If I’m out in it I’m irritated. If I’m indoors and don’t want to go out I’m reflective. If I’m indoors and do want to go out I’m impatient (and very bad company).” – Simon M (November Rain, Guns ‘n’ Roses & Shelter from the Rain, Bob Dylan)

“I hate rain – it ruins hair and shoes and faces and never makes people look sexy like in films.” Jo-ann (Let it Rain, Eric Clapton)

“I love the smells you get from greenery after rain – grass, trees, flowers all seem to exhale after a downpour. Tropical rain is the best – big fat warm droplets that are fun to be out in… one of my best memories of travelling in Thailand years ago was swimming in the sea with the rain pounding down on the surprisingly flat surface of the sea. Being in the sea felt warmer than being out on the beach.” – Jeremy (Walking in the Rain, Modern Romance (vetoed because it’s more cheese than rain))

“Being inside with a hot drink and some chocolate, something nice to listen to and a good book is the best. Last week when it was storming, it was warm enough to keep the balcony doors open in the flat and having the wind whip at the curtains made everything seem a bit gothic.” – Caroline

“Big rainstorms can be really thrilling, as long as I can get a view from a snug indoor spot – preferably one that I don’t have to leave in the near future. Drizzle is pointless and irritating. There’s something about tropical rain that I actually quite enjoy, I guess the drops are warm and fat and far more satisfying. However, I’ve been to Glastonbury enough times to know that rain isn’t always my friend – more mud anyone?” – Laura (Dry The Rain, Beta Band & Blame It On The Weatherman, B*Witched)

“Rain in spring or autumn, particularly overnight, gets me quite excited, because it often brings down migrating birds from the skies. You can then go out and twitch them. Rain at this time of year makes me think: I’m really glad I’ve planned a four-night camping holiday with the kids next week. Fantastic. Thank you. Although I won’t have to water the runner beans this evening.” – Charlie

But of course, whatever you think of rain, the trick to making it pass is to find yourself something to do. I started writing this post this morning, since when the clouds have parted, the sun has returned, and – now I come to publish it – the weekend looks an altogether more promising prospect.

How does rain make you feel? Have you got a favourite rain song? Leave a comment!

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Originally posted 2009-07-24 23:50:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter