rainy day (rain all day)

rain. rain all day (nearly)

horsemouth should not be surprised by this. he has already survived two winters in the wilds in this tranche (and the third is on its way). 

indeed he should know that (in general) the climate is due to be warmer and wetter as a result of global warming (warm air can carry more water vapour so hence more rain). more than this the over saturation of rain clouds can lead to rain falling in different places leading to crop failure and then the more rainfall when it does come resulting in more flooding. 

fortunately horsemouth's mum's place is half-way up a hill and not prone to flooding. the village down the road has the dulas brook running through it (so it is prone to flooding). 

but things do get soggy and muddy. it gets difficult to get up onto the common and walk on it. it gets difficult to take exercise. 

at some point you just have to put on your boots and raincoat and go out into it regardless. 

on this day in 1871 kilvert dreams of giving his wedding speech. 

later. it is raining more heavily. a last recalcitrant chicken has to be coaxed into the shed. 

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and now the written-in-the-morning part of the blogpost. he watched lea ypi (uk and albanian passport) and aaron bastani (uk passport and iranian azeri heritage) discuss the fall of empires (ottoman, austro-hungary), multi-ethnic empires as opposed to ethno-nationalist nation states. as an albanian  male lea ypi's brother can't get a visa to come here (and yet there is work, which is why there are so many albanian males in the boats). it's the passport you hold that gets you access. 

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today a delivery from TESCO, a letter is sent, and horsemouth gains more clarity with his plans.