Let it rain....!

Wales is well known for being wet. However a look at the Met Office data over the past 30 years shows that May is statistically the driest month, probably the reason that my friends chose May 21st for their wedding in Rhandirmwyn.
Rhandirmwyn is home to a large reservoir called Llyn Brianne http://www.rhandirmwyn.net/llynbrianne/ a good indication that we get a lot of rain, however it has been more or less dry in the valley for most of April and May- except for a few days where the heavens have opened. A glance at the forecast for last weekend did not look promising but we all crossed our fingers and toes and hoped the day would prove the weathermen wrong... unfortunately it did not.

Despite ominous grey clouds overhead, the rain held off for the Bride to arrive and then depart from the church with the Groom on their horse and carriage, driving it herself in her beautiful lace, off the shoulder vintage gown. The journey- a mere 6 or 7 miles to the reception at their farm!
However as the guests waited in the marquee for the newly weds to arrive the grey clouds delivered upon their promise. We feared a soggy mass of lace, but the Bride remained dry as somebody up there saved a small dry spot directly over the horse and carriage, even allowing time for photographs en route! The Bride had obviously pre-planned for rain- changing into her Dubarrys just after the church and making it somewhat more elegantly across the slippery fields than those of us still in high heels!
The marquee did a pretty fine job and held off the rest of the wind and rain for the day and into the evening, only requiring 1 emergency baton down by the Groomsmen when the forceful wind whipped up a wayward corner! The fun really began as guests tried to leave, those of us in taxis without 4 wheel drive anyhow! My last memory of the evening was of the Groom towing our taxi in his truck out to the gate, then the Bride pushing the taxi out in her slightly less white dress and Dubarrys- (mud up to her ankles!!) before returning to her party.
The wild weather had caused havoc to the valley- trees missing branches, huge deep puddles submerging the road- and almost the front of the taxi! Even a landslide, which we had to avoid on the way home.
Despite the adverse and somewhat typical Welsh drenching I feel that the weather played its own part into making the day (and night!) memorable- (it didn't want to miss out on all the fun!) and all I could think whilst on my way back through the windswept, waterlogged winding lanes was that on the plus side...  I wont ever have to worry about harvesting enough rainwater for my polytunnel!

Towy Totty, tiddler number 2 and Uncle A! Sillyface.com!