Aftermath of Rain

The start of the new year has seen some crazy weather both here in Europe where storms, rain and unusually mild temperatures have bereft Christmas of any traditional snow-decked coziness, and on the eastern coast of the United States where winter seems to have gone mad. It was a bit like this before Christmas too when I was travelling in England –there too it was the eastern coast that suffered worst, with cliffs crumbling, high winds, extreme tides and lots and lots of rain. I visited some of the places affected afterwards, and though the fishing town of Lowestoft was not the worst casualty it was very clear to see the effect of all the adverse weather. Strangely, perhaps, there was a kind of tranquility in the aftermath, and certainly a spirit of "we will not be beaten". There was also something rather beautiful about the pools of water that formed small lakes in places that usually are dry, such as here on part of the harbour quayside. The skies were still moody with clouds, but a pale sun struggled its way through them to demonstrate that after every storm there is calm, and hope. Location: Lowestoft, England