The hose pipe ban started on 5th April. We had some rain on the 3rd, and the
4th, and the 5th; in fact it has rained everyday since. Some days not much,
others quite a bit, which is just what we need. From the 3rd, daily figures
are 6.0, 18.3, 2.1, 0.0, 0.6, 0.6 & 11.4. [That 0.0 for Friday is a down
right lie! I got wet coming back from the shop at lunchtime. Obviously not
enough to tip the gauge though.]

When I was out this afternoon, I did notice that the last few days hadn't
really affected anything, and the local stream was still only a couple of
inches deep when it should be over a foot. But this evening's rain, 7.8mm
since 6pm, has had a real impact on the area.

1. I had to dodge the puddles on the footpaths on the way to the park.
2. Really serious squelching underfoot on the walk round the park.
3. Puddles forming all over the football field.
.... and ...
4. And I've had to give the dog a good rub down and drying twice in this
last week.

And that is the first time for ages that any of those have happened.
Certainly not over the winter. Rain we badly need, and at last we are
getting it, though it has taken 7 days to make an impact on the ground. With
upper levels of the soil now becoming waterlogged, perhaps we will get some
meaningful run off from the fields, which in turn should start filling the
rivers. The forecast on the Cumulus program is "Stormy, much precipitation".
Here's hoping.

Perhaps Anglian Water should have brought in the hosepipe ban a year ago.

jim, Northampton