It's raining, it's pouring

The golden weather has well and truly come to an end this week:

• It's probably rained more in the last few days than it has for the entire year
• Temperatures are holding in the low teens, and sometimes struggling to achieve even that
• Sunrise and sunset seem to coincide with arriving at work and leaving work
• People are adding more layers
• Less people are seen out jogging or riding
• Moods darken

So, with a smile, my shorts, t-shirt and vest, I jumped onto my bike in the gloom and raced to the office. The traffic was busy, as expected, and I was thankful that my commute each day uses very little of the road, and where it does, it has a well defined cycle lane and less busy sections of the streets. I hate riding in the traffic.

In short order I was in the wide open cycle path, devoid of children and dogs. Odd really, as this is the perfect weather for them - puddles, leaves blowing around, worms, ducks, and water everywhere! A dream environment for a child or dog! Sadly, most parents will drive their kids to school, and the poor pooches will be left indoors for the day.

I arrived at the office, wet and happy. Riding in the rain is good fun and I don't understand why people dislike it so much. I got changed into dry clothes and sat at my depressing desk for a few hours, counting the minutes till I was heading out again!

Yup, rain, hail or shine, or snow, lightening, floods, earthquake or any number of disasters, natural or otherwise, there is no reason to postpone the DropAndGiveMe20 session in the park at lunchtime. I re-donned my cold, wet clothes and we trotted to the park feeling cold, and a little stupid. But after some running about, random ball games (ever tried shooting hoops with a medicine ball?) and not too much mud wallowing, the 20 minutes flew by and I was quite warm again.

Back to the office, another quick change to dry clothes and another boring few hours at the keyboard. When the end of the day arrived, I was hesitant, as this would be the second time I had to climb into cold, wet clothes. Urgh. I jumped on the bike and cycled off into the dark. Man, the paths are deserted when it's cold and wet. And it'll get quieter and quieter as the temperature drops. I love the cold, everyone else seems to hate it.

I arrived home, removed the leaves from my hairy legs and arms, dried off, changed into slouchy clothes and prepared for dinner. What a day.

When I look back on it, it was good. Because I went for a ride in the rain. Because I went for a PT session in the rain. Because I didn't just hibernate and grump. Because I did these things, my day was filled with laughter and success. If I didn't, it would be all spent grumpy in the car, grumpy at my desk, and arriving home grumpy. But, I'm in a good mood. Are you?

So, how do you spend a rainy day?

[UPDATE - the very next day]
OK, so while it was wet on Tuesday, Wednesday was a whole new ballgame. The session in the park was so wet, I gained 4KG. I was drenched through my jacket and holding a litre of water in my shoes. But you know what, it was still damn good fun!

The dark blue is torrential rain, the yellow is just heavy rain.