When The Rain Stops Falling


I was walking to my nearest train station when I felt the first drops of rain on my shoulders. "I thought it wouldn't rain until 7 this evening. What's going on?" I thought to myself as I picked up the pace. I noticed the rain clouds and checked the weather app before leaving, but it seemed the estimated time was wrong. 

I was on my way to Central London to make content, but I had to turn around and head back home as I didn't think I would make it to the train station. It was raining heavily, and I was already soaking wet from head to toe. Although I enjoy making walking videos, it wouldn't be good for me to walk around in wet clothes, so I had no other choice but to go home and postpone it for another day. 

I thought it would be interesting to make a video walking in the rain after weeks of heatwaves, but I didn't expect it to rain so heavily. As mentioned in my previous post, It's Too Hot In England, we are going through one of the hottest summers in the UK, which led to a drought. It didn't rain for over 50 days, and the green spaces around London turned a burned yellow. 

So let me take you back to the days when the rain stopped falling, and London was nothing but heatwaves and drought. Walking is one of my favourite hobbies, as it helps me manage my weight and clear my mind. Life hasn't been great for me since moving to London, and walking is what has helped me keep going for over a year in this beautiful city. 

So I started making videos of my walks and trips across the UK, and I recently shifted my channel towards morning and evening walks. I usually go out early in the morning or in the late evening to catch sunrise and sunset for my walking tour videos. I captured the changes London experienced during the heatwaves through my lens.


Charlton House at Sunset, Charlton Park


When The Rain Stopped

One of the first things that comes to mind when people think of England is the rain, yet it didn't rain for 50 days this summer. When I moved here a few years ago, if someone told me I would experience a drought and one of the hottest summers of my life. I wouldn't believe them because drought and the UK, or England, can't be used in the same sentence.

For someone who complains about the rain all the time, I kept wondering when it would fall again during the heatwave. I knew summer would be different this year when I looked out the window during my trip to Liverpool, and the scenery looked like autumn. 

The North of England is one of the coldest and wettest places in the country, but it looked dry and yellow like London. Summer was brutal this year; people walked around with mini fans and were constantly reminded to stay hydrated. Although I drink plenty of water regardless of the season, I haven't been sleeping well and have been getting headaches every day. And it's hard to be productive when you're too hot and can't focus. 

So I spent my free time watching Japanese and Chinese dramas. Then I went for a walk in a park at sunset; it was so relaxing to sit on a swing, watch the sun set and listen to a podcast. When the rain stopped falling, I came to appreciate the sunset almost every day in a quiet park.

Walking on parched grass in a park


When Summer Feels Like Autumn

Autumn is my favourite season, and what makes it special to me is the mix of sunshine and rain, the beautiful colours, and the fallen leaves. There is something magical about autumn; however, walking over fallen leaves didn't feel magical this summer. When I went to Greenwich Park the other day, I took a photo of a beautiful tree and thought it wouldn't feel out of place in autumn. 

The leaves had turned yellow, and the tree had fallen leaves all around, exactly how most trees look in autumn, yet we were still in August. It's quite an experience to see green spaces turn yellow or orange in summer. I have never experienced anything like it until this year, and I can't find the words to describe the feeling.

Is this a sign from Mother Nature to take care of our planet?! If summers keep getting hotter and drier, will England still be known for its rainy days 10 years from now?! Houses were built to keep the cold in, and they no longer seem suited to the current climate. Things keep changing, and nature is evolving, but it doesn't necessarily mean it's a good thing. 

I still remember wearing a light jacket or raincoat in summer when I moved here a few years ago, but now even a long-sleeve shirt is too much in this weather. Some of us can't walk around in T-shirts; my chest bounces, and it's embarrassing, so I have no choice but to wear a shirt or denim jacket over it. I'm so envious of women who can rock a tank top in hot weather...

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