Last week, we finally saw the arrival of our very rainy season… the heavy deluge soaking and flooding every crevice of the landscape – people and animals, scurrying for cover without any time to save themselves from the unleashing of the heavens.
The African rainy season is dramatic, with an operatic build up of daunting, dark Nimbus clouds that resemble threatening icy mountain ranges in the skies. There is the roaring, earth shattering, rumble of thunder like an army of charioteers racing across the stars above and just before the torrent of water scapes their billowing dark cloudy cloaks, the lightning – a fierce and deliberate electrical field of light explodes across the darkening skies.
Then silence. Silence before the deluge. One by one, fat, moisture heavy pregnant raindrops fall to the earth and then , without warning, there is a sudden cascade…It pours with unstoppable force, every leaf and inch of parched dust soaked in liquid nectar.
Anyone who has lived in Africa can describe the smell of rain hitting the fertile red soils of this land.. there is even a word to describe it…’petrichor’ – The word is “petrichor”, and it’s used to describe the distinct scent of rain in the air. Or, to be more precise, it’s the name of an oil that’s released from the earth into the air before rain begins to fall.
I’m so used to bright, sunshine filled days – as much as I love the downpours, it does set a slightly melancholy mood.. As always, my first thoughts to the blog are reacting to the environment and what my readers need during that very precise time and moving away from the hot drinks and comforting casseroles that I have been featuring, I wanted to bring back some sunshine to you first thing in the morning. This week, I’m going to be focusing on ‘Happy Breakfasts ‘and foodie tips to keep your mood and spirits happy and soaring. There are so many things that can just help make a better start to the day and foods that can also help release serotonin into the blood, ensuring a more calmer, happier focused state of mind… Ready for a week of getting your happy hat on? Let’s not wait any longer and get the show on the road!
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