Today I find myself ironing towels.
Towels?
Yes. Because it's the rainy season and in the rainy season it's just too damp for anything to dry, even if it is 26 degrees celsius. I seem to recall that in NZ, in winter, I would put damp washing in the hot water cupboard, or in front of the fire on a clothes horse. Some people use dryers. But we don't have a fire here, nor do we have a hot water cupboard, or hot water to put in it or a dryer.
So if I don't want my towels to mould away in the cupboard, because of lingering dampness, I've heard that you're supposed to iron them.
Please note. This is in no way an advertisement for Black&Decker Light 'n Easy irons. In fact, this particular iron burns EVERYTHING if it is on the cotton setting. You can only have it really low if you don't want to burn anything. Which means:
a) a lot of my clothes have burn marks on them
b) a lot of my clothes that need ironing, never really get all the wrinkles ironed out, because you don't get that far with your wrinkles ironing cottons on a polyester heat.
Anyway, while the generator was on (you need LOTS of power to run an iron) and there was something nice and reminiscent about winter, with the iron, the warmth of the towel, the bright light in a grey room.
Until I found myself sweating. That's right, it is still 26 degrees, after all.
The rainy season never seems to stay with us long in the Solomons. January definitely at some point it comes, but the other months (Nov to April) it seems a bit elusive. But I like the rainy season.
It means watching the drops run off the gutterless roofs. You can almost foster the feeling of curling up with a book and a hot chocolate. You can wear tee-shirts and some people even wear socks. You have to dash when you go outside. Frogs swim in puddles.
Pussy cats leave footprints outside your door.
The rainy season is a nice break from the relentless heat of the rest of the year. Everything is green and fresh and vibrant.
And, like all seasons, it's only here for a season.
