Why oh why I decided to go to the pie society for my evening meal when the weather forecast promised rain – I do not know. But I suppose I was driven by a desire for a proper pie. I ordered a very fine beef ad ale pie with mash and gravy and it disappeared more quickly than was polite.
The rain started and then the thunder and lightening illuminating the soaking street and the people battling through the storm huddled under their umbrellas.
I sat for a while reading my book.. a classic – Slowly Down the Ganges by Eric Newby.I got fed up of reading after a while but the storm had not abated so I sat a while longer, flicking through Wechat Moment to see what was going on elsewhere.
Not much going on – everyone hiding inside their houses or bars like me.
The storm didn’t show any signs of abating so there was no option but the stay for crumble and custard. I read a bit more and by then it was showing signs of dying away so I braced myself and got back on my bike.
With one hand holding the umbrella and my non-waterproof bag with Eric Newby sheltering inside and my right hand in charge of steering and braking, I set off. On the road were other similar travellers making their weary way home on the dark rain-soaked Shanghai roads.
I used to get excited by electric storms when I was young but now there are so many of them, especially as we head into the summer, that instead of being exciting, they have become mundane.
I found these photos the next day – what beauties although I wouldn’t want to be at that height taking photos in the middle of such a big storm.