
It's been raining constantly for the past few days and our house looks like it's on an island. There are no tea bushes in front of the house, just paddy fields and these are, at the moment filled with water. As I write this, I can hear the drops of water plink plonking from the roof onto the cemented drain. The plants, thirsting for water a few days ago, are now full to the brim. It should be gloomy as the sun's away but it's strangely

not. There's a calm peace and coziness all around, reminding me of cold winter days...