Confusion rains

It is now 7.30pm, and we are not entirely sure what is going on. We don’t seem to be able to tell if the typhoon has gone, or if it is here, or if it is still to come, or even if it has been cancelled altogether. Although it has poured with rain since 9.00pm last night, and both Shanghai airports have been closed all day, and next door's picnic chair blew over, it hasn’t really been as bad as we were expecting.

It is possible that part of the confusion for me stems from my ignorance of severe weather conditions. Therefore, although I knew a typhoon was coming, I was mixing up my typhoons and my tornados, and had actually been expecting a type of whirlwind to appear, Wizard of Oz style, possibly just passing by at the end of the road, perhaps even carrying a small wooden house and some reincarnation of Judy Garland along with it. But, it was not to be.

However, probably the scariest aspect for all of us was, having given Charley the day off today in anticipation of the torrential rain and howling gales, we've had to stay in all day and I had to cook breakfast, dinner and tea. I don’t think I have cooked three meals in a single day since we have been here.