It was one of those horrible rainy days where the raindrops seemed to be filled with the soul of Satan and came from all directions instead of falling from above as Newton intended. Our a feeble excuse for an umbrella provided no cover from the elements but almost acted as an efficient lightning conductor. People ran around with newspapers on their heads, which always makes me laugh as typhoonal rain has no mercy and the newsprint runs all over your torso. Fools!

Anyway, my gripe today is about people with umbrellas who use them lawlessly. Mutti and I were huddled up like refugees under a thoroughfare when some Casanova walked through, and held his umbrella up over our heads. Having just come in from the rain, this resulted in a tidal wave of water that cascaded off the top of his umbrella onto us (the effect similar to pouring a bucket of water over someone's head). When we stared at him (as if challenging him to do it again) he - and I can barely write this without seething - proceeded to shake his umbrella on top of us before moving on! Darling Mutti had to restrain me from going for the man's throat (and, without a doubt, I would have skewered him with said umbrella like a kebab).

The moral of the day is: do not go out in wet weather especially with a forgetful Mother and a small umbrella.