Heavy Rain in North Rhine-Westphalia

We’re completely exhausted. After our basement flooded about a week ago, it happened again today.
But I don’t want to complain when I see what’s happened—and is still happening—in other parts of North Rhine-Westphalia.
I actually thought we were in for a series of extremely dry and hot summers. But the fact that we’re now getting these massive amounts of rain is blowing my mind.
Thankfully, though, the weather forecast is predicting nice weather again for the weekend. We’ve really earned that.
We’re powerless against nature, but somehow we manage to ruin it.
For now, I’m looking optimistically toward the future (i.e., the weekend), and the garden is happy about it.
I hope you all made it through the weather okay.
Love, Petra

Oh dear, Petra, you have my deepest sympathy. That goes for everyone who’s been hit much harder, too. I’m so relieved that things turned out relatively well for us. Here, only the garden is pretty waterlogged.

I hope for you and all of us here that summer finally arrives with warm temperatures, that the storms stop, and that no one gets seriously hurt.

Warm regards and have a lovely, sunny weekend
Monika

Oh my goodness, that doesn’t sound good at all...

Our biggest “problem” right now is a snail infestation... We live next to an open field, and it feels like there are a million snails all around the house... On the facade, on the patio, in the driveway, on the windows, in the lawn, in the flowers...
I really am an animal lover, but this is just gross...

But when I see all the pictures on the news, I’m actually very grateful that this is all we’re dealing with here... 

That’s really intense, weather-wise, in some areas.

Yes, Tina, we have snails galore here too, unfortunately. That’s because it’s constantly wet. But I’m also glad it’s nothing worse. Luckily, we haven’t had any snails on the windows yet. And yes, we also live right next to a large field. That’s where we take the snails back to.

I was also deeply moved by the images from the affected areas — it’s hard to imagine how the people in the middle of the flood zone must feel. I’m also only one of those suffering from horrible snails, and I’m grateful that otherwise we’re doing well. Around us (the greater Winterthur/Zurich area), it has also caused a terrible amount of damage.

Wishing lots of strength to everyone affected!

Best regards, Sonja

Here in the north, it’s been rather dry... Just the occasional thunderstorm and shower here and there. Luckily, there’s still enough water in the rain barrel for watering, at least for the vegetables (it holds 2x1000l). 
The pictures of the flooding are so shocking; I wish everyone affected lots of strength.
And thankfully, we’re no longer among those plagued by snails either. A few years ago, it was a whole different story; we got a pair of runner ducks (everything was fenced in anyway), and they made sure the snails couldn’t lay any eggs... We haven’t had the two of them for three years now, but we still have virtually no snails; the few that show up here get sent right back into the wild....  

As is so often the case, Wolfsburg has so far been spared from any severe weather. We apparently live in a favorable location here.
The heat in recent years has really taken its toll on us, but this year the amount of rainfall here is finally back to a level that’s normal by our standards. 

However, I’m completely shaken by what the people in the flood-affected areas are going through right now. When I imagine being left with nothing from one day to the next…
My thoughts are with the people there, and I’ve also joined various Facebook groups to help out as much as I can from here…