Mirror Magazine - Rain or shine…

So, what’s up with the weather? Everyone’s complaining that ‘one moment it’s hot, the next moment it’s not’.

There’s more to these complaints than mere mumbling and grumbling. Usually we would console the complainants by telling them to change their perspective on the issue at hand, or that it’s only a matter of opinion. Unfortunately, the current drift has turned out to be a matter of fact! Thus we have a problem!

The only way out, perhaps, is to cope with changing weather patterns. After all, as the saying goes, when we can’t change the “wind” (pardon the pun!), we must adjust our sails! The weather’s always described as ‘unpredictable’, so let’s just settle down and deal with it!

Maybe the time has come for us to set out of the house in the morning both with sun shades AND the umbrella. Raincoats too would be an asset, but then this would entail a heavier hand bag or knapsack. Are we ready for this? Unfortunately, we may not have a choice anymore. And for the heat? Throw in an ointment as first aid for sun rashes and to cool the skin.

In case of heat cramps, symptoms of which are painful aching of muscles in the legs and abdomen, it is advisable to rest in a cool place and drink plenty of water. Applying firm pressure on cramping muscles or a gentle massage may help to relieve the spasms. In case of heat exhaustion, rest in a cool or shady place. Drink water. So there’s another item for the knapsack – a bottle of water, a very important and oft-forgotten necessity!

There maybe a need to change your attire too. Lightweight and light-coloured clothing reflects heat and sunlight, and helps your body stay cool. Natural fibers like cotton and linen let your skin breathe and help you feel cooler. Also consider a slight schedule readjustment. Strenuous activities like sports, games and hiking should be reduced or moved to a cooler time of day.

An active person can loose up to two gallons of fluid a day, but few people remember to drink that much on a hot day. Thirst is NOT a good indicator of how much fluid your body really needs. Oh, and sorry for this one, but do NOT overeat. Foods like meat and cheese increase the body's heat production, and this also increases the body's loss of water.

Now we have the issue of rain. Sadly, we Sri Lankans have the tendency to bring all our activity to a standstill at the beginning of the slightest drizzle. All plans are either ‘spoilt’ or cancelled. Certainly the rain has an effect on the speed and types of work that can be completed, but contrary to popular belief, just because it is raining, does not mean that things should come to a standstill. This largely has something to do with our cultural attitudes to rain.

Perhaps it’s time for a change, or at least a shift, in such attitudes. For instance, outdoor trips like camping can be done in spite of rain, by using a few handy tips. The most important item of clothing on a canoe trip is a high-quality rain suit. A good rain jacket will keep you dry in summer drizzles; add a set of rain pants and you are set for a downpour! Good quality tents are the next element of comfort in the rain. Carry a light tarp to lay inside your tent, in case your floors or walls leak.

Camping in windy conditions can be quite interesting, with many an amusing story, after you get back home. Lifejackets are among the first items to take to the air, so tie, buckle, zip, or weigh them down. Some extra rope or parachute cord is handy to help secure tents. Fire lighting and campfire maintenance are also more difficult with wind: try using the canoes to create a windbreak, but if they get any hotter than lukewarm to the touch, you'd better have lots of duct tape around to patch the holes.

For the average rainy day, jeans are NOT appropriate rainwear. They are cold when wet, and dry excruciatingly slowly. You will do much better with quick-drying pants (nylon, thin cotton, etc.) on rainy days. Similarly, cotton T-shirts alone do not wardrobes make. Feet are the most difficult item to keep warm and dry. For people who wear open shoes on rainy days, dry, warm feet soon become a distant memory. Closed shoes are the best bet. Nylon running shoes dry very quickly, if they don't have a lot of padding or leather.

So with the weather it’s about coping, not surrendering. What’s important is to change your approach towards the fact, rather than trying to change the fact itself.