Best indicators of rainy weather on the way are twofold. Firstly, and not at all pleasantly, are Huntsman spiders, one of which shared, uninvited, my shower this morning.

The other is old Tom the ex-feral. Most days he loves to sleep in the dog’s bed on the front verandah surveying the paddocks in front of him. However, when rain is in the offing we always know as he comes indoors, demands the alpaca rug, and settles down to sleep on the couch for the entire day.

The only time he stirs himself is to ask for food, or milk, or best of all an egg nog, his special favourite.

No photo of the spider here! (I dare say he was no more pleased than I was about being in the shower with me).