June 3rd

www.news.com.au

In another shock after more tornados twist through Oklahoma, USA, killing nine, the weather turns against Central Europe. Deadly floodwater sweeps through towns and cities.

At least four people have been killed after heavy rain, closing roads and railways and forcing hundreds to evacuate. Troops have been deployed to help with rescue efforts in Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic.

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www.junted.com

Rains reached record levels in some areas, while hundreds of roads have been closed and rail services cut. The banks of the mighty Danube River burst in one area in Germany. The government declared a state of emergency and released emergency disaster funds. Several hundred people had to be evacuated, as well as a hospital and the Prague Zoo. In just a few days, Austria has experienced as much rain as it normally would in two months during this season. In Switzerland, the federal weather office said water levels were still rising in a number of lakes and there remained a risk of landslides, although the situation was under control overall.

Where has the summer gone? In Europe, we're suffering from a lack of heat. This has been the case for many summers past. Yet, I remember a time of warmth when I could sit in the garden and absorb the relaxing rays.
I wrote this poem eight years ago.

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www.bbc.co.uk

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my.telegraph.co.uk

A GARDEN ALTAR

I sit quietly beneath the sunshade
Watching all the life around me parade
Hoverflies sip sweet nectar as they please
Snapdragons shut their lips tight behind bees.

Butterflies weave in and out amongst plants
That my delighted eyes placed to enhance
The riot of colour and smell planted
A garden altar to heaven granted.

It's so amazing that we can achieve
A result so perfect when we perceive
The concept of so many things to grow
Reliant on our desire to flow.

At last in sunshine shown to perfection
Living plants laid out for eyes detection
From nowhere, insects feast in the reward
Their inter-action cannot be ignored.

And soon the song birds are tempted lower
From the neighbourhood, cats watch and glower
Feathers strewn about like angel's traces
And spiders weave webs around their places.

No matter what first jolts your intention
All of nature weaves it's own invention
Can't judge the victor between good and bad
Sunshine lifts my spirits, I can't be sad.

Is the weather veering toward another ice age? Seems to me, something is badly wrong. If Brazil goes on clearing the rain forest and creating dams it's got to affect the atmosphere.