It rained!

Mind-numbing heat during the day was finally tempered by a terrific thunderstorm before dinner. Alex and Ben made the most it, getting thoroughly cooled by the downpour - I retreated into the kitchen after the first minute or so, feeling suitably refreshed and photographed them through the rain-streaked window.. 

We all inhaled the delicious smell of the damp earth, known as petrichor. You can read about the biology and chemistry of petrichor here.