It was a wet old evening on Thursday.

[ladylouise62]

I was travelling across town, changing buses in the centre, in order to go and pick something up in Caversham. Checking the weather before I left it said 'dry' but I decided to take an umbrella anyway... bloody lucky I did too!!!

As the bus made its way into town there was the most amazing sky (which I couldn't photograph as I had an appointment) - there was quite a bit of clear sky, black clouds facing me and white clouds behind which were being lit up with the setting sun.. absolutely stunning and I couldn't get off the bus!!!!!

By the time I hit the town centre to change buses, it was absolutely pelting down... three cheers for the umbrella!!!!

As I waited I saw a lightning strike just behind the station, and a wonderful double rainbow.... guess what was at the end of the rainbow? The Three Guineas Pub... the pot of gold seems to have gone rather downhill nowadays

EDITED - I added a second rain shot - not as arty, but it better shows the heavy rain

[rolf]

Nice bit of judgement the umbrella.

Love the first photo, you can almost feel the rain, The pub will probably buy the second one off you.

[Catherine]

Great shots despite (and because of) the weather, Louise!

The bus station one is full of atmosphere - a bit of a lonely and scary place for a lady on her own though? (I am thinking someone lurking in the shadows there )

I love the second bus shot - really shows what the conditions were like. I trust the rain didn't last too long?

A rainbow on the 'Three Guineas'? Let's hope there was more than that at the end of the rainbow all the same!

[ladylouise62]

Thanks, Catherine. I really couldn't do much despite the possibilities - rain and cameras just aren't good friends We don't have a proper bus station now, it's just a double line of stops on the road approaching the Train station, so it's really quite busy. We used to have a proper Bus station, now that really would be scary !

[rolf]

The old bus station certainly does look bleak now, still have memories from forty years ago catching the last bus home.

[ladylouise62]

I remember catching the wrong bus home when I was 11 or so - ended up in Henley I think! But all the nice people on the bus looked after me and I came back on the next bus it with a bar of chocolate and a half crown :-) Honest, I didn't do it on purpose

[Catherine]

Bet you wouldn't get that if you did the same now, Louise - and please don't try!

Catching the last bus home then, Rolf? You must have been allowed out too late when you were so young!

Not sure whether the graffiti helps or detracts there... (I have a more unusual example of that to post now!)

[ladylouise62]

Our last bus home wasn't that late, we lived outside of the town.
I remember going to the cinema with Mum once - we got the bus to the edge of town, got some chips and ate them walking the last 2 or 3 miles home. I was younger than 9 as the M4 still hadn't been built, so it couldn't have been too late. I suppose it was a Disney film.. I don't remember which one as I remember the walk better - it was a lovely clear winter night, we had chips and I saw a shooting star - cool

I can't remember the times very well as I didn't use the bus much, but nowadays it's 7.20 pm on a weekday and 10.30 on a Friday/Saturday.. yeh, loads of time to really paint the town red