An early morning wake-up of rain at the midpoint of July is hardly a welcome sound. But we know that it is summer rain because it is falling softly. Up until now winter style rain has persisted throughout Spring and early summer. The rain is falling softly but may still cause flooding and other inconveniences.

Today, Alexa woke me with a moderate weather warning.

Is moderate a good enough reason to wake a woman up, I wonder.

Alexa was a little late to be honest, the moderate rainfall had already woken me up along with the chirping birds of the 6:15 alarm.

We have two Alexa devices in regular use. They keep the dogs company when we are out, keeping Hugo and Lola fully abreast of world affairs and interesting topics.

This has been a ponder that I never really knew how to address in the blog until now, but Alexa has a different personality upstairs compared to downstairs.

Downstairs Alexa has a jaunty but practical way about her. Reminding us of our looming domestic apocolypses, low on bin bags, charity toilet rolls and vitamins etc. To be honest she gets the tone about right.  I am forever irritated by radio journalists or presenters who use voices, constantly , that suggest they have a barely concealed,but fake laugh or giggle hiding just behind their scripted words.

For what it is worth I prefer friendly with no hint of mirth, unless I am listening to comedy in which case mirth is just fine.

Upstairs Alexa is a different proposition. She is Eeyore in female computer generated form. If she was a hotel receptionist she would have her forehead on the desk or be crocheting Granny Squares in shades of grey and beige.

Upstairs Alexa wakes me up to tell me the day is going to be average. If she were a friend I would be concerned for inability to find joy in anything. Her mantra seems to be.

” Start your day, the gloomy way”

So in the spirit of upstairs Alexa, rain-soaked images from the yard are the illustrations for today.

Welcome to Monday , it is going to be average.