From Broughshane to Ballykeel, an all-pervading gloom hangs heavy in the atmosphere. In other words, the weather would get you down.

Now, there's only one reason that this fair isle is famous for its forty shades of green – basically, it chucks it down in vast quantities.

But over the past 40 days, we've had – so I am reliably informed – five 'reasonably' good days. And that just means that the sun came out for a while before disappearing into the murk.

Last Saturday, Ballymena was hit with a rainstorm which would have had Noah reaching for his hammer and nails. Thankfully, I was relaxing in the food court of the Fair Hill centre at the time.

Which was an ideal viewing point to observe fellow citizens running like blazes through the deluge. Frankly, I was dry .. they were soaked. It perked me up no end.

I predict August will be a scorcher. I have no scientific reason for making this statement but you've gotta live in hope.