Dear LPG,

I have always been a typical Brit regarding my attitude toward the weather. Most of the people I know consider me a fair-weather friend because I avoid rain as much as possible now that I don’t have to go out in wet weather.  

I have never been a fan of rainy days, but it was different when I worked for a living.  Over the years, I have accumulated an extensive collection of umbrellas and raincoats. I have more coats in my wardrobe than any other item of clothing, and even on those days when the weather forecast predicts sun, there is nearly always one draped over my arm or scrunched up in a bag if I have to go out.  

I was one of those who opted to keep working after my official retirement day. Still, the pandemic’s lockdown resulted in my working life coming to a forced end, and the many long days at home have given me even more of an excuse to change my mind about many an outing if I can see droplets of the stuff on my windows.  

I do not like thunder and lightning, but the sounds and flashes are not the problem. I am affected when it comes to the sound of raindrops making contact with the ground, especially a windowpane.   It is the thought of getting wet that does it.  I am not afraid of showers, although I prefer a bath these days, and I have never been able to put my finger on the reason for this fear of precipitation.  My fear has nothing to do with whether the weather accompanying the downfall is bleak, cold, and wintery or warm and falling while the sun is shining.  

I know water is essential for plants and cheaper if nature provides it, especially now that water rates are rising. I don’t have a problem with taking a dip in the sea and don’t believe that I will melt on a rainy day, but on the occasions that I have been out and gotten caught in a shower, I do find myself rushing to get away from the water the sky has to offer.  

While I am telling the whole internet world about this anonymously, I would be reluctant to share it with my friends because I think they would find it senseless.   I really can’t see any sense in it myself, and I have spent quite a long lifetime trying my best to disguise such ridiculous behaviour until I took a look online recently and found that there is a word for my phobia, which means that I am not the only person who suffers from it.  Did you know that if you have an aversion to being in contact with rain, you have Ombrophobia? 

The most important thing this internet revelation has taught me is that I am not the only person affected by this. So, in case anyone dislikes going out in the rain, I wanted to share what I have found.

XX, Lewisham

XX chooses to remain even more anonymous than most of our other contributors, but shares the information learned while searching for this phobia.   

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