Sunday, June 9

The deputy mayor will officially open the long-awaited jetty at midday so of course a week of fine weather ends this morning. We wake to drizzle and watch as it turns into a full downpour.

It eases off a little and I decide to walk down to see what will actually happen. I get there to join a queue, all wrapped in raincoats and carrying umbrellas, for a free hotdog and coffee, while the deputy mayor speaks at length about the virtues of a planning system that allows local people to vote for local improvements.

Hotdog eaten, I walk down the jetty to find that the speech has ended and the music has begun. The rain continues.