The morning after

The rain did not stop. All night it continued. This morning the news reported 300mm fell on Hanoi on Friday - the highest rainfall for 24 years. In some streets the water was 2 metres high. Broken down vehicles litter the city and several people drowned.

Friends who set off on a 120 mile journey at 7am this morning have still not arrived eight hours later. The planters outside on my balcony are minature lakes and a ragged collection of small birds are sitting desolate on my washing line. Another friend who set of for work, normally a 20 minute journey returned two hours later unable to reach his destination.

Now at 4pm in the afternoon it has paused and the sun has come out. The sounds of motorbikes can be heard again - all I heard so far today is the roar of torrential rain. The birds are singing and the weather men are saying the rain will be back and last another two days.

Over 60,000 hectares of farmland in the region has been devastated and some people are talking of food shortages.... which will start panic buying which will lead to food shortages. The sun is actually very hot, we will soon need the airconditioning on again.