The life cycle of the Wellington Umbrella

You'll have to imagine David Attenborough narrating this...

Umbrellas, although they are common in many urban areas throughout the world, are a relatively rare species in the Wellington region.

They are usually seen in their dormant state in department stores and hall closets, but once the rainy season begins they embark on their mating journeys, parasitically latching on to commuters for transport to places where other umbrellas may be found.

If weather conditions are right, their last act is to use a gust of wind to turn inside out, releasing spores - much like a fungus, and then they crawl into the nearest rubbish bin to die.

I sometimes wonder why anyone in this part of the country bothers with an umbrella, as our rain is almost always accompanied by strong winds that mean the raindrops are coming in almost horizontally, and your umbrella doesn't stand a chance.

Today isn't an exception - with a Severe Weather Warning for gales gusting to 110kph, and a cold snap that has already had a friend of mine in Nelson complaining about snow!

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4898787/Gales-forecast-so-leave-your-brollies-at-home

EDIT: Some people obviously didn't head the warnings... - http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4903008/Winter-arrives-with-a-hiss-and-a-roar>