The absence of rainfall over the past few days is having serious consequences for people who have come to rely on the frequency of rain as their primary or only talking point.
Men's hairdressers are said to be severely affected with some barbers having to concentrate on cutting hair instead of discussing with customers the undesirable effects of prolonged rainfall for people who live on flood plains.
Although some people have resorted to the ingenious alternative of talking about the absence of rain and how people who live on flood plains are breathing a sigh of relief, many remain hopelessly tongue-tied.
'You just don't know what to talk about,' said Elsie Williams (56), 'but thank goodness we're on the right side of winter;and have you noticed that it's getting lighter in the evenings now?'