Bernard O'Shea: I washed my hair with rainwater — and discovered unexpected perks

In a parched Irish summer, I faced the icy shock... was it worth it?

Bernard O'Shea. Photograph Moya Nolan

Let's face it, living in Ireland, one does not usually get much sun, making the recent weeks of blazing sunshine a surreal spectacle. Our everyday routine turned upside down as raincoats and umbrellas were swapped for summer hats, debatable Hawaiian shirts and sunglasses.

The sudden switch from our typical damp environment to an unusually dry one was not just a pleasant change. Still, it also presented a myriad of new possibilities. There was "great drying out," as we remember. Clothes fluttered on the lines, swiftly drying in the welcome warmth and light, a chore that usually involves battling with our trusted tumble dryer. In our house, our ESB bill has probably dropped by half.