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Wednesday 11 June 2008

Weather..............

This weeks Weekend Wandering question from David (Authorblog) is



When did you last complain about the weather?



If you would like to join in here's what David would like you to do:


Please answer today's question on your own blog, any time until next weekend. Just link to this blog (or to this post) so I can follow the progress of the discussion.



This question just made me laugh out loud!


It is not an urban myth that the favourite topic of conversation by English people is the weather. Any greeting of “Hello”, “Good Morning”, “Hi” will be followed by some comment on the weather – either too hot, too cold, too windy, too much rain, too extreme. We are never truly happy here unless we are complaining about the weather.


Recently we have not had two days the same weatherwise – one day sunny and warm, the next dull and raining so it’s not surprising we complain is it?


I remember the summer of 1976 (the year our youngest son was born), it was a long hot summer. The Summer of 1976 was one of the best summers ever in the UK. London had a record June temperature of 95°F (we thought in Fahrenheit then!). We had a heatwave that lasted from May to September, there was even a hosepipe ban, mind you if we get more than two days without rain here the Government always seem to say there’s a water shortage. I have never been able to understand how an Island can be short of water, go to one of the Greek Islands and there are never any restrictions on how much water you can use and the weather there is hot, hot, hot for at least six months of the year! Anyway back to Britain in 1976, I can remember the ground cracking and the tar on the road melting. In some areas people had their water supply turned off for most of the day to conserve water. Hosepipe bans were across the country and even firemen in the New Forest were told not to put out forest fires. The peak of the drought coincided with the holiday season and much of the south west of Britain could not cope with the increased demand for water.


A Drought Act was passed and half a million people in Wales suffered cuts to water supplies. Standpipes were in use in Devon. Throughout Britain people became adept in saving water, including British Rail who stopped washing their trains.Of course people complained bitterly and were happy when the rain finally arrived but it turned out to be the wettest September for 250 years – something else for us to complain about!

Anyway, in answer to the question – probably yesterday!

35 comments:

Dumdad said...

Akela,

My new bloglist is a new blogger feature that they've just launched. It's quite cool and saves me time.

Neoma said...

Not so different here, can't have a conversation without someone asking, Well is it hot enough for you? We have had triple digit weather right now, very hot for this time of year.

Casdok said...

I remember that!
We do complain a lot dont we!

Lo Kelween said...

ehm..water shortage is really unbearable...the climate change is really extreme...in where i live in, morning it's so hot but it's so cold at night. it might turn into a desert soon!

Maggie May said...

It's a great British tradition to moan about the weather, isn't it?

buffalodick said...

In Michigan (the mitten shaped state in America!) we are surrounded by more fresh water than most people, including us, can comprehend... The weather comes from the West 358 days of the year, and a whole day of any one weather pattern is rare! Weather reports are generally taken with a grain of salt... Past week-end included flash floods where 6 people died...

Odat said...

I never complain about the weather!!! ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Peace

G-Man said...

Ake...
As I am from Michigan as well as Buff...All I can say is, in the Summer it is close to Paradise...But the Winters are a long time leaving...Grrrr and Brrr
Galen..xo

CG said...

I remember during that heatwave sitting on the cold kitchen tiles to keep cool...

Julia Phillips Smith said...

Over here in Nova Scotia, we carry on that proud tradition, as our weather is pretty much the same as yours. Wait five minutes and you'll get something else...

Anndi said...

LOL... odd how my post this morning was about the weird weather we had yesterday.

Unknown said...

I can answer that question! I last complained about the weather about 30 seconds ago!

Akelamalu said...

I'll have to check that out Dumdad it is cool - a bit like the weather! lol

It's not just us Brits then Nea? LOL

We do Casdok but with good reason I think ;)

The climate change is worrying Elween I agree.

It certainly is Maggie!


Crikey I don't suppose we have much to complain about compared to you then Buff!


Really Odat? ;)


Our summer and winter seem to be rolling into one g-man :(


Oh yes CG that was the summer that was!


You know exactly what I mean then Julia :)


See Anndi we talk about the weather all the time! ;)

He he he, you too eh Nick?

Anonymous said...

I ararely complain about weather in spring, summer, or fall (aside from an occassional "Whew! It's hot!") But in the winter I frequently gripe about the cold.

Anonymous said...

I live in TX & it's the summer time, so I complain just about everytime I walk outside!

Take care Akela!

Jo Beaufoix said...

Hee hee, this one made me laugh too. My mum often talks about that summer. I was 1 year old and toddling around in the hot sun. Maybe that's why I'm so freckly. :D

Smalltown RN said...

This is all so true....we complain about the weather here all the time...and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it...do you think we do it because the weather can't talk back? Great topic.....by the way...how is the weather over there?

Jennifer S said...

I've been complaining about the heat here since about April. :-)

Unpredictability breeds contempt, maybe.

Linda said...

Must be the British in me that harps about the weather! Something I inherited from my mom's mum!

Ron said...

I must confess....

Just yesterday I complained ROYALLY when our temperature reached 103 degrees!

And you KNOW how I HATE being hot!

Signed,
Mr. Penguin

Marianne said...

OMG it's so true, it is a national pastime to complain about the weather!! Something I've got down to a fine art I have to confess. x M

Flowerpot said...

I remember 1976 - I was doing As at Exeter Tech and trying to concentrate, lying on teh grass inth epark doing nothing but chatting!

Anonymous said...

Hi.

I'm here visiting today because I've received complaints about the bloggers over 50 blog roll having members on the list not having the blog roll or the link to the blog roll's home page on their blog.

If, when a week's time is over, I'll stop by and re-check to see if you've updated your sidebar on your blog, including a link or the blogroll itself.

If it's not visible, I will assume you no longer want to be part of the over 50 bloggers membership and take your blog link off the list.

Sorry, but in all fairness, the instructions do say you must have this included on your blog somewhere for others who are using the list to visit. It should be accessible somehow.

Akelamalu said...

I don't complain when it's hot either Citizen only when it's cold.

You don't like the heat then Josh?

Crikey Jo you must be just a year older than my youngest!

LOL we had two gorgeous sunny days Mon & Tues RN but it's gone downhill since then! :(

Yes you're probably right Jennifer :)

Ah now I know when we get on Linda you're part Brit! :)

Oh Ron it must be hell for you!

I think everyone complains about the weather, wherever they live Marianne :)

You are quite right wystful1 it is missing but I'm not sure how I deleted it. However please take me off the blogroll as I haven't time to put it back up.

Jeff B said...

Sooooo true about our constant complaining. The weather is always too _____. Whatever it isn't, that what we think we want.

Gledwood said...

1976 is the first year I can remember clearly enough to recall scorched and blackened (forest fire) heathland and the ashen trees still radiating heat and smelling like a giant bbq... also taking a long long coach journey down from Sheffield to London bc my Dad was changing his job. I got bathed in cold water with flanels and ice packs it must have been nearly 95 that day... that was also the last day I remember my mother EVER taking a coach (how hot and horrible and stuffy and everybody chainsmoking which made me ill as a kid, though I did love watching fags light up in darkened rooms; I found this so exciting (our house was so flatly nonsmoking I only got this treat with the grandparents...

Gledwood said...

o yeah and about the water do you know despite (probably BECAUSE of privatization) we STILL have NO national grid for water. in this day and age!!

London water are promising "to replace 1000 miles of leaky Victorian pipes by 2010"...

(yeah: we'll see!!!)

Akelamalu said...

You are so right Jeff the weather is always too something! :)

Best not hold your breath about the pipes being replaced Gleds - you could die!

Suburbia said...

Oh yes I remember the heady days of 1976! Heavenly!

bindhiya said...

Great post Akelamalu!
My home town have great climate year along...we don't need winter/summer clothes... a place with more than 135 days of rain a year...
but this place am living is tooo hot all the time.. :))
have a beautiful day.
((hugs))
bindi

Marjolein said...

The weather's always such a grateful subject - if you don't know what to talk about with someone, you just talk about the weather!

It's been raining here all day.. and I had to walk to work and back - 40 minutes through the pouring rain...

Queenie said...

Killing the night, popped by, your doing good babe....

david mcmahon said...

You always put a smile on my face!

Remind me to tell you about my ``Wimbledon weather'' story!!

Sandi McBride said...

Oh yes, the weather...I can't get any blogging done for watering the gardens, I've just spent the last four hours or more in the yard doing just that!!! Oh for a bit of rain! I must say I did at least get a giggle reading your post and love your music always!
Sandi

Akelamalu said...

Weren't they just Suburbia!

It must vbe so different for you Bindi :(


Yes if in doubt talk about the weather Marjolein :)


Miss you blogging Queenie, I guess you couldn't sleep eh?


Oh yes you must tell that story David!


We've had rain today - see what I mean about no two days the same Sandi? I'm so pleased you like the music. I think Duffy is fabulous but it's nice to hear someone else appreciates her.