According to the weather forecast I should be outside basking in glorious sunshine. But this is England and it's rare that the weather does what it's expected to do. It's not a cold day , probably around 19C which is sub-tropical over here. So at least it's warm enough to sit outside and get some fresh air. But there is no sign of the sun cutting through the thick clouds, and it's supposed to be 24C today which is tropical as far as us Brits are concerned.
So, "why are you writing the weather?" you may ask. Because it's a well known social convention in the UK that if you have nothing to talk about, talk about the weather. This simple convention allows us Brits to navigate those situations where we know we should say something but don't have anything to say. Friendships have been started, romances have blossomed, and I'm sure the odd war or two have been stopped, just by following this simple rule. Well, maybe it hasn't stopped any wars, although I wouldn't be surprised if it has stopped some. But it does protect us Brits from the sense of awkwardness that comes from not knowing what to say.
In case you haven't realised it yet, the reason I'm writing about the weather is that I wanted to write a post but I couldn't think of anything to write about. So I made a cup of tea. Tea, as all Brits know, is the cure for all maladies including writers block, and after the first sip of this miracle working beverage, the word 'weather' popped into my head. So feeling refreshed and uplifted by my tea I began to write.
As I said, the thing about British weather is it has a tendency to change. So although it's not doing what it's supposed to be doing at the moment, give it ten minutes or so and the clouds could clear, the sun come out and I will be rushing to slap on some sunscreen and get my sun lounger out, all the while hoping the sun will stay out long enough for me to catch some rays. That's the thing about living in a climate like ours, we have to make the most of every bit of sun we can get. We even take this attitude abroad. While the locals are inside trying to avoid the sun, we are out in it hoping to get fried to a cinder. As the old song goes, mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the mid-day sun!
So there you go, my little ramble for the day. Wait! Was that a drop of rain I just felt?
PS, Here are some flowers I've got in my garden. I'm not sure why I'm posting a picture of flowers,. Maybe just to fill up some space.
All pictures were taken by me on my Lenovo tablet.The first picture is of me. Yes I really do look like that!
