If you're new to this "living in the UK" thing (like within the past 6 weeks), you may think that A) it rains every day and the sun never shines and that B) the fact that it's been the wettest spring on record is the only reason British people talk about the weather all.the.time.
Allow me to clear up a few things (and lazily recycle a post from ages ago):
A) It really doesn't rain all the time - see this old, but popular, post for "proof"
B) Unfortunately, the unusual weather pattern and persistant rain or even the previous drought conditions aren't the reason British people insist on talking about the weather at any opportunity. This happens all the time, no matter the weather. My suggestion - learn some meteorology phrases then learn to exhale deeply and say "it's so lovely out there" when the sun shines and roll with the punches.
Oh, and if you are feeling a bit of springtime SAD, the Telegraph has put together a slideshow thingie that basically tells that if you want sunnier days, move to the South. Duh.
We were so spoiled from last year's beautiful Spring. The rain really has been something this year! Fingers crossed for some sunshine today ;)
ReplyDeleteI STILL use weather as an inane conversation piece. My boss' boss comes to the office...what do I start talking about?? The weather. Even when I'm talking about it I'm thinking how ridiculous the conversation is.
ReplyDeleteAs you rightly observe, it does not rain ALL the time in England, what I find deeply depressing about our weather is not the rain but the amount of grey days we have where you don't see a drop of rain. I can remember a lot of periods where most of the week(s) are dry but virtually no breaks in the cloud to let the "currant bun" through.
ReplyDeleteThere are two reasons for constant talk about the weather. One is the effect of two simultaneous and contradictory axioms of British etiquette:
ReplyDeleteOn the one hand, talking to other people about most things is out of the question because it's too personal (covers everything from sex to religion); on the other, sitting in silence with them would be very odd. Hence, the need for a safe topic on which there is no hope of disagreement.
On the other hand, this is an island. The weather can change from snow to clear blue skies and bright sunshine in about a couple of hours. And on occasion, it does.