This English Summer
As we sit trying to predict the next steps in the complicated and illogical rules on international travel from the UK, this non-starter of an English summer just makes our frustration grow and our sense of isolation increase.
First we had the coldest April since 1922 in terms of average minimum temperatures, in fact the third coldest April since records began almost 140 years ago. After a cold dry April we were hit with wet May, during which many areas of the UK experienced considerably more than double the normal May rainfall, and the South East, where we live, was again well below average in terms of daily temperatures.
And now it’s “flaming June”. On Midsummer’s Day, 21st, not only did we keep our house lights on all day due to the heavy cloud cover making it so dark, but even had to resort to switching on the central heating for a few hours. We don’t ever remember doing that in June before. At this rate we’ll be lighting log fires soon!
Outside, our garden is a sorry sight with battered plants and broken blooms everywhere. Where a week ago we had a glorious rose display, we now have something resembling a churchyard covered in confetti.
Whatever happened to that global warming thing??!
Inability to travel is bad enough: being stuck in this worst of English summers just adds insult to injury. And as we said in our last post, stories of travellers defying the “amber advice” and heading to those countries ready to welcome us are starting to surface. Somewhere out there there’s blue skies and hot sunshine, exciting food, ancient sights…..we may just be joining those taking the plunge….
16 Comments
Monkey's Tale
Oh no! It’s like a nightmare on top of a nightmare!
Heyjude
Well it is quite lovely in Cornwall. Some heavy rain early Monday morning which moved away leaving a dull and cloudy afternoon, but today is fresh and bright. Those Mediterranean temperatures are far too hot for me.
Phil & Michaela
Yes, my sister was in Cornwall over the weekend, enjoying sunshine while we were watching the pouring rain!
Andrew Petcher
Look at those sunspots on the map of Europe.
Phil & Michaela
Yep!!
wetanddustyroads
Noooo 😳! Oh, how I wish you can go to those sunny spots soon! I’m really glad our winter is only 2-3 months … I’m a (South African) summer baby!
Annie Berger
Hope you will soon follow the sun and leave the gloom behind you! Keep us all posted.
leightontravels
Hmm, I guess you will be weighing up your options sooner rather than later. 30-35 degrees here in Belgrade daily. It’s ferocious at times.
Phil & Michaela
Well… over these last five days our highest temperature here in Kent has been 14….
leightontravels
Ouch.
Gilda Baxter
The famously unpredictable British weather is what makes us consider other shores. We had a lovely motorhome trip to Cornwall in May, but the weather was miserable for a lot of the time.
Toonsarah
The weather HAS been rubbish, hasn’t it (apart from a few days last week)! And such a contrast to last year when at least we were helped through the early months of Covid with some glorious weather! There are rumours the quarantine restrictions may be eased soon – I do hope so!!
Phil & Michaela
Yes, let’s hope so. Not liking Merkel’s stance though..
Toonsarah
Me either – I’m just hoping that if they follow her suggestion they at least exempt double vaccinated travellers if we do the same. There seems to be a lot of ‘tit for tat’ stuff going on.
Lookoom
I completely relate to your feeling, the word “cancellation” comes up far too often in my vocabulary…
Christie
The weather is getting unpredictable more often than we would like to.
Stay safe!! xx