British Stereotypes vs Facts

[enigel]

Episode 1: Let's Talk about the Weather, Baby

Stereotype: the British talk about the weather as a means of making polite, non-controversial, and non-committal small-talk.

Well, that's not necessarily untrue.

The British also talk about the weather because the weather is sentient and will eat you alive if you don't give it enough deference.

Comments

[mprice]

Do I have SAD?
Talking about the weather is a form of small talk where I come from for the same reasons. As Mark Twain said of Buffalo: "If you don't like the weather, wait a minute, it'll change."

I was able to "cure" my lack of sunlight problems by replacing the icky yellow glow light bulbs with "daylight" bulbs. So much brighter, too.

As for the sudden snap from freezing to damp and dismal...can't help you there. I'm working on hiding from the stifling heat. It only May and it was in the 90s today. (33C) @_@ I hope we don't have a repeat of last years record string of days over 100F. (38C) I'd love to be able to send a little heat your way if you'd send us the rain. Fair trade, I think.

[daegaer]

It's perfect right now in Dublin - and I mean right now, just before 7AM. (It has been perfect for the lat hour to ninety minutes). By the time I actually want to do things, it will probably be too hot. Yes! It's the glorious time of year when all of Ireland and Britain stop complaining about the cold and rain and instead complain about the heat and sunshine! Where "heat" is something considerably less than almost everyone else in the world considers "warmish".

[daegaer]

And yes, this does mean I've been up since about 5AM. On the weekend. I couldn't sleep.

Because of the heat. *facepalm*

[x5_536]

oh wow, this sounds *exactly* like Melbourne! after almost nine years living here, i'm used to wearing layers (i'm wearing four as i type this because i don't have central heating and it's 11 degrees) and ALWAYS carrying an umbrella (i have 3) but i'm still bemused by how crazy it is.

p.s. my doctor makes me take vitamin d pills for the ... grey. i think they help but it could just be a placebo effect i suppose.

[clarice]

As someone who used to live in the Pacific Northwest, you have my complete sympathy. (The spring and summer there is gorgeous. All ten days of it.) As gorgeous and lush as that sort of weather makes a place, I don't think I could do it again. The relentless grey drizzle is just so relentless and grey. A sunlight lamp is worth it, as is skipping out during sun breaks.

(And of course now I live somewhere even worse weather-wise. America has this bizarre habit of building its most important cities in literal swamps.)

[toscas_kiss]

"The weather is sentient and will eat you alive if you don't give it enough deference."

LOL. That is so true.