It's WET!

Okay, so it's not flooding, it's just raining, but it's wet wet wet. I don't like it. I don't like driving in it, I don't like walking in it, I don't like it. Fair enough, this is England, and, as of yesterday, I've been living here five years (has it REALLY been that long? It doesn't feel like it, so that must mean I've enjoyed it), but I still can't get used to the weather. Still, it's not quite so bad as I'd been led to believe. Prior to moving here, we were told (by someone who knew) that the sky began about shoulder height, and (in winter especially) it was grey, cold, wet and miserable. Of course, the winter we had five years ago was crisp and clear and gorgeous - cold certainly, it even snowed that February, but it certainly wasn't so bad as that person had let on. Neither have the winters since then...but this year, I might concede it's close to the truth. It's not cold though! We've taken great delight in showing our Australian visitors that England can put on a hot summer - this one just gone, particularly between May and July, turned it on quite nicely, and coincided with a month-long visit from family. We also enjoy saying (to the same visitors) "Shh! Don't tell, or they'll all be over here!" They readily agree that it's a secret best kept.

You know what?  Much as all this rain reminds me of a Sydney winter, and much as it's quite warm with it still, it's December - I live in England, so it's not right - I want a winter like the one we had last year, and with any luck, it might turn out that way.