When we decided to move to Wales we knew it was not going to be the Costa Brava - but we really did not expect the relentlessly dull days they have there.
Morning all. Brightening up here after a dull start. Just about adjusted to be being back in rural England with the help of a very good pub lunch yesterday. Kitchen has been decorated while we're away so the tedious job of returning crockery, glasses, utensils etc to their rightful places will begin soon. If Mrs H decides it's quicker to do it alone I may escape to watch Eastleigh v Kidderminster!
Amazing the number of people that whinge on about our weather but still choose to live here - and I'm not just pointing the finger at you, super. There must be something about the country that counterbalances the relentless wish for wall to wall sunshine. If folks need that then move to Saudi Arabia. Personally I put up with the occasional dull day (and it's only that despite the impressions t the contrary) to experience the uplifting that comes the UK's countryside in the sunshine - the best in the world without a doubt at all times of the year.
Everyone knows the weather in the uk is bad for most of the year .the reason they live there and love it because its home.
When we went to Wales we expected it to be similar to England but Carmarthenshire really is very much wetter - in fact I suppose so is the west side of England and Scotland thanks to the atlantic weather coming in. We would not have wanted to live in somewhere too hot - but mid to southern France would have been good. Southern England is great though - the south coast seems more sunny and slightly warmer than average - today for example has been mostly sunny
I have just returned from a stress free shopping trip to Limoges. Very busy, but we did have some lunch while we were there. The restaurant was heaving with people from goodness knows where, although the ladies basketball team from Chartres was in evidence by their sheer height and the fact that their track suits stated who they were. A couple from China with a small lad sat at the next table on one side and a French family with children on the other side. We all spoke to each other although we were complete strangers, and I do notice that when we return to England and try doing the same thing and you can get ignored or scowled at. 20°C in the shade and warmer in the sunshine, not bad for the second half of December.
I love the fact that nobody posting on this thread from France can make a post without mentioning food or wine Reminds me - must go and buy a lottery ticket!
I choose to live in the UK at the moment because my family including very elderly relatives, business and my beloved football club. It was certainly wonderful living in the New Forest but for quality of life, SW France was unbeatable. Mild winters and dependable summer days, although our first winter in about 1999 was -12 degrees, with several burst pipes. We must be unlucky in Berkhamsted as most days are dull in winter. The UK is good for sensible stable government, business friendly, fair tax rates and absence of language problems. I can envisage buying a holiday home soon in the South of France or the Javea region in Spain. Like most people I would never consider buying in the Middle East. Probably best to wait to see how the referendum pans out!! OFH is correct, the better weather does create more opportunities for positive contact due to the increased activities.
Depends what you mean by "bad" Brian, I dispute your statement that "everyone knows" this. I like the weather here! Where I live (in the middle of England) it allows me to grow a wide range of plants from throughout the world in my garden. Because of the dull" days and wet weather (nothing like as wet as some would allege) my garden looks as green and lush in December as in July. I personally would find constant hot, sunny days throughout the year as pretty boring. I appreciate the ones we do get in the summer here far more because of the variable weather - the good old "we don't have a climate in the UK, just 365 days of weather ".
Like "everybody knows" that British food is "bad". Of course I have eaten bad food all my life. All French food is wonderful. All Indian food is great, because British food is so bland......etc. etc. I wear a bowler hat to work, most of the time I talk like David Niven and when I don't I have a Michael Caine "British" accent. I also drive on the wrong side of the road and have bad teeth.
My current wife loved the idea of coming to live with me in the UK (as far as the weather was) and after 1 year she hated it , You can have 4 seasons in the same day , snow in june dull days for weeks . im very lucky as far as weather is rare its to hot or cold . We get more rain that the UK but it comes hard for a short time. Im 2 hours from the coast and the mountains . very very few people would move to the UK for the weather
Well, bully for you brian, it sounds idyllic, apart from the fact that you must be surrounded by Americans. Shame for your "current" wife that she set so much store by the weather. Did she not possess a coat or mac? I'm 2 hours from about half a dozen different landscapes, including mountains (OK hills), coastline (the best in the world), the Chilterns, the Cotswolds, the Pennines, the Welsh Marches, the Fens etc. etc. No other country offers anything like that contrast in such a small area. Plus I have shops and supermarkets within walking distance that sell food, cuisine from around the world - I couldn't even get risotto rice in one of the largest French hypermarkets recently. Incidentally I suspect that very few people move to a different country solely for the weather anyway. Plenty of people want to move to the UK, despite the "awful" weather though.
