According to the English, one of the world’s stereotypes of the English is that they always talk about the weather. Now I grew up with an English dad, and I live in the world, and I had NEVER heard about this until I moved here. I knew quite a bit about some other stereotypes which the English - based on this weather one - would probably be MIGHTY disappointed to hear, but I definitely had not heard this one. But just in case all of you other world-dwellers (well, the three of you who read this anyway) have indeed heard about this and are dead-set on maintaining your views about the English population and their weather-talking ways, I am here to help assuage your stubbornness.

So, do the English talk about the weather more than one would think normal? Yes, they do. I can’t help but think, though, that Americans talk about the weather quite a bit, as well. I can think of dozens of instances when, upon meeting a colleague on the elevator, conversation began with, “Gosh it’s chilly out there, isn’t it?,” or “Phew! What a scorcher this one is!,” or “Will this rain EVER stop?,” or even the exclamatory, “Can you beLIEVE this weather?” That said, however, I do find that the English discuss the weather even more frequently than my American colleagues.

BUT, now that I live here, I found out why.

The weather here is just crazy. It’s nuts. Last week it was 90 and I went out to buy appropriate clothing for a hot, stuffy office. This week I’m freezing my tuchus off in trousers and a lightweight jumper. If I truly aimed to dress appropriately for the weather at all times, I would have to pull a suitcase along with me - umbrella, raincoat and boots, lightweight jumper (that’s sweater), heavyweight jumper, shorts, trousers (see, I’ve learned the pants lesson), socks, sneakers, sandals - the works. And then by the time I put my boots and raincoat on, it would be hot and I’d have to strip down to my bikini again (because that’s totally what I wear when it’s hot outside). Now, from what I gather, the winter is raWther more predictable - cold, rainy, cold, rainy, cold & rainy, rainy & cold. . . . I’m thinking, though, that wallowing in our collective misery will be enough to encourage conversation about the winter weather, too. We shall see.

News: The bugs are GOOOOOONNNNNNNEEEEEEE!!! Albeit, I’m afraid to step on the rug with bare feet thanks to the thick coating of pesticide seeping through it. It has been about a week, and I feel like maybe a month is enough time. One day I might even lay on it. TBD.