Weather

[LadyA]

Pouring with rain this morning, but 15C at daybreak. I see from the forecast we could get a warm plume of 23C next week

Yesterday and last night were filthy days here - very strong wind and heavy rain. Today, although still windy, is a gorgeous day. Bright sunshine, not a cloud in the sky, and around 15C.

 

[bigyetiman]

Foggy start to the day, then as it lifted, we had what can only be described as a fog bow, it was totally devoid of any colour, and it was there for about an hour. Most strange.

I am on another day of no buses being able to go anywhere due to the protester glued to the cables of the Dartford crossing. So, I have time to notice things, while the traffic is gridlocked

 

[Icemaiden]

I don't understand why they stopped the traffic, having seen the picture on HIGNFY this evening. Traffic could have carried on beneath them?

 

[LadyA]

Seems like there's one storm after another, at the moment. Today's been so vile, I only stuck my nose outside to get firewood. Howling storm, all day - I hate the wind. It sets me right on edge.
I was supposed to meet a friend for coffee today, but we decided we'd be mad to go out driving around the countryside when we don't have to. So I stayed home mooching around the house.

 

[Hen-Gen]

Yesterday I had a neighbour for mid-morning coffee and another one in the afternoon for Scrabble. After all that I needed a lie down with a wet towel on my forehead. Fortunately JasonX on Amazon Prime perked me up!

 

[bigyetiman]

Absolutely bucketed down all night and this morning, on the plus side the lake is full now

 

[LadyA]

Today I got soaked to the bones just dashing from shop to carpark! There was a sudden apocalyptic downpour, and within seconds, the drains at the end of the carpark flooded - right where you had no choice but to go through it, to get to the carpark! Thank heavens for good old Lidl - I was wearing a pair of their waterproof walking shoes! But the rest of me was wet through. Never mind.
The wind is in a funny direction tonight, and my nice new stove is just glowing rather than showing any flames, no matter what I do with the draughters. Still, it's producing enough heat, because although the temperature has dropped to 6 or 7°C, it still feels very warm in the house. That wind direction thing again.

The forecast for the next week or so makes for depressing viewing - windy and rain, interspersed with showers!

 

[Marigold]

Yesterday I had a neighbour for mid-morning coffee and another one in the afternoon for Scrabble. After all that I needed a lie down with a wet towel on my forehead. Fortunately JasonX on Amazon Prime perked me up!

What a rich social life you lead, up there in the wilds of Shetland.

 

[Hen-Gen]

Ah well, we’re easily pleased. I’ve not even been to Lerwick for months. The crowds, the hustle and bustle. And as for visiting my brother in London - you’ve gotta be joking! And even if there is a direct flight from Shetland to London City Airport, no thanks.

 

[Marigold]

Daughter and S.I.L. are currently in Thailand. They visited the Maeklong market. The train goes slap bang through the middle and the stall holders move their stalls off the track at the last minute then set up again once it’s through.They caught the train and rode it through the stalls, then went round the market. Unbelievable how they fit it through! As soon as a train has passed, the stall holders rush out and lay their goods on the track, and the sightseers flock back. Even worse than Lerwick!
My inner reaction was ‘why in earth would anyone want to spend a day’s holiday in those conditions?” but I kept quiet.
This leads me to wonder why, nowadays, people who go on holiday to far-flung places assume that those left at home will not only be riveted with interest for all their photos, but will be expected to congratulate them on their daring and initiative by getting on a flight and being taken there, - unlike genuine explorers travelling to unknown regions, using low-carbon transport such as canoes or dog sledges. We know a couple who are addicted to cruises, whose peak of ambition was reached by going on a cruise to Antarctica. Lots of pics of icebergs, with no acknowledgement of the environmental damage the huge cruise ship was causing them.

 

[Icemaiden]

I confess to loving cruises myself. Our greatest cruise achievements have been Huddersfield, Lancaster, Ripon & Edinburgh but then the boat that we own 1/12th of is only 58' long...

 

[Marigold]

I confess to loving cruises myself. Our greatest cruise achievements have been Huddersfield, Lancaster, Ripon & Edinburgh but then the boat that we own 1/12th of is only 58' long...

Yes, we’ve done that. It definitely counts as proper exploring - would even be properly low carbon if you had a horse instead of an engine!

 

[bigyetiman]

Because we like travelling on traditional sailing ships, several people keep telling us we would just love a cruise. You get to dress up every night, a different show every night, spas, beauty parlour, gym etc. You don't even need to go ashore " we never do"

Our idea of dressing up on a cruise is a big waterproof coat if it is raining or lots of spray and a wooly hat.

We had friends who regaled us in great detail of a trip from A-B on an Indian train that took seven hours. With passengers with goats, chickens etc, one toilet between all the carriages, and unbearable heat.

 

[bigyetiman]

Absolutely bucketed down all night and this morning, on the plus side the lake is full now

Torrential rain yesterday morning for several hours and the lake went from being full to expanding it's horizons somewhat

 

[LadyA]

Remember back in the olden days - July and August - when there was a crippling drought?!
?

 

[Icemaiden]

My girls have been wondering when Rick's chicken wellies might arrive...

 

[bigyetiman]

Mine as well.

 

[Icemaiden]

It's barely stopped raining here for two weeks now. The girls are blessed- their run was built around the greenhouse, so they've still got a dry area to spend the day in. Nonetheless I'm half expecting them to start developing webbed feet...

Has anyone got any good plans for an ark? We've got a pair of tawny owls, plenty of rabbits (that'll feed the carnivores for 40 days & nights), lots of squirrels... We just need a good carpenter with large boat building experience & possibly a zoo keeper or two???

 

[LadyA]

Absolutely beautiful morning here, after days of horrible wind, rain, thunder.
During a break in the weather on Wednesday, I went out and cleaned my windows, which were crusted in salt and dirt from wind & rain. Yesterday, it was very stormy all day, but today is mild, bright & sunny.

Edited to say! The only reason I cleaned the windows was so that when the sun shines, I want to capture every last ray through the windows, to make the most of the warmth! Currently 20C in the living room, just from the sun shining through the window!

 

[Hen-Gen]

Rain moderate for here. But a week of unceasing wind is novel. Buckets flying about, leaning into the wind. Remembering to open car doors so that the wind doesn’t rip them off their hinges. However nothing stops for the Saturday night bar or the Thursday mid morning communal coffee. But four days when all ferries stopped challenged some. Panic buying is beyond my understanding. Everyone has freezers stocked to the gunwales with mutton and mackerel. (And in my case duck. Can’t live with out Pekin Crispy Duck).
As an aside being found three weeks ago face down in the grass having an epi seizure has done wonders for the help I’m being offered. Could turn me into a right lazy b…..d. No doubt it was the talk of the island for at least 5 minutes.