This year has been a fabulous summer by British standards with lots of sunshine. Weather is a major topic in U.K.
A major source of delight and amusement in the U.K. is reading and/or listening to the British weather reports. They do not make simple declarative statements like sun or rain or cloudy; oh no, it is an essay or speech in which every contingency is covered. There are more disclaimers in a British weather report than in a lawyer’s brief.
A British weather report is like a politician’s promise: something for everybody. Following every newscast, much as we do in America, the weather follows. No Doppler radar and impressive graphs are shown, as our “meteorologists” proudly display on our screens; the national weatherman simply delivers the equivalent of a short oration, covering every possibility, except possibly a typhoon. They cover every nook and cranny of the British Isles from Ulster (Northern Ireland) through Scotland, Wales and England. By the time the report finishes, you have forgotten the brief section covering where you live. On regional TV covering, for example, our section of Southeast England the reports although confined to that smaller area, are almost as detailed and almost as confusing.
“Variable” is the operative word for British weather---and especially the weather reports.
Interesting. I know our weather out here in West Texas is well formatted but occasionally we do hear statements thrown out during a weather cast to the effect that if we don't like the weather , hang around, it'll change tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteHope you're enjoying you vacation.