I was travelling on the Long Island Rail Road earlier today, and overheard the following, between two women who, from the sounds of their conversation worked in the media. One of them was about to go on a business trip to England.
Woman 1: You know, the weather there in February will probably be the same as it is in August.
Woman 2: What do you mean?
Woman 1: Well, cold. I mean, I was there 20 years ago in August and I needed a sweater!
Woman 2 (confidently): Oh no, it's not at all like that now. It's hot in August.
Woman 1: Wow. You mean, like it's changed?
Woman 2: Yes, it's definitely changed - the summers are hot now. It's the weather at this time of year that will be vile - really, like, blustery.
Woman 1: That's really interesting.
It was so tempting to join in and point out that no, Britain has not undergone a climatic change of epic proportions hitherto unreported in the rest of the world. And the whole point about the British weather is that it's unpredictable.
What is more, on an unusually nasty New York winter day (freezing rain mixing with snow and slush and making for what the weather forecasters call a 'mucky commute') I thought it was a bit rich to call our February drizzle vile........
It seems I'm a bit more loyal to Blighty than I thought.
13 comments:
I don't think I would have been able to hold my tongue. I'm such a busybody like that!
Funny! I think the sheer unpredictabilty of English weather is confusing to Americans. It is true that you can get quie similar weather in feb and August!
It's changed. That's funny.
I was thinking today how our weather in Belgium just now is so nondescript. It could have been any season, really. 12 degrees and drizzling.
Oh, you could have had such fun! You could have said that this summer was going to be warmer, because of the Royal Wedding. That the Royal Astrologers had foretold it.
I get all protective about Britain too!
I've learned when I hear comments like that NOT to butt in. They always think they know better than me. And really, I haven't lived full time in the UK for 25 years, so really, they could be right . . . or not.
Today's weather here was definitely vile!
So that was Americans talking about the weather...I thought that was Brit pastime?
when i left england in august last year it was flippin cold and i had dragged out a winter coat to get me down the co op. but i love the weather in england. you never know what you're going to get from one week to the next.
I think I feel the same when I hear people tarring steotypes of all Americans with the same brush!
At the time you could have called someone on your cell phone and commented, loudly in your British accent, how the weather that day was particularly vile. And then smiled sweetly.
I think Tanya probably hit the nail on the head - I wouldn't have been able to restrain myself from making that phone call and trying to sound as much like the queen as possible (although perhaps in a slighter lower-pitched voice...)
Expat Mum - fortunately I was getting off at the next stop, otherwise I think I might have had to intervene....
GeekyMummy - it's definitely true - but that was true 20 years ago!
Mwa - occasionally we get a day like that here, and we remark on how 'English' it seems....
Iota - Ahh, they would have loved that. Anything involving the royal wedding is a sure-fire hit.
Almost American - It was the sheer confidence with which they spoke that got me!
NB -no, they talk about it quite a bit here too. It's always the topic at the schoolbus stop.
Grit - we were in Wales in August, and yes, it was bloody cold in the mornings. At least here you can safely put your winter clothes in the attic from May until October!
Tanya - ooh, yes, that would have been good. You cunning devil....
PM - next time, next time!
Too funny. At least they get it that everyone talks about the weather!
How on earth did you manage NOT to jump in? Too funny indeed! xx
Brilliant!! Don't you love it when a bout of eavesdropping really pays off.
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