Bumpkin

I'm still waiting for the Indian summer we were supposed to get about a month ago

sceptical about that one, 2007 was a wash out and the winter was certainly poor here.

I think that comes with age and experience. When you don't see any proper snow for 12 years, you learn not to expect it and if it comes then that is a bonus.

A couple of sayings I found. Sharks go out to sea at the approach of a wave of cold weather. Ice in November to bear a duck, The rest of the winter'll be slush and muck. When there are lots of berries on the dogberry tree, it means its going to be a bad winter! And this one reminded me of this year! Dirty days hath September April June and November From January up to May The rain it raineth every day All the rest have thirty-one Without a blessed gleam of sun And if any of them had two-and-thirty They'd be just as wet and twice as dirty.

Well from all these sayings and theories it looks like a mixed winter! Personally I've never seen a correlation between berry amounts and winter weather, lack of berries this year is more to do will the poor spring and summer (lack of sunlight and the insects not about for pollination). I have noticed large numbers of fieldfares and redwings around the farm, although we have had good numbers of fieldfares for the last few winters, cold or mild. Being a country girl I do look at nature and what happens in the winter but I haven't been able to spot any strong links unfortunately.

Thank you Stewart for that presentation. It makes it easier for novices like myself to understand. The describing whilst showing pictures and diagrams helped to make things clearer that I was unsure about. Good work GP

Only worn hat and gloves once about a week or so ago when we had the northerly wind. It really whipped across the fields when i was out with the dogs. I'm prone to ear infections and the wind made my ears red, so wore a hat that morning. I only generally wrap up if there is a biting wind, don't mind general cold.

Certainly not a big brain, still very much a novice but I would say very strong winds and a fair bit of rain. The 850hpa and the 2 metre temps look too high for snow. Probably got that wrong and made a fool of myself

I don't know why people get their knickers in a twist over the weather, there is nothing you can do about it so just go with whatever it brings. Its a chaotic system that is difficult to predict and things can change rapidly. Yes most of us would like to see a good snow dumping as i think most of us are big kids at heart but I didn't see proper snowfall fall for 12 years, so its lovely when it does happen. I would like a mixed winter (something for everyone) but I have a strong feeling that it will be a cold one. I feel it in my waters, either that or I have an infection

Foggy and frosty, had tp scrape the car windows. -2.5c at 8.30am

,I've been looking each day at the Barrow cam and that has frozen in the last couple of days, that did freeze quick.

Had the wood burner going all day as my husband got covered in snow whilst on the farm this morning and the poor old thing is suffering with man flu. He came in all bedraggled and sniffly so i thought we'd better warm the house up.

I think thats rather harsh and uncalled for. He did state its his own gut feelings and opinion.

0.0c and its snowing!! Even in this low lying part of Somerset.

Newham is currently 7c

I have been quite shocked by the speed that the ash turns. About 2 weeks ago most trees were reds/golds/browns and were dropping their leaves and the ash was still green. Within a couple of days the ash was covered in brown leaves and had lost nearly half of its coverage.

Although I am a posting newbie on this forum, I have read most days, all year round for the past couple of years. The child in me likes snow and my children and dogs love it but I am interested in the weather all year round. It is more the model and forecasting side of things because I like to plan ahead a bit because of my lifestyle. Living on a farm, the weather is important and so we rely on forecasting and I look at the models to see if I can pick up on trends etc. In the spring and summer I look for dry, warm spells to plan when to go off butterfly hunting or just general wildlife photography and its also useful to see if I can hang my washing out! I am interested in the extremes but am also wary of the dangers they bring. My great gran was killed by lightening and I have had a very close near miss and have been indirectly hit. But I remember the fascination thunderstorms bought me as a child, we had some absolute crackers in the valley i lived as child. I remember one lasting 12 hours as it seemed to go around and around like it was stuck in the valley. It contained flooding, lightening strikes, massive thunder cracks and a lightening ball rolling along the school playground. Scary but exciting to a 7/8 year old.

Vivaldi - Four seasons (winter)

From a farming perspective the winter months aren't so important, a cold, reasonably dry winter with a few snowy spells would suit me fine! Although we could do without the temperatures of December 2010. We were going to family for lunch on boxing day but were late after the parlour and all the water troughs were frozen solid. I'm just hoping for a warm, dry spring and summer.

After see the MetO's probability charts for the spring months, I shall take these charts with a large pinch of salt!

The heating is on early in the morning and again in the evening. I also lit the wood burner last night. We live in an old farm house basically surrounded by fields, only a barn to the east of our garden, so we are pretty exposed to the elements.

I certainly wouldn't cry if the slug numbers dropped rapidly!

6.5c, cloudy and drizzly

I don't know about a cold snap, I'm still waiting for the Indian summer i read about last week

I'd imagine its even worse with teenagers