Summer 2023 chat

[thestixx]

So I'm hosting an outdoor festival kinda party on Saturday to celebrate my marriage earlier in the year. Stage, sound system, straw bales, bunting! What a nightmare July this has turned out to be!

[SunnyG]

8 minutes ago, JR319 said:

Not a huge heat lover myself so absolutely not. I don’t think this country would be able to cope with upper 30s for weeks upon end. Dare I say why and the mods will be on my tail

25-30 degrees I am happy with. Anything above that - no thanks! 

 

This country is unable to cope with two inches of snow, so you are right about that

[carinthian]

Currently out in Ibiza and it's hot. Locals have never known heat like this at the moment. Sat hiding in the shade and watching the few clouds drifting up from Morocco direction and looks like a bit of dust in the Atmosphere. 37c forecast on the Island tomorrow as the heat dome centres over the SW Med. Crazy heat of which I have never experienced . Night temps dip to about 28c. Another observations how warm the sea is.

[al78]

I've just come back from a week in Jotunheimen, Norway, and I get the impression the weather over there was better than the UK. I thought that being at least a degree north of the Shetland islands and 1000m asl I would have a break from the sweaty heat that periodically plagues SE England in summer but no, climbing to the Besseggan ridge was very hard work and sweaty.

What surprised me was even during the cloudy and damp days the cloud base was up near 2000m so only the higher summits were shrouded. In the UK the cloud base plunges to around 200-300m when the rain comes in and you can barely see anything of the scenery.

Another little oddity was the pessimistic weather forecasts from around mid-week onward. Three times it was forecast to be one of those days when the rain arrives and sets in for the day, only for the rain to be showery in nature and easy to deal with even on a 7-8 hour trek between huts.

 

Edited July 17, 2023 by al78

[Nick L]

Certainly the first bad spell of weather of the summer in recent days, Friday was probably one of the worst summer days I can remember.

A positive of the rain is that I've not had to water the allotment for ages!

[B87]

12 hours ago, CreweCold said:

Yes was reading an article on this just the other day.

I read that malaria will potentially take hold in the UK at some point too if the climate keeps warming.

Malaria used to exist in the UK up until the 1800s.

[B87]

13 hours ago, Sunny76 said:

Yeah, but the temps are disappointing as well. It’s not even that warm.

It was bad in the south. Lots of days with cloudy weather, and only a handful of sunny warm days.

July 2020: avg max 23.8c, rain 35mm, sun 195 hrs

July 2021: avg max 24.2c, rain 61mm, sun 195 hrs

Both months were dull with average temps, though 2021 was much wetter.

[al78]

8 hours ago, Meat n Two Veg said:

Food should be a basic right in a highly developed country.Disgraceful

It might be more to do with eating too much poor quality food with low nutritional value rather than an insufficient amount of food. Scurvy and rickets are caused by certain nutritional deficiencies (vitamin C in the former). We may need to look at whether decent nutritious food is more expensive than junk food and if so, whether that is contributing siginficantly to poor diets and health consequences.

[al78]

59 minutes ago, SunnyG said:

This country is unable to cope with two inches of snow, so you are right about that

Which of course isn't true, unless you think the pictures in the media showing one extremely localised part of the country which got twice as much snow as anywhere else and was unusually badly affected is representitive of EVERYWHERE.

[TheOgre]

11 hours ago, *Stormforce~beka* said:

Has it ever happened?

I don’t know. It would be an absolute classic if it has.

Edited July 17, 2023 by TheOgre

[al78]

2 hours ago, In Absence of True Seasons said:

For those of us whose mood is strongly affected by the sun/weather, it's not something than can be dismissed. Depression and mental health is real - gone are the days where we as a society wave-away the realities of that. Yes, extreme heat (which we very, very, very rarely get in this country) can kill, but depression and mental health issues kill far far more people, and I honestly think that part of that is correlated to the fact that our climate is so dull so much of the time. 

I've been to alot of countries where the people barely have a pot to pee in, yet, they're just generally happy/positive. Those countries are always sunny, warm and pleasant, with beaches nearby and accessible for the average person. Is it all a coincidence? I think not.

Your cause and effect is likely not as strong as you think. Depression is caused/stimulated by many other things than the amount of sunshine, and spending a brief time in another country tells you little about the quality of life there unless you live there for months or years at a time. I have just come back from a week in Norway, a country not known for its abundant sunshine and warmth, and my impression is the quality of life there is very high (note I say "impression" which I am not claiming is the same as fact). The UK has the potential to be the same but seems to suffer from a lot of crapness now, at least partly as a result of much of the population trying to live like Americans. At least some countries where the citizens are poor but happy could be like that due to the lack of the worst of neo-liberal capitalism and individualism that impacts most Western countries, and they have a greater sense of community and connection with each other. We demonise socialism here but there are aspects of it that are excellent for enhancing quality of life (projecting the worst extremes onto the average is a stupid illogical fallacy that needs to die), and I think the Scandinavians have a healthy mix of socialism and capitalism which contributes to their high living standards. Speaking for myself, and I doubt I am alone, I find some of the biggest boosts to my mental well-being are 1) doing voluntary work in a team environment where we are all driving towards a common goal, and 2) forming deep connections with people (especially women).

[MP-R]

1 hour ago, carinthian said:

Currently out in Ibiza and it's hot. Locals have never known heat like this at the moment. Sat hiding in the shade and watching the few clouds drifting up from Morocco direction and looks like a bit of dust in the Atmosphere. 37c forecast on the Island tomorrow as the heat dome centres over the SW Med. Crazy heat of which I have never experienced . Night temps dip to about 28c. Another observations how warm the sea is.

August 2003. I was out in Mallorca until the 07th and the last day was absolutely sweltering. The hottest day I’ve ever felt in the Med.

[Sunny76]

2 hours ago, In Absence of True Seasons said:

For those of us whose mood is strongly affected by the sun/weather, it's not something than can be dismissed. Depression and mental health is real - gone are the days where we as a society wave-away the realities of that. Yes, extreme heat (which we very, very, very rarely get in this country) can kill, but depression and mental health issues kill far far more people, and I honestly think that part of that is correlated to the fact that our climate is so dull so much of the time. 

I've been to alot of countries where the people barely have a pot to pee in, yet, they're just generally happy/positive. Those countries are always sunny, warm and pleasant, with beaches nearby and accessible for the average person. Is it all a coincidence? I think not.

Yes, The U.K. is such a depressing place to live.

[danm]

2 hours ago, Buzz said:

A question for all of the heat lovers here - would you like the UK to endure, for weeks on end, the same temps (upper 30's and into the 40's Celcius) which parts of southern Europe are currently experiencing?

No I wouldn't. But that isn't going to happen in the UK. 

Weeks on end of 25c to 32c is ideal. 

[danm]

3 hours ago, In Absence of True Seasons said:

For those of us whose mood is strongly affected by the sun/weather, it's not something than can be dismissed. Depression and mental health is real - gone are the days where we as a society wave-away the realities of that. Yes, extreme heat (which we very, very, very rarely get in this country) can kill, but depression and mental health issues kill far far more people, and I honestly think that part of that is correlated to the fact that our climate is so dull so much of the time. 

I've been to alot of countries where the people barely have a pot to pee in, yet, they're just generally happy/positive. Those countries are always sunny, warm and pleasant, with beaches nearby and accessible for the average person. Is it all a coincidence? I think not.

Maybe that's just your "impression". Many countries that are warm and sunny have a myriad of social/societal issues that mean just because it's sunny, people living there aren't perpetually happy and content. 

[carinthian]

14 minutes ago, Sunny76 said:

Yes, The U.K. is such a depressing place to live.

Weatherwise yes but still has the best pubs in the world ,food,villages and cricket grounds. All I miss at times but not the drab weather!

[Nick L]

3 hours ago, In Absence of True Seasons said:

For those of us whose mood is strongly affected by the sun/weather, it's not something than can be dismissed. Depression and mental health is real - gone are the days where we as a society wave-away the realities of that. Yes, extreme heat (which we very, very, very rarely get in this country) can kill, but depression and mental health issues kill far far more people, and I honestly think that part of that is correlated to the fact that our climate is so dull so much of the time. 

I've been to alot of countries where the people barely have a pot to pee in, yet, they're just generally happy/positive. Those countries are always sunny, warm and pleasant, with beaches nearby and accessible for the average person. Is it all a coincidence? I think not.

I don't think this is true at all. There are plenty of studies suggesting that the "happiest" nations are in Scandinavia, hardly a warm and sunny climate!

[Sunny76]

9 minutes ago, carinthian said:

Weatherwise yes but still has the best pubs in the world ,food,villages and cricket grounds. All I miss at times but not the drab weather!

Yes, I like my English tea, and sometimes the odd pub, but the weather and general lifestyle here is a burden.

I know I don’t enjoy life as much as I should, and that’s down to two things. The expense of living in London, in a small flat with no open space, and the terrible weather, plus the dreadful daily commute to work on the underground.

[*Stormforce~beka*]

5 hours ago, 78/79 said:

1976, the year I left school was nice, it seemed to go on forever. Not that I got to enjoy it much as I joined the Junior Leaders Regt R. A C . the week after I left.

Won't be seeing that ever again then!

4 hours ago, Azazel said:

That will bring the lull up to about 8 weeks.

I've given up. I'm ready for Autumn now. Autumn last year was totally gorgeous! Roll on September!!!

[Sunny76]

11 minutes ago, Nick L said:

I don't think this is true at all. There are plenty of studies suggesting that the "happiest" nations are in Scandinavia, hardly a warm and sunny climate!

Yeah, it’s more to do with the standard of living as opposed to the weather, but I think the weather can play a part.

[*Stormforce~beka*]

2 hours ago, Buzz said:

A question for all of the heat lovers here - would you like the UK to endure, for weeks on end, the same temps (upper 30's and into the 40's Celcius) which parts of southern Europe are currently experiencing?

Honestly? No! I'm an up to 32c girl!

[Sunny76]

12 minutes ago, Nick L said:

I don't think this is true at all. There are plenty of studies suggesting that the "happiest" nations are in Scandinavia, hardly a warm and sunny climate!

Finland has a high suicide rate due to the long dark winters. It’s not all ‘happy’ over there.

[*Stormforce~beka*]

7 minutes ago, Sunny76 said:

Yes, I like my English tea, and sometimes the odd pub, but the weather and general lifestyle here is a burden.

I know I don’t enjoy life as much as I should, and that’s down to two things. The expense of living in London, in a small flat with no open space, and the terrible weather, plus the dreadful daily commute to work on the underground.

CAn you not move out of London sweetheart?

[Sunny76]

2 hours ago, Buzz said:

A question for all of the heat lovers here - would you like the UK to endure, for weeks on end, the same temps (upper 30's and into the 40's Celcius) which parts of southern Europe are currently experiencing?

No, but what I do like is 24-27c with a few days of 30-32c, and a week every now and then of 22-23c. Mostly sunny warm to hot weather.

We don’t necessarily need 35-40c and I don’t think most people want that here.

We also don’t want endless days of rubbish summer weather where it’s changeable, with cloudy skies, wind and rain with temps struggling around 19-21c.

We get enough unsettled or coolish grey weather between October and March, it’s not too much to ask for a bit of heat for a couple of months between Late May and early September.

[Sunny76]

5 minutes ago, *Stormforce~beka* said:

CAn you not move out of London sweetheart?

Can’t do it at the moment, as my partner is a gardener and has clients in west London. 
 

If we move out, it becomes too expensive for her to commute in, and unlike myself, she has to travel to different areas, so it makes coming into London extremely difficult.

If I were living alone, I would have packed up and moved to the Sussex coast I reckon.