Posts Tagged ‘Weather’
Posted by Shirley Anne on May 18, 2013
Hyde Park in a heatwave The second week of August 2003 was the hottest ever recorded in London, with temperatures of up to 38 degrees Celsius. Not surprisingly many people flocked to the parks to cool off.
It is past the middle of May and still it is very cold. The warmer temperatures we have come to expect at this time of year have been somewhat lacking even though there have been warm sunny days. It appears that the ‘Jet Stream’, the high altitude wind pattern is favouring places like Moscow with the United Kingdom fairing less well as a result. Until the Jet Stream shifts in our favour I guess we can say goodbye to a warm Summer again this year. I watch the weather forecasts with interest but it is all bad news lately. I heard tell that the month of June won’t be much better either. Astronomically speaking Summer starts on or about the 21st day of June so there is still time left for an improvement I suppose. It may be that the later months of the season will prove me wrong. I do hope so. It can be rather depressing when all we get is poor weather when reasonably it should be better. We must however make the most of things for we have no control over matters. For many people summer is the two-week vacation they take each year in a foreign land though not everyone can afford such things. I have been fortunate in that respect having enjoyed many holidays in foreign places in the past. These days I am less bothered about travelling across the globe for the pleasure of enjoying the warm weather which is taken for granted in many countries. Quite often I have found that the living conditions in these beautiful places where the sun shines most of the year and the temperatures never fall below 20 degrees Celsius are very poor indeed. Having a warm or hot climate doesn’t guarantee perfect happiness unless you have plenty of money and money doesn’t even buy happiness! I am not giving up on Summer, things are not that bad really, it could be a lot worse, in fact it may well be a lot better! I am not sure just what I will be doing in the months ahead. Working? Most probably. Taking a vacation? Probably not but anything is possible. Enjoying myself? I will try my best. Summer will be great if I am still here to enjoy it won’t it?
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Enjoyment, Happiness, Weather, Well-being | Tagged: Enjoyment, Happiness, June, Temperature, Weather, weather forecast, Well-being | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on May 2, 2013
Cover for Strange Weather Lately Volume Two graphic novel by metaphrog. Published in 1999.
Today, Monday, as I write this, it is very sunny and very windy. At this time of year we are used to enjoying the warmer days of mid-Spring but alas it is more like late Winter. Over the last few years, indeed over the last few decades, there has been a gradual change in our weather patterns. Many scientists and meteorological experts agree that the whole world is entering a warmer phase and attribute the temperature increase, small as it is at the moment, to increases in CO2 levels in the atmosphere. According to many this rise has come about by human activity caused by the burning of fossil fuels but is this the whole picture? The Earth has seen climate changes many times and it may surprise some to know that even during the last 1000 years there have been noticeable changes, changes which cannot be attributed to the burning of fossil fuels. There are indications that the temperature was higher during the 10th to the 14th centuries. It is believed that the temperatures during the last 4000 years have reached their warmest levels on several occasions. It is a well-known fact that however that there was a dramatic drop in temperatures during the 16th and 19th centuries, a period often called the mini Ice Age. We moan so much about the weather but conditions could be worse and have been in the past. For more information I suggest a visit to this site http://www.co2science.org/subject/other/clim_hist_1thousand.php I think you will find it rather fascinating and perhaps give you a better understanding about our topsy-turvy weather here in the UK.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Weather | Tagged: Climate change, Earth, Earth Sciences, Spring (season), Temperature, Weather, Winter | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on March 15, 2013
Location of the Channel Islands
A couple of days ago I was sitting at home writing one of my posts and mentioning something about the brilliant sunshine we were enjoying in our part of the country. That same day, Monday, I heard what the weather was like in the Channel Islands where they almost never get snow. They were experiencing one of the worst snow blizzards they have ever had the misfortune to get, in fact much of northern France and south-east England were having the same experience yet here along the coast in west Lancashire it was sunny with no snow. Later that day though we began to see fine snow descending as the sky grew darker and darker with approaching clouds from the east. By nightfall we had what you might call a ‘dusting’ of snow but only about a couple of millimetres. However, because it was extremely cold it remained on the ground until morning. Tuesday started again with bright sunshine and clear blue skies and as the temperature rose the snow disappeared except in the very sheltered spots. The weather is getting better each day as Spring approaches. The main problem facing the country as far as the weather is concerned is the wind direction. Whilst it is blowing from the east we will continue with colder days. According to the forecast though the wind is beginning to veer from the north and gradually from the west, where we expect it to be coming from at this time of year. Most of my mornings are spent at home unless I have work to do and once it is afternoon I begin to think about going for bike rides or visiting the pub for a meal or going for a walk somewhere as by that time I don’t expect any calls on my phone requesting work that day. Most folk call me in the evenings unless it is something they think requires urgent attention. By mid afternoon I am not usually prepared to start work and always tend to defer jobs to be scheduled some other day and in the morning. Life is getting better for me as I begin to take things more easy and please myself. Now that the weather is seemingly improving I thought we might have gotten the chance to see something of the comet that paid the inner solar system a visit recently but alas I think we’ve missed it. Those in the southern hemisphere have enjoyed watching its progress as it swept toward the sun and we in the northern hemisphere should have still been able to see it after it had swung round the sun returning from whence it came. If it had been visible, it would have graced the western sky after sunset for a few more days. According to what I’ve read it would have been visible between 12th and 20th of this month. Later in the year however in November, we are informed that a much brighter comet will make an appearance and will be more prominent in the northern hemisphere for a change. We’ll see.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Astronomy, Weather | Tagged: Astronomy, Channel Islands, England, France, Snow, Solar System, South East England, Weather | 2 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on February 15, 2013
Daydreams in Cold Weather
It hasn’t been a really bad winter where I live considering some of the appalling weather many have had so suffer elsewhere. I cannot complain really having only suffered a couple of days of negotiable snow and ice before it disappeared completely. Even now more snow is forecast for tomorrow (Wednesday) but I think we may avoid it here on the coast and I don’t think it will last very long where it does fall. We have reached that time of the year when things are beginning to improve, temperatures rising albeit slowly and with spells of cold still persisting but I see the snowdrops in my garden and the green stems of daffodils growing quite tall ready to open next month. There are already flowering plants hugging the ground which don’t seem to mind the cold weather but these are winter flowering plants that blossom for most of the year giving the borders a lot of colour. They are yellow, red and purple with large green foliage and really do brighten up the dull soil. Most other plants are still dormant apart from the evergreen shrubs we have. The sun is desperately trying to shine through the clouds and it lights up the house giving it that extra shot of heat too but then it disappears for the day and everywhere seems cold again. I wish the warmer weather would hurry. Even though I don’t mind the cold weather too much it isn’t the same. I long for Spring and it is only round the corner. The front of our house bears the full sunshine as it more or less faces SSW and if I am sitting in one of the two front lounges it is very much noticeable. At the moment I am being teased for the sun comes and goes during the day giving me a glimpse and promise of better days ahead.
Shirley Anne
- Your guide to the best snowdrops (blogs.vancouversun.com)
- waiting for spring (balconyberlin.wordpress.com)
- Snowdrops (charleymckelvy.wordpress.com)
- Long-Awaited Snowdrops (satnavandcider.wordpress.com)
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Posted in Weather | Tagged: Flowering plant, Garden, spring, Weather | 2 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on February 8, 2013
A weather map of an extratropical cyclone affecting Great Britain and Ireland. The “L” symbol denotes the center of the “low”, and the occluded, cold, and warm frontal boundaries are depicted. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Don’t you just love the weather in the UK? For those who live beyond our shores let me tell what a wonderful weather system we have here (she says with tongue in cheek). Well you have to live here to understand what I am saying. If you have lived here or visited this lovely land you will appreciate what I am saying. It could be the reason you left couldn’t it? Living here means getting used to it but I think even those living near the North Pole would find it difficult living here, not because it gets cold but because it gets wet too, then it gets warm and finally it gets wet and sunny. It is all over the place at times and doesn’t know what to do. I am sitting at home on Monday afternoon having had no work scheduled and the day is windy, quite windy. Earlier it was sunny for an hour or so and it has rained a little too. A total difference to what the weather was like yesterday when it was warm and sunny, though there was a wind blowing but not as fast as it is today. I spent some time riding my bicycle in the warm sunshine yesterday but really don’t fancy doing the same today! Ah, but it is winter after all so we can expect this sort of weather. By the calendar we are half-way through Winter and heading for Spring when we hope to see a vast improvement, at least in temperature. We can hope for dry and warm weather but knowing our weather we are more likely to get rain. A national pastime here is moaning about the weather, we know it gets lousy at times but not all of the time and we know we could go and live somewhere else given the chance but we are used to the place and the good things about living here far outweigh the bad methinks. Why else would anyone want to come and settle here and we all know they do, even at this time of year! I have a small job tomorrow morning, fitting an outside light for somebody! Wouldn’t you just know it? If the weather is too bad I won’t do it but I know I’ll only be outside for a short time and can always pop back indoors in-between the showers!
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Weather | Tagged: Atmospheric sciences, Earth Science, Meteorology, Monday, North Pole, spring, Weather, Winter | 2 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on January 24, 2013
Gulf stream map
After a few days of miserable weather of snow, wind and rain the sun began to shine again at last (Tuesday) although it is still cold. What little snow we had it has almost all disappeared now but it could fall again at any time of course. Some snow still lies on pavements shaded from the sun and can only melt when the air temperature rises but at 2 degrees Celsius this could take some time, especially as the temperature drops below zero overnight. I am looking forward to the time I can get out on my bicycle again but it may be some time yet. The problem with the weather in the UK is that it is so unpredictable. This is due to the UK’s location on the Globe where warm and cold winds can be in conflict and where the Gulf Stream warms an otherwise cold sea. The position of the ‘Jetstream’ high in the atmosphere has a strong influence too, enabling cold air from the north or east to blow or allowing warmer winds from the west and south. My bicycle stands next to my van in the garage ready for action that at the moment isn’t going to happen. At least the sun is shining and is brightening up the lives of people during these cold days of winter. We all know it won’t last though but although we cannot make hay at this time of year we can be happy that the sun is shining can’t we? Just as well, more snow is forecast for Friday and they say it will be raining the day after with 6 C temperature! I did say the weather in the UK is unpredictable.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Cycling, Weather | Tagged: Celsius, Cycling, Gulf Stream, Jetstream, Snow, Temperature, Weather, Wind | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on January 16, 2013
Snow on the Wolds The weather can change pretty dramatically at this time of year!
I don’t know about you but I get sick of the way some news items and weather forecasts are dramatically presented. There seems to be a policy of exaggerating events and filling them with unnecessary drama, especially weather forecasts. Over the last couple of days we have been warned about impending cold temperatures, icy roads, snowfalls and windy conditions. They use coloured hazard warning triangles to show the severity of events. Come on, we know it’s Winter and we know we can expect inclement weather, we don’t need a song a dance presentation. It is sufficient to tell us to expect lots of snow and ice or whatever isn’t it? In fact we haven’t had any snow where I live but other parts of the country have been less fortunate. Which is better to say, ‘Tomorrow there will be heavy falls of snow causing problems and disruptions during the rush hour as people try to get to work’ or ‘Expect some heavy downpours of snow tomorrow which may cause disruptions to travellers’? I often wonder how other countries cope and if they make an issue of it? In places like Canada road users have a legal obligation to fit ‘winter’ tyres at the onset of Winter so they are ready and prepared for it and their snowfalls are measured in feet! We get a few inches and it causes havoc!
Sutton Road in winter Don’t expect to see snow here too often.
I find many people making too much of a fuss about certain things in their lives, things that most people just accept as life. There is a time to make a fuss I suppose but not for things we should expect to happen but maybe for the unusual.
This country has been quite unprepared in previous years for sudden changes in the weather, such as heavy snow by not having enough rock salt to spread on the roads or enough vehicles or personnel to do it. There is really no excuse for that, at this time of year we know conditions can change dramatically, especially in this country!
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Weather | Tagged: Canada, Met Office, Snow, Weather, Winter | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on December 28, 2012
English: St Gwynno Forest Part of the extensive forest with a mixture of deciduous and evergreen trees. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Over the last few days the weather here has been quite reasonable with no frost, no ice and for the most part quite dry. Today, Wednesday, as I write this the day started with sunshine but by afternoon it began to rain quite heavily. I have been going out for walks which is fine when it isn’t raining but less so when it is. December weather these days is quite mild and I remember a time when it wasn’t always so. Call it global warming or something to do with a low in the normal cycle of weather but whichever is right it just seems a bit odd to me. No doubt we will be in for some cold times in the near future so I think it best to enjoy the mild spell whist we are able. Looking out over the rear garden the grass is lush and some of the border plants are in flower. Seasonal vegetables are still growing but the deciduous trees look somewhat forlorn empty of their green foliage. This is one reason I like to see evergreen trees and shrubs in my garden to keep it looking alive and pleasant to look at. My bicycle stands waiting to be ridden again, I don’t use it when it is raining or if it is frosty, I use it only for pleasure and exercise. Most times I will go for a walk during days of poorer weather. It is nice to stay at home when the weather is poor but I am biting at the bit wanting to get out in the fresh air and hopefully there will be plenty of opportunity to do just that, even at this time of year. It is a time for the moment to rest from the working life and simply enjoy myself. I know there will be lots to do soon enough, the problem with that though is that I may feel a little reluctant to start the ball rolling again!
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Weather | Tagged: Gardens, Global warming, National Weather Service, Rain, Temperature, Weather, Wednesday | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on November 30, 2012
English: Sand Dunes and Beach, Freshfield. Sand dunes and the beach at Freshfield. Blackpool tower and the Big One rollercoaster could clearly be seen from the top of this high sand dune on this day. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
It was such a beautiful day on Wednesday, completely blue sky after a few clouds early in the morning. It was a cold and frosty day though, the beginning of the onset of Winter. I had to drive about ten miles to carry out some work for someone, part of that work entailed being outdoors. It always seem the way that when it is cold people want jobs doing outdoors! I didn’t mind but wearing gloves whilst doing electrical jobs is a little tricky and I had to remove them to carry out the more delicate part of the installation. It might have been better had I been working on the south side of the house but no, it had to be the north side and in a slight northerly wind too! Fortunately I wasn’t out there too long and was able to do the other of the two jobs inside the house. The old guy gave me a drink of coffee and then I remembered it isn’t until you come in from the cold that you realise how cold you are! It took me a few minutes to get warmed up again. I was back home for lunch and was tempted to go for a walk in the afternoon but I was feeling a little tired and left it for another day. We have had a lot of rain lately and in some parts of the country they have suffered flooding because many rivers couldn’t cope with the volume of water and they overflowed causing much damage to buildings and people’s homes. They will be very grateful for the change in weather. Where I live there is no danger from flooding at all, I don’t live close to a river or in a valley or at the bottom of a hill. The land is fairly flat but a little undulating, probably because it is near the sea and the sand dunes. Probably the undulations are actually long-since covered over large dunes themselves. I know my house is built on highly compacted sand as are all the others in the area. There are some places around the town though where large holes suddenly appear in the roads and I am talking about vehicle-sized ones! I suppose these areas have underground rivulets for there are quite a number of those in certain places, none where my house is though fortunately. The house was built in 1877 and shows no signs of subsidence. I guess it will still be here in 2077! I know I won’t! That being the case I enjoy every day for they are all beautiful, are they not?
Shirley Anne
- Beauty in Winter (hoogator.wordpress.com)
- A frosty end to November. (scarboroughfairflorals.wordpress.com)
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Posted in Life, Weather, Well-being, Work | Tagged: Dune, Earth Sciences, Life, Philosophy, Weather, Well-being | 4 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on November 29, 2012
Winter Solstice sunset_S02049 (Photo credit: Ennor)
In a little over three weeks it will be the beginning of Winter here in the northern hemisphere, that is the calendar version of Winter. On or about the 21st or 22nd of December marks the Winter Solstice when the sun reaches its lowest point in the sky at midday after which it begins to rise further northward with each passing day. The days begin to get longer as they say. Actually of course it is only the daylight hours which increase, probably the only consolation at a time in the year when the weather begins to get worse! I was at home a couple of days ago and the sun was shining directly upon the wall which faces the window. In three weeks time, if the sun is shining it will be shining half-way up the wall. A sobering thought to know that it will be months before the sun is high enough in the sky to be able once more to feel warm when out-of-doors. If I had a month in the calendar that I disliked the most it might be December I think. Apart from the month marking the start of Winter there are the festivals of Christmas and New Year and everything leading up to them, which I hate. At this time of year I am most certainly looking forward to January when everything gets back to normality for me. My favourite time of year is almost over but I have to say the latter part of it I am not a lover of, once my birthday has passed the weather just gets colder and miserable. I try not to let the weather get me feeling miserable though, in fact I enjoy going for walks in the cold weather provided I am well wrapped-up. Returning to the warmth of home and a hot drink makes it all worthwhile. It isn’t the same though when it is cold and raining too. This time of year is great when it is dry but when it is cold, windy and wet it makes me feel as though I want to remain indoors all nice and cozy. I don’t mind the cold or even the rain as long as it isn’t lashing it down but the wind I don’t like very much at all. I was talking about the run-up to Christmas as being traditionally a busy time for me at work and as it is turning out that way again this year I am finding I’ve little time to spend just going for walks whether the weather is fine or not. If the weather is not so good I am better off at work!
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Weather | Tagged: Christmas, January, New Year, Northern Hemisphere, Weather, Winter solstice | 2 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on October 29, 2012
I went out to the pub on Friday evening, well late afternoon to be truthful. E dropped me off as she was about to visit her mum. The pub is in the opposite direction but only a half mile or thereabouts so it was nice of her to drop me off. I spent a while alone as there were not many people in the place just after four in the afternoon. Many go there for lunch and so the place gets rather packed at times but there is always somewhere to sit in the bar area. I sat in the bar area as I normally do however and just waited to see who might come in. During the first hour I saw the place begin to fill with people and one or two came over and chatted with me whilst others simply acknowledged my presence as it were. Before long the place was crowded and there was very few places left to sit down. More people came to chat with me and then they moved on. Sometimes it is like that and at other times I can spend my whole time there in the company of just a few people. I decided not to stay too long so I made my way home shortly after eight o’clock. I walked home. I didn’t do much for the rest of the evening except make myself a snack and watch a little television. Strangely enough I was feeling rather tired so I got to bed before midnight and slept right through until ten in the morning with just a couple of visits to the little girl’s room during the night. I wasn’t much hungry when I got up and it was such a lovely day on Saturday that I made up my mind to go for a bike ride. 
The weather forecast for Sunday wasn’t promising so I thought I would get out whilst it was still fine. Around eleven o’clock I was ready to go. I had several warm layers of clothing on and track suit leggings together with a pair of gloves and a hat. I needed them all, it wasn’t as warm as it looked outside. Oh yes, the sun was shining in a totally blue sky but the wind was blowing too, not too much but it was from the north and it was cold! I remembered that I had to go to the chemist (drug store) to collect my hormone prescription for the next twelve week’s supply so I made the detour to the village to collect it. I took my usual route along the seafront and found it almost devoid of other people except for those driving or sitting in their cars. The above picture shows part of the seafront walk looking south towards home. The cycle route is actually over the little parapet wall on the right of the picture. It is at the top of a slope leading down to the sandy beach. The ornately patterned walkway in the centre is reserved for pedestrians although cyclists may use it if they ride slowly. I rode down this section as there were no pedestrians on it! A few people were enjoying the fresh air down on the beach but they were well wrapped up for the occasion! The main road is at a lower level on the left of the picture between the pedestrian way and the building shown which happens to be a sports centre and gymnasium. The gymnasium is situated upstairs so that those using it can look out to sea whilst exercising on the treadmills or elliptical training equipment. There are a few amenities available in the same area behind the gymnasium, a large Travel Inn hotel, a cinema, a bowling alley, restaurants and a short distance away from the coastal road the ubiquitous McDonald’s and Pizza Hut together with a couple of stores. I continued on my way battling against the oncoming wind until I finally reached the point where I could turn back inland and make the return journey home. I rode back along The Promenade with its lakeside view and back southward to the roads around my house. The picture below shows part of the Promenade looking in the direction of home with the lake on the right-hand-side beyond which and out of sight to the right are some sand dunes with the seafront and coastal road beyond. In actual fact the beach is probably no more than a quarter mile away. Both these pictures were taken about eight years ago but the weather on Saturday was just the same as in the pictures. 
I put the bike away in the cellar so that it wouldn’t be in the way for the guys working on my garage door on Monday. Normally I keep the bike in the garage and indeed there are two other bikes stored in there but they are hanging out-of-the-way at the far end of the garage and there is no space for another bike alongside them. The floor area at the rear of the garage is filled with other items so parking the bike there is awkward. I got changed into my normal day clothes and prepared my lunch, E joining me a little later. I may be able to resume exercising on the treadmill soon, that is running on it. I have been doing a few miles of ‘speed walking‘ but no running until my head gets a lot better. After that fall some weeks ago I have been suffering dull headaches but they have almost disappeared now and I shall be able to take up my more strenuous exercise of running soon. In the meantime my bike rides have been most welcome.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Exercise | Tagged: Exercise, Health, Weather | 4 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on October 27, 2012
Cold Weather Is Coming, Beware! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Autumn and the leaves are falling
Gold and brown around my feet
Nature quietly is yawning
On the dawn of Winter’s freeze.
Bright blue skies are turning grey now
There’s a chill within the air,
Crows cry out their raucous chatter
Breaking silence everywhere.
Spring and summer-time of pleasure
Drift on by in troubled mind
For our love is lost forever
Emptiness is left inside.
As the days begin to shorten
And the nights are drawing in,
All my thoughts are turned toward you
Thinking of what might have been.
There is hope beyond the Winter
When the grey gives way to blue,
When at last with Spring’s arrival
All can start afresh, anew.
Copyright Shirley Anne 19 Feb 04
Well we are one month into Autumn and the promise of cold weather is announced by the weather forecasters. It appears Winter is beginning to poke its fingers into the days but it is a time of year I really like. If I were being honest it is my favourite time of year but it is good to be alive no matter what the season. The short poem was written at a time when I was going through a difficult period and my thoughts were centred on the love I had lost but with hope for the future. It may be getting colder but it won’t be long before we see warmer times again. It is the same with life, we have difficult moments sometimes and for a while we suffer but life isn’t all bad and things get better, there is always hope. No matter what the season, enjoy it, you cannot change it after all! Don’t let the problems in life overtake you, often you cannot do anything about them arriving so just get on with it.
Shirley Anne
- Autumn. (catchthemoments.net)
- Just in time! (sharonbechtold.wordpress.com)
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Posted in Life, Philosophy | Tagged: Life, Philosophy, the four seasons, Weather, weather forecast | 2 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on August 20, 2012
Weathered (Photo credit: JEBourk)
These past few weeks have been rather good as far as the weather is concerned. Yes we have had rainy days but hey, this is the UK and in my case England. Throughout the month of June and early July we began to wonder if the weather was ever going to improve but finally it did. Apart from one or two occasions the weather held for the Olympic Games and has been warm, even hot since. OK it rained rather heavily on Wednesday and it is forecast to rain for the next couple of days as I write this on Saturday. Saturday was dull but warm during the morning but in the afternoon it was wall-to-wall blue sky and bright sunshine right through to sunset! I had gotten up around nine and spent some time on the treadmill and basically chilled out after that. E went out for her monthly meeting and I decided to go for a ride on my new bicycle. When I returned home I noticed that the sun was shining onto the coffee table in the middle of the room. It was only two months ago it barely shone onto the floor in the afternoon because the sun was so high in the sky. In a couple of months it will be almost shining onto the wall facing the window. In Winter if it is sunny, the sun can shine half-way up that wall in the middle of the afternoon. If I was that way inclined I could mark the position of the sun each month on the floor or furniture but it does remind me of the progress of time and how precious a commodity it is. I sometimes feel that I am just going through the motions if you understand what I am saying, life seems to have lost its purpose for me lately. I don’t get excited as I used to anymore. I never get depressed as such but I do occasionally feel down. Is it the people in my life that make me feel this way, is it the lack of company and companionship, is it the lack of friendship, the lack of love? Perhaps, but sometimes it is none of these things, sometimes I just cannot be bothered! Maybe I am just a weathered soul in the scheme of things. Whatever I do, whatever I feel, wherever I go, the sun marks time as it slowly creeps across the floor.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Life, Time | Tagged: England, July, June, Life, Saturday, Time, Weather, Winter | 3 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on July 4, 2012
English: Long-term average precipitation by month (mm/day and in/day), based on 1961-1990 data. Animated GIF. Mollweide projection. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Well last month proved to be a wash-out and quite literally in some places in this country. Many people had their homes flooded because the rivers and streams or the drains couldn’t cope with the excess rainfall. Now we are in a new month and guess what? It is raining yet again! Whilst I feel sorry for those who are suffering the effects of too much rain I quite like it when it rains. I suppose I must be a duck! I was chatting to someone a few days ago about the rain and she was telling me how much she loved the sunshine and how it made her feel better whenever the sun shone. I thought to myself ‘why doesn’t she therefore go and live in a warmer and sunnier climate‘? I knew the answer to that one. She wouldn’t get all the benefits she now enjoys if she moved to another country and added to that she admitted she wouldn’t like it sunny all of the time. I’ll wager if she had been born and raised in a hot climate she would be used to it but then I wonder why she isn’t used to the rain and cooler climate we have here. People just like moaning about the weather I suppose. Rain can be an inconvenience and a problem at times of course but we live around and with problems throughout our lives. Rain poses no problem for me unless I am working outside, all other activities I undertake are not affected by the rain. In some ways rain is a blessing, it waters the plants, supplies our reservoirs with water, keeps insect pests down, lowers the amount of pollen in the air, cleans the air from excessive pollution, limits anti-social behaviour, washes away dirt from the streets and probably in many more ways a blessing too. I enjoy sunshine too but I don’t mind when it is raining. I wonder though how much of either we will get this summer? Looking at the world map above we can see that the average rainfall for Europe doesn’t change much throughout the year but in some places in the world it comes and goes quite dramatically or not at all!
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Weather | Tagged: Climatology, Environment, Rain, Weather | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on June 26, 2012
The Earth seen from Apollo 17. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I was watching a repeat broadcast of a television program the other day which described our solar system and its wonders. The program was hosted by Professor Brian Cox, the ever-youthful looking, ever smiling physics enthusiast who has an engaging and strange charm that holds your interest in the things he is describing. He has a way of explaining complicated theories and scientific facts that make it easy to understand. One reservation I have about the guy is that he sometimes puts forward information as if it were proven fact but of course he looks at things from a purely scientific point of view. Consequently I find myself reading between the lines on occasion and making my own mind about certain things. The Solar system is indeed a wonderful thing and when we discover the remarkable facts about it we realise how wonderful and marvellous, even miraculous the fact that we humans, life itself, exists at all. Try this link to learn more http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designun.html and here especially to discover how unique this planet Earth really is http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html. Looking at the program (and for me it was essentially going over old ground but I find it so interesting) and learning about the other planets in the system and why they are as they are only serves to show how unique it is. The Earth is in a very fine state of equilibrium, all things serve to keep the stability and momentum for us to be here. Slight variations to the balance will result in catastrophe and this is why it is so important for us to do what we can to maintain it. In recent posts I have spoken about the weather and how it has changed in my lifetime. Some would have us believe that our present weather patterns are probably due to our own activities. It is too soon for that to be a proven fact. Nevertheless we must endeavour to clean up our act. However world weather has changed many times in Earth’s history and there is no reason not to assume that our present weather patterns are a matter of routine. One thing is certain, we will know one day! We live on a fragile speck in the hostile environment known as our solar system which in itself resides in a hostile environment known as our Milky Way Galaxy. It is a wonderful thing to behold, a beautiful thing in a sea of emptiness, it is our home, our world, our Earth.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Astronomy, Creation, Environment | Tagged: Astronomy, Brian Cox, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy, Solar System, Television program, Weather | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on June 25, 2012
English: West Sothers Burn The burn flows over the cliff, but on windy days it blows straight back up again! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Friday began with rain. The previous night the first signs of wet weather appeared but it must have been after midnight when things made a turn for the worse. It was a windy day too, very windy. The rain came down in torrents although at times it appeared to be travelling horizontally! The poor trees were taking a battering but they are more suited to bear most of nature’s tantrums whereas I am not. Oh I don’t mind the rain and the cold as I have pointed out many times but the wind? I hate the wind once it gets beyond a slight breeze. Well on Friday we experienced wind speed of more than 22mph according to the weather forecasters but with gusts of up to 60mph! Crikey, and here’s me thinking it was the beginning of Summer! In previous posts I was waiting in anticipation that the month of June might be as it used to be many years ago, ‘flaming’, but no chance. Apart from the odd hot day the month has turned out dreadful as far as dry heat is concerned. It has tended to be more wet and cool, if not cold at times. It is on days like these I appreciate the coziness of a warm house. The double glazing is certainly worth the cost of installing it. Nevertheless I like to be out of the house when I can and I wasn’t about to let the weather prevent me from doing so. It is just as warm and cozy in the pub too but I didn’t walk there, that’s what cabs are for!
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Enjoyment, Environment, Weather | Tagged: Crikey, Lifestyle, Rain, Weather, Weather forecasting, Wind, Wind speed | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on June 19, 2012
English: Hailstones fallen in a thunderstorm on 2008 June 22 in Velp, the Netherlands. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I wrote a few posts back about the possibility of it being a hot June this year as traditionally June has been a hot month in years gone by. I have to say that hasn’t been the case these past few years though except for a couple of times. So far this year June has been pretty much a wash-out, cold and wet for the first half and still, at the time of writing this, Saturday, rain is forecast for the next two or three days. Summer officially starts on the 21st, that being the solstice, the highest point the sun will reach in the northern skies and of course the lowest point in the southern hemisphere where it will mark the beginning of their winter. I am not too bothered by the weather but some sunshine is always welcome I guess. Weather patterns have changed over the years and some speak of it being caused by human activities, whether that is true or not has yet to be proven emphatically. All I know is that the weather, the seasons have altered from what I knew as a child. Strange phenomena and events are happening in diverse places. Last week somewhere in the USA, I cannot remember where exactly, they had a heavy storm which produced enormous hailstones. There is nothing unusual about large hailstones except when they occur out of season and larger than normal. The UK has experienced such heavy downpours of rain it has caused extensive flooding around the country where, only a matter of weeks ago they had drought conditions leading to a ban on hose pipe use. Now we have more water than we need at this time. Over the last few years our weather has turned milder in winter and cooler in summer generally speaking and the seasons have become less defined at times. Erratic temperatures give rise to confusion in the animal and plant world too, especially when the seasons seem to be changing earlier than they should and then reverting back to normal seasonal levels. We might not have the best weather in the world but it certainly is varied! So much for flaming June.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Weather | Tagged: Atmospheric sciences, Drought, Earth Sciences, Hail, June, Rain, United States, Weather | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on June 10, 2012
English: Sand Dunes and Beach, Freshfield. Sand dunes and the beach at Freshfield. Blackpool tower and the Big One rollercoaster could clearly be seen from the top of this high sand dune on this day. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This past week I have been using my treadmill several times, far more than I usually have done and it has become somewhat of a drug for me, just as when I used to go running early in the mornings. Rain didn’t keep me indoors and neither did anything else except deep snow and solid ice, too dangerous to slip upon. Having the treadmill at home is a definite advantage, especially if the weather is really bad but it is great to know that I can pop downstairs anytime for a session of exercise without worrying what the weather is like. Of course at this time of year the weather is irrelevant if going for a run outdoors. I find life a bit of a treadmill experience at times, same old thing day in and day out with little excursions for socialising breaking the monotony. Even the things I like doing sometimes become a chore and I have to get away from them, a bit like not wanting to go to the pub for instance, a regular thing with me at times. When I am on the machine I have nothing else to do aside from the walking or running and it gives me uninterrupted time for thinking, one of the reasons I liked going for a run outdoors. I remember some of the runs I did when living in my previous house. About two hundred metres or so up the road from my house and I was in the pine woods (red squirrel reserve) beyond which lay the sand dunes and then the beach. It was a particularly great place to live. Now I live but eight miles further north where the sand dunes are about three-quarters of a mile by road from my house (about a half mile as the crow flies) with the beach just beyond. There are no pine woods though, they are five miles away toward where I used to live along the coast. I remember especially the cold winter mornings with clear skies and stars shining brightly overhead and I would be out running at two-thirty to three o’clock along the pathways through the woods and down on to the beach. Very eerie but very beautiful too, not a sound except from the occasional hoot of an owl or the weird yelp of a fox or two in the distance, or maybe close-up. I wouldn’t have been able to tell anyway in the dark! You don’t get that on a treadmill, you only have the advantage of not having to leave the house to do a spot of running. I run for pleasure and I run for the exercise, I run for life, a better one hopefully by staying as healthy as I can as long as I am able. Throughout my life I have been an active person. My work also keeps me on my toes sometimes, not as much as it once did but still it keeps me active, climbing ladders and stairs and generally keeping moving. So whether on my treadmill or elsewhere I continue to run for life.
This is the area where I used to live and run, https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=53.5628,-3.0702&spn=0.1,0.1&q=53.5628,-3.0702+(Freshfield)&t=h (Look for Dunes Drive nearer the woods and follow into Blundell Avenue into the woods. At the end of Blundell avenue just before it turns to the left there is a track which carries on straight and down through the sand dunes to the beach and another track in the same place which goes to the right and into the woods, although you are able to turn into the woods anywhere along on the right)
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Enjoyment, Exercise, Health, Sport | Tagged: Dune, Events, Exercise, Health, Road running, Running, Sports, Trail running, Treadmill, Weather | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on May 28, 2012
Temperature (Photo credit: lengda)
During this past week we have had some remarkably hot days and I found it somewhat of a struggle staying comfortable. Although for most of the week the temperatures in my location haven’t been quite as high as they have been elsewhere we did match those high temperatures on Saturday and Sunday. Temperatures of 26-28C are definitely not my cup of tea I have to say when I am happier at 16-18C. Even when sitting down and doing nothing I find it so uncomfortable when it is too warm. I have been working though and that makes it more difficult. Thankfully the temperatures are set to drop a few degrees over the next couple of days and I will be grateful for that. I have been to many hot climates in the past but I have to admit that I often found it unbearable at times. I find my energy gets sapped when it is too warm and I lose interest in doing anything strenuous. The weather over the previous month wasn’t that good and I for one was looking forward to warmer times but never expecting it to go from one extreme to the other. A few weeks ago it was raining and quite cool, then it was warm, even hot, and dry. It gets worse when the humidity is high, as it has been especially overnight. So for the time being I am well out of my comfort zone and cannot wait for cooler times
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Shirley Anne
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Posted in Weather | Tagged: Atmospheric sciences, Temperature, Weather | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on May 22, 2012
Cover of Summer (Seasons Around You)
The weather forecast for this week looks good, if you like sunshine and warmth. Although a couple of weeks away some are predicting a hot June ahead. I’ll reserve judgement on that one. Over the last month or so the weather in the UK has not been all that good with only the occasional day of warm sunshine so it comes as a welcome change to have a positive forecast. Worldwide weather patterns have changed since I was born. I can remember very different seasons when I was young compared to what we get now and this is due to the changing global weather patterns. We seem to be experiencing on average, cooler summers and less colder winters. The seasons themselves seem less defined too and we experience sudden warm spells in the cooler months or long periods of cool weather when we expect it to be warm. More recently much of the UK was suffering drought conditions, practically unheard of in Spring but not quite so much in Summer although even then never usually lasting more than a few weeks. This year the UK is hosting the Olympic Games as we all know and it would be nice for the weather to be fine for all the outdoor meetings but we cannot rely on that. In many countries the weather is predictable but here in the UK it most certainly is not. The best we can hope for and predict with any accuracy is only a week or so in advance and even then it can change unexpectedly. Flaming June? We’ll see!
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Weather | Tagged: June, Met Office, Olympic Games, Summer, Weather | Leave a Comment »
