Tuesday, May 28, 2013

YOU CAN HEAR A SMILE :)

Nearly a week ago, I was dressed for winter, wearing a scarf, a really long padded coat topped off with woolly hat and gloves, this being de rigeur for staying warm outdoors.  We were having a few days where the temperatures descended, one day, reaching the unexpected depth of 7.5 degrees Celsius, (45.5 Fahrenheit).  It sleeted; on high ground it snowed and occasionally, after a short let up, hailstones descended upon us.  At least, whatever dropped from the sky dropped vertically.  It was way past the middle of May......... Confused? My body clock was. I refused to wear boots, that is, unless I got so cold I could not bear to have a bit of exposed upper foot, (covered in a thick sock).  The trouser hems did a good additional job of protecting them, and I got through the day without crunching through the psychological barrier of putting boots on.


Snowdrops

Imagine, then, my surprise when speaking to a friend in London UK,  on the 28th May 2013,  a week after our mid-May Winter weather experiences, hearing her say virtually the same things about the weather there in London, which is hundreds of miles further south from where I live in the North.  In London it was about 8 degrees Celsius, (46.4 F) she said, and she had put on her boots!   I couldn't help it, I  commiserated with a smile at my end of the phone.....she said she could 'hear' it.   I admitted to it. However, I did say to her..... It's blowing a gale here, but, it is lovely and sunny, and I think the temperature is due to rise to a high of about 12 degrees Celsius, (53.6 F).  I have never had a weather conversation like this between here and London UK, so many hundreds of miles south, where, at this time of the year, the weather is always warmer; it was upsidedown,  so deliciously perverse.

It was pleasant being out  today, wearing a light fleece and sandals.   You could have knocked me down with a feather, when, according to the temperature gauge it reached 17.5 Celsius, 
(63.5 F).  The wind chill must have made it feel cooler.  

Tonight, as I look out of my open window I see it is still bright, there is a golden glow suspended around us as far as the eye can see.  The fierce winds seem to have subsided, the branches of the few trees that there are, are fairly still.  I can hear a bird sing, it is sweet.  Sheep and their sturdy lambs are grazing leisurely in the nearby fields.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds a beautiful day, as May should be. I still haven't dared put away my winter clothes in favour of my summer ones.

Snowbird said...

I CANNOT believe the weather you've had....it's incredible. We're having a cold wet windy spring too, and I fear for the summer....

Lovely pic of the sheep and lambs, here's to a little sunshine coming your way and the putting away of the boots....xxxx

Jennytc said...

Scotland did well last year too, as I recall, something to do with the Gulf Stream. I have told Keith that if this year is similar, we are emigrating to Scotland. ;)

Anonymous said...

It's ever more topsy-turvy weather that's for sure, and it's been the coldest spring here in 30 years. Flighty xx

Anonymous said...

nice picture of the sheep...

Anonymous said...

We live in the West of Scotland, and were somewhat worried when we had folk coming from the Netherlands to stay with us last week. We needn't have worried....the weather was gorgeous, and Argyle and Perthshire were seen at their best.

This compared with the rather miserable weather in Holland over the same period. they want to return the favour, but I'm not sure we can take the risk of going there!

keiko amano said...

ZACL,

I'm glad you have good weather. I hope the weather keeps that up. Over here in Yokohama, it goes up and down, but it was up today, so I'm pretty happy, too.

About the photo of snowdrops, it's beautiful. I love snowdrops. It's amazing how they are growing in groups. I've never seen such a scene. You're lucky.

Also, you're lucky to be near those baby sheep.

keiko amano said...

Oops. Lambs, not baby sheep.

ZACL said...

Hi Jennyta,

sorry about the slow response. I have just found a whole pile of comments to posts in my spam box! When you mark one interloper as spam, the mail system seems to take on a campaign of its own and put everyone else in it as well!

Re weather; the West of Scotland had a remarkable spell of good weather last year, narrowly avoiding a drought. I'm afraid on the East side, we fared a bit differently.

Yup it is gulf stream games - I keep talking about the Jet Stream; planes on the brain I think. :)

ZACL said...

Well GillyK,

We have a saying "ne'er cast a clout till May is out." We don't. Irrespective of a special day, I still nip indoors for a cardi or a jumper.

ZACL said...

Snowbird, we have had a bit better share of pleasant weather than in recent previous years. I hope it starts to settle into a more stable and comfortable pattern, very soon. xx

ZACL said...

Yes, Spring has been very cold Mr F. We've all been feeling it and plant life demonstrates it. xx

ZACL said...

Those sheep did make for a sweet picture composition and the light was right too. It was, Shimon, a picture taken in a different year. :)

ZACL said...

Hello Irish Pisky,

Sorry about the delayed reply - I found many comments to posts in the spam box. My mail system seems to decide its own guidelines, I sometimes think.

Holland might be a nice trip later on. Just be prepared!

ZACL said...

Nice to hear from you Keiko. Sorry about the delayed reply. My mail box has been sending comments to the spam bin. I have just found lots of them there.

I have never seen snowdrops in singly; I have only ever seen them in clumps, even when I lived in the South of England. They are lovely to look at.

This year's lambs have been strong and very playful.