HEATWAVE COMING SOON? ASK AN ANT OR BLAME A BISHOP
Well the agony is over. However you voted on July 4, the endless photo opps with candidates kissing babies, stacking supermarket shelves and getting down and dirty with the locals over a pint, is finally over for another few years. How ironic though that while we were being press-ganged into the polling booths, America was celebrating Independence Day in style, with fireworks, barbecues, parties and fun. I know what I would have preferred.
But at least summer seems to have finally arrived. We’ve got through Wimbledon with a Brit and partner winning the men’s doubles. The footie? Well let’s not go there. All I will say is that we did make it to the finals which slightly surprised me. Am I allowed to say that?
Meanwhile we have Flying Ant Day coming up any time soon. The ants decide this when conditions are just right. It has to be the perfect combination of warmth and humidity for them to spread their wings. It might this month, maybe next or they might just not bother.
However there’s one fixed date in the July calendar that is really important. July 15 is St Swithin’s Day. Named after a seventh century bishop of Winchester who asked not to be buried in a prominent place in the cathedral but outside ‘where the sweet rain of heaven may fall upon my grave.’ The old chap unwittingly condemned us to a frequently wet summer, if the rain fell on July 15. Well it rained here that day but the wobbly forecast looks a bit better. So maybe the old boy is being kind to us this year. Watch this space. I certainly am….
And here’s another factette about the weather. A well known TV weatherman told Jane, our press officer, that basically there’s a 70 per cent chance of the weather being the same tomorrow. I’m always happy to pass on useful tips!
Along with these jokes I have shamelessly nicked from the Met Office news team:
Q: What’s the difference between the weather and climate?
A: You can’t weather a tree but you can climate.
This nice weather doesn’t fool me one bit. It’s just a front.
What did the cloud say to the sun? I’ve got you covered.
I think I can just hear the sound of your sides splitting plus uncontrollable laughter.
Anyway, whatever the weather, I hope you’re getting ready for some summer fun wherever you are. But come rain or come shine, you can confidently schedule in a few games of skittles in your local pub or club where it will be warm and dry. Meanwhile the forecasters are predicting another heatwave soon. When’s soon? Better ask the ants.
Here’s to happy times ahead
Love Rachel x
