Thursday 5 August 2010

How Cold?

I'm preparing for our flight to England on Saturday, clothing being number one on the list, although there is, of course, the shopping list I always get from friends and family before leaving these shores. To my utter horror I have discovered that Newcastle and its surrounding tundra will be in the low 60's for the next ten days. (I couldn't bear to look at the longer term forecast.) What the heck Tyneside? It's over 90 and swamp like here and I was looking forward to a "hot" English summer, ie. in the 70's. When I was in London in early July it was boiling. Moan, Whine. Moan.

I mean this is my summer holiday.

And all my heavy clothes are packed away under my bed. I don't even know if I can fit into my jeans. I usually have a couple of weeks' notice when the weather here starts cooling off. I'm not suddenly plunged into tight, restrictive clothing after two months of wearing shorts and t-shirts.  Moan. Whine. Moan.

The Little Guy has outgrown all his long trousers (we had an hilarious trying on session last night) and I'm not going out to buy more now as they'll be too short by the time he goes back to school in September. (Trust me on this one.) I'll just have to make him wear shorts with his sweatshirts and turn a blind eye to the huge goose pimples that will cover his little legs. I may buy a few pairs in the sales when I'm over there but only if the prices don't make my eyeballs bleed. (Converting everything into dollars probably doesn't help. I spent my earlier trip saying "How Much?" every ten seconds.)

Still moaning and whining.

It's not that I don't want to come to England. I do. I come every year, rain or shine. Sometimes however, it would be nice to know that the weather would be fine instead of having to pack for four potential seasons.

So I'm asking everyone over the Pond to think warm, sunny thoughts for the little island over the next few weeks.  And I promise I won't moan about anything else.  Except perhaps the prices.



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20 comments:

  1. Good luck with that one. I got lucky in late June, early July and hit the heat wave. Just posted some of my pics on my blog. Will be thinking of you with your Newcastle Brown as I sip my Pimms by the pool. ;-)

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  2. jeez you are coming over again....l must be doing something wrong i fact l know l am ...after years of travel and living abroad it all came to halt in 1991 when we had our first child...and Thatchers rule etc..

    but it seems many bloggers get about a bit...it cant just be me....!!

    have fun

    saz x

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  3. I'm the same, we're going back in 10 days and I just can't believe I am going to be packing jeans and sweaters. Mind you, it's been so hot and humid here that it might be a welcome relief....

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  4. Hi Tony dont worry about clothes in Newcastle we have a great Primark Matalan Asda also thousands of charity shops you will have a ball. Looking forward to seing you all. You wont even think about the weather, the Geordie welcome will warm you up. xxx

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  5. quit your whining and pick me up some wool tights at M&S...havent they heard of wool tights over here yet! Have fun.

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  6. loved the needing a few weeks notice for jeans wearing again - so true. your're right, it is bloody cold here at the moment, and my jeans are disgustingly tight. have a great trip!

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  7. A suggestion if you don't minding just a few dollars to avoid the goosebumps:
    When my cousin wants to clothe her kids for a short while (i.e. disposable clothes) she shops at thrift stores (Salvation Army, Good Will...) and then she can afford to have them wear it once and then throw it out when the road trip is over...or when ever they throw up on it, whichever comes first.

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  8. Love that suggestion (I work all year putting the school garage/jumble sale on, so know that market very well). However, I am leaving on Saturday and don't have time to shop.
    Will look very closely at the sales in England.

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  9. I'm about to head back for a visit too. Hadn't even thought of looking at the weather forecast! Am now plunged into cold weather dispair.....

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  10. Have a lovely trip! I'm so jealous as I haven't been back since 2008. We're going next year though.
    Shorts & sweatshirt is great weather!

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  11. This discussion is focusing my mind on the fact that I am going to Orkney (from Sydney, approximately 34 hours travel in tandem with smallest child, enough to make me hysterical to start with) in a couple of weeks and have a sneaky suspicion that Orkney summer may be colder than Sydney winter. Will regard your trip to Tynecastle as litmus test on whether to pack shorts or not!

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  12. It isn't *that* cold over here - I'm still in summer weight clothes and bare legs (albeit with a cardigan, and the obligatory umbrella).
    Plus the weather's been so variable this week, the forecast will probably have changed by the time your 'plane lands anyway!

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  13. It's COLD. We've been out in jerseys for the past week. It gets nice in the afternoons but the mornings and evenings are brisk. It was BEAUTIFUL for two months and now it's cool. I kind of like it so I'm happy. But I'm heading to the US and our lake house where it's hotter than the hinges on teh gates of hell right now!

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  14. I really envy the heat you are leaving and yes the British summer seems to have been and gone, booo. we went camping last year and it was a joke the amount of clothes I packed as I had to account for all weathers in June, and the thought if we all got wet we'd also need changes of clothes as we couldnt dry them! Will do some sun dancing for you in the hope it comes out, bring it with you please!

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  15. The weathers going to change. In any case it doesn't always do what is predicted!
    Hope you won't need your winter woolies. I am banking on a few weeks of sunshine.
    Enjoy it.
    Maggie X

    Nuts in May

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  16. Well, it's been SO hot and humid here in New York (it's been downright stifling at times) that I would welcome a holiday with temps in the 60's with open arms! Haha. Enjoy your trip back to England! I hope you have a great time! :)

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  17. I hear your pain. Have a great time I'm going in November and cannot wait. Its funny how the english cold really gets into your bones! Thermals are always a good investment!

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  18. Metropolitan MumSunday, 08 August, 2010

    How funny. I have just posted about how fed up I am with the English summer. It's AUGUST for crying out loud!!!

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  19. The prices, yes, the prices!

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