You really think you can predict the weather???

My last post mentioned the unpredictable weather conditions in England. Allow me to elaborate.
Yesterday, it snowed in Oxford. Oxford is beautiful when it snows, everything is washed clean and there is a carpet of white around. The spires and old college buildings are topped with white covers. It is fantastic.
So, it snowed...big deal you say. Ok, then match this.
9:00 am - dark and gloomy sky, forecast rain
10 :00 am - sleet
10:30 am - light snow
10 :45 am - snow stops
11:30 am - Sunny sky, sun shines brightly in clear blue skies
1 : 00 pm - hail. ( try cycling through hail on a punctured bike)
2: 00 pm - hail stops
2 :45 pm - rain
4 :00 pm - clear sky with icy wind blowing
5:45 pm - sun sets

Can you imagine all that in one day. Ranges the entire gamut of meteorlogical conditions. Its amazing and this of course, is only in Oxford in 9 hours of the day. Weather Gods here seem to be rather fickle and we have always been taught about the vagaries of the monsoons!!

I was also enlightened to the English weather code. Here is what is lost in translation :
"gorgeous day, isn't it?" - sunny and dry day
"its lovely today" - the sun is shining but it is also raining
"rather wet today" - rainy and gloomy day
" fresh" - 10 degrees
"nip in the air" - 5 degress
"bracing" - its so cold you couldn't care what the temperature outside was

So, today was bracing and snowing. My own reactions to the weather are a bit strange. I dont mind when it rains because usually rain in this country is a drizzle. But, I hate the rain here as it is usually accompanied by cold weather. I also do not appreciate the frosty temperatures that dominate winter, but I love the snow even though it is colder than normal when it does snow.
I know it sounds funny but like the Squidgy chocolate cake snow addles my brains!!!

To the Winter :

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?

Think not of them, thou hast thy music too.