Summers in England cannot be guaranteed. Ask anyone who lives here.
But this summer has been the worst for a long time, especially in the East of England where I live, which has languished under gloomy cloud cover for what seems like months. Yesterday, It was dark while I was making breakfast, and the sun hadn’t appeared by the time I took Ollie out for his walk, at 1:40pm.
The temperature was only 16C (60F) and it was unusually windy for August too.
Since he had his Vet treatments on Wednesday, Ollie has improved immensely. He was pleased to get out over to Beetley Meadows, and it wasn’t too long before he was running into the river for a refreshing drink. As we walked around the riverside path after, the shoulder high nettles were on the move. Stirred by the wind, they seemed to be reaching out to others across the path, in the hope of stinging me as I passed by.
Like some kind of anchored monster, their tendrils waved in the breeze, almost as if they sensed my arrival. I had to weave in and out of the extended nettle heads, stopping occasionally to bash down some of the most impassable ones with my trusty dog-walking stick.
Oblivious as ever, Ollie trotted on, sniffing and marking. But he had no canine companions yesterday. Local dog-walkers were either away on holiday, or not willing to chance the possibility of rain.
When that rain arrived, it was nothing to speak of. Little more than tangible moisture in the air, followed by a few very determined individual drops that had escaped the heavy clouds overhead. Not even enough to wet my uncovered head.
After less than ninety minutes, Ollie’s enthusiasm waned, and I sensed he was preferring the idea of his dinner, to more walking. So we headed out of the alley at the far end of Beetley Meadows, with Ollie sniffing and marking the spots he had missed earlier.
I was left reflecting that it hadn’t felt much like a late-August dog walk. More like late March.
Oh, I like that kind of report so much. 🙂
Best wishes, Irene
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That was a strange walk for August, Irene. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I wish, we would be in March, and a true summer would come. Actually we have some warmer days, with around 22 degrees (C), but during the night you can feel the arriving winter. xx Michael
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We were very lucky with warm and sunny weather on our holiday, Michael. It is still very warm in Beetley this evening.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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The weather has been either pouring rain and cold, or blistering hot. It’s a pendulum this summer. Like you, I agree that constant gray skies are depressing. I’m glad Ollie is okay.
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Thanks, Jennie. The short holiday made up for that miserable August.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I’m so glad, Pete.
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Although your weather isn’t great, I’ll take it over the terrible heat other parts of the world have experienced this summer. It is easier to put on more clothes and light a fire than take off your skin.
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Yes that’s true, Robbie. However, weeks on end with no sunlight at all get very depressing, I can assure you.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Yes, I can imagine.
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Like Arlene, we mainly have rain at night and sunny days however today its 7.27 am and very dull the sun obviously is having a lie in today xx
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Same here. Still only 15C today. Some of my neighbours have got their central heating on. In August!
Best wishes, Pete. x
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It might be cooler but no central heating req here.. Thats one thing I don’t miss.. X
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Just had an oil delivery, ready for when we switch it on in October. x
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Lovely.. Central heating didn’t agree with me I would get skin rashes and if I got a cold It would go to my chest.. Winter was horrific for me then I would need an inhaler.. I get none of that here.. My health is so much better here.. x
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Moving there proved to be an all-round good choice for you, Carol.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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Crazy how different our weather is Pete, we’ve been inundated with long hot days, no rain at all, just heat and humidity. I’m so ready for winter. Being Swedish I like the cold! So good to hear Ollie and feeling better! Now you can enjoy your holiday, C
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Thanks, Cheryl. At least it didn’t rain today. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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so glad that Ollie responded to his treatment! it is hot and humid here Pete with pockets of thunderstorms regularly. keep safe.
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Continuing chilly and dull here. Hard to believe it is still August.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Wow! We are having monsoon, so there are days when roads look like rivers, and yet, days when the sun is so hot that you wonder if you prefer torrential rains. In fact, the humidity makes the heat oppressive. I am waiting for winters to begin.
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We just had no Summer at all. It didn’t arrive. Today is 15C and gloomy here. Lights on in th house in the morning.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I’m pleased to hear that Ollie responded so well to his treatments. If he weren’t doing well, that would have made for a miserable holiday.
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Thanks, Pete. Yes, we would have spent the holiday worrying about him.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Glad Ollie is improving. Those nettles weaving about trying to get you sounded quite terrifying! We’ve had a few days of lovely weather but today the gloom seems to have come back. It’s dark already tonight and it’s only 8,30pm
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The nettles did seem to be sentient, Mary. They were changing direction to get me! (Or maybe it was the wind… 🙂 )
The west of the country has had the better weather for a change, so I am glad for you.
Best wishes, Pete.
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We’ve supposedly had 2.84 inches of rain here in Las Vegas so far this year. But some parts of the valley are more likely to get rain than others. I’d say it’s been dry as a bone in my neighborhood, but that would underestimate the moisture in a bone.
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I don’t envy the desert heat, David. Some vestige of a summer would have been nice though.
Best wishes, Pete.
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It has been too hot and humid here. Your day sounds rather divine to me. So glad Ollie is feeling better.
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Thanks, Maggie. We have had so long with chilly dull days and cloudy skies. I don’t want excessive heat, just some blue skies and no need to wear extra layers. Too late for this year now, I suspect.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I hope you have some warm and sunny days on your holiday, Pete.
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That’ll teach ’em! 😆 🤣 😂
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Glad Ollie is better, Pete…question: doesn’t anyone ever use those wild nettles to make nettle soup? I’ve seen it done once – unique to be sure!
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All sorts of things can be made from nettles, apparently. But it’s a ‘craft thing’ that not many seem to know about. We have so many here, they could make a thousand gallons of soup and still not notice any difference. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Your narrative on the moving nettles was superb! They stood no chance against your walking stick…
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It’s a very big stick, Nadine!
Best wishes, Pete.
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We actually had a lovely sunny day here yesterday, after the early cloud had shifted, but it’s back to gloomy cloud & breezy today, I’m afraid; it didn’t stop us walking into town for a couple of hours, then back home via the clifftop, though, so I’ll be ready for a siesta in a little while 😉 Cheers, Jon.
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Enjoy your nap, Jon. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I remember summers like that. It’s why my father took employment overseas and why I left England when I was 8.
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This has been one of the worst summers for a few years, Carolyn. But mainly in the east of the country, where I live.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I just returned from Arran Island and had 5 days of sunshine!! I guess I was lucky.
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The west of Britain has enjoyed good weather. It’s just the eastern side that has been stuck under cloud cover for weeks on end. Glad you had a nice time, Darlene.
Best wishes, Pete.
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It is our rainy season here but it only rains at night. I prefer that to a heavy downpour.
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I wish it would only ever rain at night here, Arlene.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Strange weather here, we’ve been in grey gloom for ages, and today is no different, but yesterday Phil’s sister and hubby had a big party to celebrate their 50’th anniversary and the sun shone all day! Brian said he felt he had a guardian angel 😊.
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Glad to hear the sun shone on Brian’s party, FR.
Best wishes, Pete.
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A flash in the pan of the gloom and doom!
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At least Ollie is still the sunshine of your life!
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He certainly is, Annette. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I can definitely feel the slow slide toward fall
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Only 14C here at the moment. I wouldn’t mind a few days of summer before autumn arrives, Beth.
Best wishes, Pete.
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It’s been a bit cool here too Pete but perhaps warmer than Norfolk. Glad Ollie is well
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Thanks, Rich. We are going away next Saturday, so hoping for a change in the East to give us some sunshine in Lincolnshire.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Have a great time
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It got a bit autumnal here Pete, but the last couple of weeks have been nice again. But today at 7am there was the mist hanging in the valleys and on the mosses. Autumn is coming
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I’m going on holiday in England next Saturday. Expect an Indian Summer lasting for 7 days! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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here’s hoping 🙂
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