We used to call it winter
By Steve Sharp
As an island nation where the seasons come and go, it’s little wonder that we are always talking about the weather. We are famous for it, ridiculed even, but we are addicted to the topic and just can’t stop.
As a child growing up in Yorkshire, I can remember playing in the snow with woollen mittens which became literal ice blocks and feet so cold you couldn’t feel your toes, but above all I remember it was fun.
Similarly in Summer we played in the sunshine on Bridlington beach until our skin turned red with no knowledge of the importance of suntan lotion. If it was too hot, we sought some shade and sucked an ice cube, or got out a hose pipe.
Yes, I know that global warming pushed the temperature up to record high this year, but did we really need the nanny state advice issued by the UKHSA to stay indoors with the curtains closed from 11am to 3pm, take a cool shower and keep a damp towel on the back of your neck! We are grown-ups and know what to do. We liked the heat so much that we travelled in the millions to places like Spain on package holidays to stifle in it.
Now we feel the first chill of winter and see a dollop of snow they are at it again, dishing out advice on keeping warm. And the Met Office have joined in by making the weather appear scarier by giving cold snaps threatening names. Previously we had The Beast from the East, which sounds like a Hammer House of Horrors movie. Now it’s The Troll of Trondheim, presumably named after a nasty mythical creature sent to make us suffer.
Far from it. It turns out that Trondheim is actually a rather attractive city in Norway where they celebrate the cold weather.
Looking into it further I found that the real Troll of Trondheim is a rather fancy restaurant in the town which pictures some delicious looking fare on its website!
On Monday we drove from Henley-on Thames to Suffolk, which took us through Essex and past Stanstead airport, which had just reopened after snow clearance. On the radio there were endless dire warnings and commentary from travellers who had encountered what appeared to be minor hold ups on their way to work.
Of course, you must adapt to the conditions but it’s normal for this country.
Along the way we saw lovely snowy scenes of Great Britain as we got off the beaten track and felt the crunch of fresh snow under the tyres.
We absolutely loved it!
The Troll of Trondheim. Yes please.
Steve
