It's July - the monsoon season.
Prior to finishing work for the summer, on the 28th June, there had hardly been a drop of rain for three months. The last day at work is a conference in the Conference Hall in the local park. The day started off lovely, hot sunshine as we all strolled through the park from the college car park. At 4PM, just as we were about to leave, the rain started and it has done nothing but rain since.
Friends and family tell me that I am lucky to get two months off work every "summer". The thing is, I don't have two months off in summer. I have July and August off and they are definately not "summer". Since the climate changed, April, May and June are summer in the UK and have been for a number of years. July and August are grey skies, high winds and torrential rain, with annual floods leaving thousands homeless. I have actually emailed both Cameron and Clegg, with the suggestion that the Con-Dem coalition could make itself appear more in touch with reality than the previous Government if it was to move the seasons to more accurately reflect the type of weather we experience in certain months. By moving summer to April, May and June, rather than June, July and August as it is now, people would then be more willing to take holidays at home, boosting the tourist industry and local economies, rather that having to flee abroad for some sunshine in July and August. Schools and colleges should shut in May and June rather than July and August, giving young people the chance to get out in the fresh air and exercise, rather than sheltering in their rooms with their X-Box as they are forced to do in July and August.
We can't change the climate back to what it once was, but we can adapt to the change.