Stormy Weather II

[johncorrigan]

Big feature up here is WIND - burgeoning plants being run ragged even before blooming!

Wind is awful out there these last few days. We live in a pretty exposed position but this takes the biscuit for spring/summer. No sign of it relenting.

[Petrushka]

I have been worried by visual field defect symptoms for the last couple of years, possibly signalling hypertension: it's very strange suddenly being visually subjected to blank patches and strange rippling effects lasting around 20 minutes, which I had put down to not wearing sun glasses while out, but the nice doctor couple in one of the flats here were concerned for me to get a blood pressure test.

Strongly recommend you see your optician if you have any vision worries rather than the local surgery who are not likely to be anywhere near competent to give you an accurate diagnosis. After all, vision is not their specialist field while the optician will have the right equipment and knowledge.

Having said all that, I have had these blank patches and rippling effects for years. While I do have ocular hypertension/glaucoma, my optician said that the effects you mention are like a migraine without the headache. It may also be because you are tired. The effects come on for around ten minutes and last another ten before fading quickly and I get them fairly infrequently, often not for several weeks then a couple of days in a row.

It can all feel a bit unsettling when it happens, so see your optician who should put your mind at rest. Vision problems shouldn't be ignored.

[Serial_Apologist]

Strongly recommend you see your optician if you have any vision worries rather than the local surgery who are not likely to be anywhere near competent to give you an accurate diagnosis. After all, vision is not their specialist field while the optician will have the right equipment and knowledge.

Having said all that, I have had these blank patches and rippling effects for years. While I do have ocular hypertension/glaucoma, my optician said that the effects you mention are like a migraine without the headache. It may also be because you are tired. The effects come on for around ten minutes and last another ten before fading quickly and I get them fairly infrequently, often not for several weeks then a couple of days in a row.

It can all feel a bit unsettling when it happens, so see your optician who should put your mind at rest. Vision problems shouldn't be ignored.

Thanks Pet - exactly as I have been experiencing, starting some 4 years ago. I do tend to push myself, as anyone who will have read my bicycling boasts here will know - possibly further than a 76-year old should. And as often the case in this age group my sleep patterns are somewhat irregular. They're now telling us a half hour to hour-long afternoon naps can prove restorative. And in any case, yes, I really should get my eyes tested.

[Old Grumpy]

Is this you showing off your wannabe look, S_A?

If so, sadly I think your desired eyeware will not improve your vision!

[oddoneout]

Big feature up here is WIND - burgeoning plants being run ragged even before blooming!

Tell me about it! Having finally had some desperately needed rain this week, the sun and increasing wind (gusting low 30s this afternoon) yesterday and today are doing an effective job of removing it all and - adding insult to injury - mashing the burst of soft growth prompted by the rain.
The written forecast summary for the next couple of days is completely at odds with the symbol version based on local Met Office recording station, something I've been noticing more often. I have a suspicion that, like the TV version of regions over the years, the boundaries have changed and "East of England" includes a much bigger area than previously (not just East Anglia any more), so increasing the margin for error/disparity. Tiresome, as it means that reading the summary to get the gist quickly is not a lot of use any more.

[Serial_Apologist]

Tell me about it! Having finally had some desperately needed rain this week, the sun and increasing wind (gusting low 30s this afternoon) yesterday and today are doing an effective job of removing it all and - adding insult to injury - mashing the burst of soft growth prompted by the rain.
The written forecast summary for the next couple of days is completely at odds with the symbol version based on local Met Office recording station, something I've been noticing more often. I have a suspicion that, like the TV version of regions over the years, the boundaries have changed and "East of England" includes a much bigger area than previously (not just East Anglia any more), so increasing the margin for error/disparity. Tiresome, as it means that reading the summary to get the gist quickly is not a lot of use any more.

Speaking of which, I for one have been grumbling about the increased margins for error for some time - today being an example - the weatherperson stating that temperatures were to reach between 16 and 19C generally, possibly as high as 21 or 22C in the far south. That's a huge differential to base the clobber one is going to choose to wear!

[BBMmk2]

It looks as if we are in for some elevated thundery activity from Saturday night through to Monday, as a small upper air low advects hot air of Moroccan origin across England. This is my favourite kind of weather, Spanish Plume, with its frequently Dali-esque skies, clouds at various levels moving in different directions, strobe lightning effects when it really gets going (sometimes).

First thing this morning was ideal for a 3-mile cycle journey to the Tessa Jowell medical unit to get my annual sugar level etc blood tests, and, on the way back, popped into the local surgery for a blood pressure test, with results reassuringly within safe limits staff told me - I have been worried by visual field defect symptoms for the last couple of years, possibly signalling hypertension: it's very strange suddenly being visually subjected to blank patches and strange rippling effects lasting around 20 minutes, which I had put down to not wearing sun glasses while out, but the nice doctor couple in one of the flats here were concerned for me to get a blood pressure test.

That’s quite handy, having that doctor couple! Good of them to point that out to you.

Lovely day here, today.

[Serial_Apologist]

That’s quite handy, having that doctor couple! Good of them to point that out to you.

Lovely day here, today.

I know - I feel unintentionally advantaged and guilty about it. But what do you say when one of them asks, "How are you?"

Meanwhile, brilliant sunshine down here, lots a-going on with the annual Dulwich Festival. Just back from Bell House, a lovely mid-Georgian house in "the village" which is open free for an exhibition themed to John Berger's "Ways of Seeing" - not that you'd really notice: I was wondering what the couple who greeted each other like characters from "Made in Chelsea" would have made of them - him saying "Well I'm just back from Buenos Aires and had a few hours to spare in London, so... as happens I'm off to Tokyo this evening". Or the young lady in sunglasses taking a photo of a red sports car parked in the drive and exclaiming "Oh isn't it beeeeautiful!" Most of the event consisted of misty photographs of trees or leaves with sunshine through them. However there was one exhibit which was disturbing to say the least. One room displayed mainly paintings of seated young bare legged female models, bags over heads extended down to hips level, holes cut out for the eyes. Outside the door was a sculpture dressed the same, seated in the posture of a shop front (wo)mannekin, clasping the festival programme in one hand on her lap, looking so realistic one could not help but go up to it to see what materials it was made of. But said sculpture was actually a LIVING WOMAN! - who, if addressed, silently held up a sheave of cards, Bob Dylan-style, each bearing a single word such as "Hello" or "Sexy"!

There are a number of open garden events around London, this weekend and next, where one can often enjoy warm welcomes, interesting garden layouts and planting schemes, delicious home-made cakes and biscuits with tea out in the open splendour or intimacy, and sometimes be offered fascinating stories about the places. Entry charges tend to range from £6-12, monies over and above the cost to the exhibitors, usually the home owners, going to reputable charities. One such as Hill House, a Victorian Swiss chalet-style residence at the top of the neighbouring hill, which sports a magical woodland garden if twisting pathways and sculptures, which I make a point of visiting every year, sometimes meeting up with friends, but missed out on last year as they were restricting visitor numbers and one had to book ahead. I shall be up there tomorrow.

[DracoM]

Sweltering here.

[Joseph K]

Not sweltering here fortunately, but last night was the first warm night of the year - that is to say, where I wanted my feet uncovered. Loads of rainfall last night - I was expecting today to be rained off, but hopefully there can't be that much more rain after the downpour through the night...

[Jonathan]

Fantastic weather yesterday so spent a very enjoyable couple of hours in the beer garden of on of our local pubs. Food was good too!

Very dull this morning though, shame.

[gurnemanz]

Fantastic weather yesterday so spent a very enjoyable couple of hours in the beer garden of on of our local pubs. Food was good too!

Very dull this morning though, shame.

Visiting daughter in Streatham to attend yesterday's Crystal Palace Beer Festival. Opened by P Vieira himself. Sunny afternoon spent drinking ale while sitting in the shade of the Holmesdale stand at Selhurst Park. Good session. Cup Final on big screen but we sloped off at half time.

[BBMmk2]

SA yes, thunderstorms today! Rain, at the moment.

[Serial_Apologist]

Well, just maybe - more likely tonight than last night, apparently, BBM. Just hope this afternoon's local open garden event doesn't get rained off, as happened last year. Lots of washing on the line, too!

Edit: Moderate rain now falling here.

[oddoneout]

Somewhat on the cool side, being overcast with an easterly airflow, but getting quite warm for a while after lunch when the sun broke through. The forecast rain didn't come to anything hereabouts, although there is a slight chance of some coming later. Yesterday was summer - wall to wall sunshine and feeling very warm.