Stormy Weather II

[oddoneout]

In theory the rain is spreading SE, ie from you to me, which would be useful, especially as it's forecast to arrive overnight. However even since 8am this morning the forecast has become less in terms of time here and amount so whether we'll actually have anything remains to be seen.
At least it's cooler today - noticeably so first thing when I put the washing out. The strong wind isn't so welcome, not least for kicking the dust up to add to the irritation from high pollen levels.

[DracoM]

Well, now @ 11.30 a.m., it is whacking it down - wind and rain thrashing trees - temp 11C.
Huh!
Coming your way? Hmmm... OK, so lucky me (ha), and very unlucky you!
Feels Autumnal already.

[Pulcinella]

Light rain and only 16C here in York.

Warming lasagna taking the place of salad for supper tonight: a pot of spag bol sauce just retrieved from the freezer.
Soup for lunch, too!

[Serial_Apologist]

Thickening cloud all day so far - nothing pre-frontal, that will come much later, but rolling stratocumulus typical of moist maritime-tropical moderate south-westerlies. A humid 23C.

Thankfully no treatment needed on the six monthly dental appointment this morning, just the usual scrape-and-polish. The practice has been taken over by the younger sister of the one previously presiding for many decades until retiring last year, and a drastic refurbishment has been carried out. Gone is the latter's polite but forever taciturn son, who had been the "permanent" receptionist, along with the local radio quietly soothing away in the background; all internal walls have been painted turquoise: I've no problem with that; I do however with the now-adopted anxiety-inducing convenience of placing the patient flat on their back, restricting breathing and steering saliva to the back of the throat.

[oddoneout]

Thickening cloud all day so far - nothing pre-frontal, that will come much later, but rolling stratocumulus typical of moist maritime-tropical moderate south-westerlies. A humid 23C.

Thankfully no treatment needed on the six monthly dental appointment this morning, just the usual scrape-and-polish. The practice has been taken over by the younger sister of the one previously presiding for many decades until retiring last year, and a drastic refurbishment has been carried out. Gone is the latter's polite but forever taciturn son, who had been the "permanent" receptionist, along with the local radio quietly soothing away in the background; all internal walls have been painted turquoise: I've no problem with that; I do however with the now-adopted anxiety-inducing convenience of placing the patient flat on their back, restricting breathing and steering saliva to the back of the throat.

Ask to be elevated from the horizontal; there is a compromise to be reached between that which is most convenient for the dentist and that which causes you less physical discomfort - not least as you are the paying(handsomely I assume, or are you NHS - an extinct species here) customer! I've always had difficulty with being too flat due to an over-enthusiastic gag reflex so always have to negotiate with anyone new(which is most of them in the last 6 years or so) to be inclined not flat. More recently the arthritis in my neck has caused issues with being too flat as there is then no support as there is a gap between the headrest and the back of the couch(painful and sometimes causes dizziness) so now I ask for their bolster shaped cushion as well.

And as for the weather - the great bank of rain cloud on the map is breaking up as it goes over such that where I am is in the gaps, which is reflected in the sky - thin high cloud and quite a lot of glimpses of blue sky... There have been a few spots of rain, but due to the wind they haven't even managed to reach the ground for the most part.

[Old Grumpy]

Overnight rain and rain through most of the morning and early afternoon has filled the streams and becks to the extent that rivers in the valleys have burst their banks and flooded surrounding fields. Gondola trips on Coniston Water have were cancelled today due to a rise in water level.

Since around 1700h there have been clear skies and sunshine evolving into a lovely evening. Rivet levels are already dropping (as they told me they would in the local Co--op this morning.

[oddoneout]

Well the dirty weather dishcloth had been wrung out and hung up to dry by the time it got here. A little bit of rain overnight, which freshened things up and encouraged marauding molluscs to venture out for a refuel, but left the soil still dry.

[Petrushka]

One of the more odd things about this summer is the frequent number of days when there has been huge, thick, black clouds but no rain. It looks as if a thunderstorm is imminent but it never happens.

On the whole it's felt much more like a 1960s summer, at least here, a few nice days but mostly ordinary, with no records broken.

[Serial_Apologist]

Ask to be elevated from the horizontal; there is a compromise to be reached between that which is most convenient for the dentist and that which causes you less physical discomfort - not least as you are the paying(handsomely I assume, or are you NHS - an extinct species here) customer! I've always had difficulty with being too flat due to an over-enthusiastic gag reflex so always have to negotiate with anyone new(which is most of them in the last 6 years or so) to be inclined not flat. More recently the arthritis in my neck has caused issues with being too flat as there is then no support as there is a gap between the headrest and the back of the couch(painful and sometimes causes dizziness) so now I ask for their bolster shaped cushion as well.

And as for the weather - the great bank of rain cloud on the map is breaking up as it goes over such that where I am is in the gaps, which is reflected in the sky - thin high cloud and quite a lot of glimpses of blue sky... There have been a few spots of rain, but due to the wind they haven't even managed to reach the ground for the most part.

Most grateful for your advice re the dentist, odders. I will definitely put this suggestion to her on my next visit, in February.

Beautiful weather today - my ideal type: light westerly, brilliant visibility, temperature warm enough not to have to put on a jacket for cycling, but not too warm. Unfortunately that westerly is always an indication of eventual deterioration (or "deteriation" as people so often say!): in this case with a re-invigorated Atlantic jet resulting from the first of the season's ex-hurricanes joining the "queue" to bring rain back on Tuesday, and probably Thursday. So, Sunday and Monday could be my last opportunities for the two long rides I like to do at least once per year.

[Serial_Apologist]

Good reasons in this useful Indie article as to why we needn't be ashamed for complaining when British summers overheat:

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/uk-heatwave-hot-humid-air-con-fan-cool-b2595039.html

[Serial_Apologist]

Solid stratocumulus sheet established since 1pm down here. However there was just enough weak sun for this morning's ride out to bring the temperature up to 20C, the cool breeze off the Thames which then picked up making for a comfortable non-dehydrating return journey. S Dulwich -> Herne Hill -> Clapham Common -> Wandsworth TV -> Putney Bridge -> Barnes Common -> Barnes Bridge -> Mortlake Bridge -> Chiswick Green/Hogarth Roundabout -> South Mall -> Hammersmith Bridge N -> Fulham Palace (snack lunch) -> Wandsworth Bridge -> Battersea -> Clapham Common -> S Circular to Streatham Hill and Tulse Hill -> W Norwood -> home. Roughly 23 miles in all - 2 hours each way with half hour lunch break. The bit I like best, which is also one of my favourite self-propelled trips anywhere, is the riverside stretch from Barnes Bridge to Mortlake - the rough riverside path between the river and Georgian houses along the Mortlake road, the views each way from Mortlake bridge; and finally the countryside feel of the paths lining the river on the Chiswick to Hammersmith riverside stretch again passing impressive Queen Anne and early Georgian houses, terraces and pubs. The 15th century Fulham Palace with its C18 Capability Brown style and C17 formal gardens is in the centre of its own oasis of calm in Bishop's Park, with Fulham FC ground at the far end (!) - overhead passing planes do not really disturb the peace.

[DracoM]

Well, up here on western edge of Pennines, it is thrashing it down in viciously gusty westerlies.

[vinteuil]

The bit I like best, which is also one of my favourite self-propelled trips anywhere, is the riverside stretch from Barnes Bridge to Mortlake - the rough riverside path between the river and Georgian houses along the Mortlake road, the views each way from Mortlake bridge; and finally the countryside feel of the paths lining the river on the Chiswick to Hammersmith riverside stretch again passing impressive Queen Anne and early Georgian houses, terraces and pubs. The 15th century Fulham Palace with its C18 Capability Brown style and C17 formal gardens is in the centre of its own oasis of calm in Bishop's Park, with Fulham FC ground at the far end (!) - overhead passing planes do not really disturb the peace.

... now there 's a man who appreciates my part of London!

[Serial_Apologist]

... now there 's a man who appreciates my part of London!

That part - with the exception of Furnival Gardens which you probably remember as the creek, more recently restored to an idyllic simulacrum for the eventual enjoyment of walkers, cyclists, landscape artists and skate boarders - represents a little enclave of pre-industrial age London which luckily survived when the A4 extension and later link to the M4 was pushed through. I do wonder if William Morris might have been half thinking about that district when he penned News from Nowhere*, living part of his life at Kelmscott House just through the alleyway connecting the two riverside Malls, Upper and Lower. Located at that junction point, the Dove pub, I noticed yesterday, has PC-ly removed from its outside all references to Nell Gwynne and to James Thomson's having written the words to Rule Britannia while presumably overindulging there!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_from_Nowhere

[vinteuil]

. I do wonder if William Morris might have been half thinking about that district when he penned News from Nowhere*, living part of his life at Kelmscott House just through the alleyway connecting the two riverside Malls, Upper and Lower

... I think it very likely. I lived for a time in the basement flat of the Emery Walker house, 7 Hammersmith Terrace - he was a serious mate of Wm: Morris, several of whose things are kept there ...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7_Hammersmith_Terrace

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emery_Walker

https://www.emerywalker.org.uk/

.