Shite holiday weather incoming. So disappointed.

[Miljea]

Poor WFH DH and uni year-in-industry DS1. Also WFH. And a drifting off-to-uni DS2.

Just, sadly, sorting out our holiday packing, now; packed yesterday in anticipation of a sunny holiday.

Lyme Regis, cottage (£850..). So sad to be taking so much 'sun' related stuff out, as it's pointless given that we have thick cloud, then an 'unexpected deep Atlantic Low' on Tuesday/Weds. Rain for the rest of the week.

I know it can't be helped but I'm so disappointed for everyone, as we were banking on this 'amazing summer' lasting for us. But there it is.

I know others are suffering far worse. But it looked so hopeful, so positive! I was getting my hopes up that we'd have a lovely, bright, sunny, life-affirming break from WFH 4 walls!

But nope.

I'm not looking for responses, I'm just so sorry for my family who have worked so hard, for so long - with this little chink of 'yay!

But the weather will be nasty.

@HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime

If you don't like rain you should try the Norfolk coast instead next time we've had roughly 6 spells of rain the entire lockdown. There are some lovely safe sandy beaches around here.

We spent a fair bit of last summer in Norfolk and seemed to have our own microclimate, it was lovely

Empathy, OP, we're currently at the seaside and it's drizzled on and off all day and most of yesterday. I'm trying to channel DD, who's just really excited to be away :)

I know what you mean, OP. We must have had 10 years of holidays of mostly shit weather all holiday in Devon and Cornwall when the kids were little. Just at the age they like to spend time on the beach making sandcastles all day and splashing in the sea. We were always optimistic and got cottages with outside seating but it was never once hot enough to sit out in the evening and BBQ and it was usually raining and grey. I wouldn't mind but English holidays are not cheap, even if you self-cater. Even a caravan is expensive.

We did what you did and started going abroad and I'm not going to lie, it did make family holidays much more enjoyable for us all. Easier to pack too.

We are actually not long back from Dorset as canclled our hol to Tenerife. We actually had decent weather. We didn't want it roasting actually as the kids are teens now and what we like to do on an English hol these days is go walking and it's not pleasant to do when it's absolutely roasting - found that out when we arrived at Durdle Door after a strenuous clifftop walk through grey and cloudes in the morning to the sky clearing and HORDES of hot and sweaty people coming up the path towards the beach. We couldn't get a drink or anything to eat because of the queues so gave up and went back to the cottage to sit in the garden instead. It probably would have been nicer there at Durdle Door in the rain that day!

You may find it ok in the end. Our forecasts showed rain a couple of days but in the end we diddn't really have any apart from drizzle that one morning. As long as you go with the mindset that it won't be a beach holiday in the way you'd do one abroad then you'll have a great time.

At least you'll be warm and dry in a cottage and not getting very wet and windblown in a tent

You usually get good fossil hunting conditions in LR after showers and a bit of wind. You might find some good stuff!

The only thing you can guarantee at the moment is the forecast bears very little resemblance to reality. Especially on the coast. Beaches are better not baking hot, there will be far fewer other people just wear a cap to keep the rain off your face and tell yourself it's a beautiful day!

@vanillandhoney

At least you'll be warm and dry in a cottage and not getting very wet and windblown in a tent

There is always more Calvin and Hobbes for camping

Anne bullen
I’d definitely be swerving monkey world as they are making you mask kids

Op you have my complete and utter sympathy
I’m a miserable old git where the weather is concerned and I’m right in your corner, never mind people more or less saying be grateful you’re getting one.

Why do you have to be lo Pollyanna
It’s shit times
We’ve had shit times
And the weather is going to be shit

You have a good old moan
Cos I would and do every day it’s grey and miserable and outside
And living in the north of England we get plenty of that.

Always take the beach chairs no matter what! You can at least sit down then whenever and wherever you want, with a flask of tea

You've all made me feel so much better about this! 😊

In fact, yes the cottage is right on the road, but it's really an okay size, it's spotlessly clean, nicely equipped, 2 mins walk to the sea wall, and has a snug feel about it. The entrance is around the back up a little shared alley. Feels quite smuggler-y! (And yes, it's not a tent!).

The drizzle is of the sort that slowly but surely gets you wet through, tho 😂

We arrived at 5.30, unpacked, then went for a walk just past the church (Mary Anning's grave. What a woman), down to the front. Lots of people around but not at all overcrowded. Decided to not walk the front to the Cobb (pacing ourselves), but up the high st to the Co-op, because that's the way we roll.... beer, milk, lunch for tomorrow.

The lasagna's in the oven and the 🍷 is in my hand.

Fuck it.

Hey, where's the best beach for fossiling? Just to the east of the new sea wall, towards Black Ven? Tho I know the ammonite pavement is the other way.

We do have 2 low folding beach chairs. 😊 I figured that if we can get the wetsuited boys (21/19...) into the sea, I can sit in my beach shelter (chucked in at the last moment) with my kindle!

The advantage of the heatwave we missed is that the sea is actually quite warm now - sea and air temperature were more or less the same where we were on the Welsh coast today and it was pretty pleasant swimming even without a wetsuit. Cloudy but temperate (and not raining as forecast) which meant lots of surfers etc and no hordes of tourists. And less worrying about accidentally burning the paler of my children. TBH I’d rather be in France as originally planned but it’s still much nicer here than at home and my small children were happy as very sandy clams.

I actually have fond memories of an extremely rainy holiday in Dorset with my parents as a young adult (possibly the last trad family holiday we did) which we mostly spent drinking and playing cards and talking, with the occasional walk in brief dry spells and lots of sheltering from downpours in random pubs. We still reminisce about it now.

Good, I’m glad it’s going well.
Hope the sun shines tomorrow

I’m with you - we are in Cornwall and the end of the week looks windy and crap. I know are lucky to be having a holiday and all that. But I know myself and that the wind really bothers me. DH and I run a business, we have kept going with more than 50 staff and I just really really wanted a week of warm weather, outside fun and blue skies. Of course it could be worse but I think it’s fair to be disappointed.

@Dowser

Good, I’m glad it’s going well. Hope the sun shines tomorrow

Thanks, but zero chance, tomorrow or Monday

Us too OP. Our one precious week of holiday. Was really hoping it would be nice and having been so lovely and hot recently the contrast makes it seem worse.

We have a static caravan in N Yorks, I’m here now actually, it was blooming torture with the gorgeous weather we had in lockdown not to be able to come here.
We actually got 5 days before lockdown, so all beds were made up and everything.
One travel restrictions were lifted we were allowed to come down for the day, so we did, every week and it was heartbreakIng to have to leave on the night and go back home when we never saw a soul.
Course sure as sites were allowed to open the weather changed and it’s been a right mixed bag.
We had some lovely days and some shite ones.

We came back here on Thursday to escape the awful weather at home, north east coast and actually got a lovely day here yesterday but today it’s been grey and chilly.

What I’m trying to say is, we wait all year for some lovely weather. We’ve all had a horrendous year,
It’s unprecedented.
Before we spend one night here we have site fees, electric, insurance , water, site maintenance to pay and we pay it gladly and I don’t think it’s too much to ask for the weather to be kind to us.and to feel disappointment if it isn’t.

As someone upthread pointed out, holidaying in the uk is not cheap. I bet you’ll easily spend what you paid for your cottage on entertainment, food, , drink and fuel for the week and honestly, I don’t think there’s anything worse than trudging round holiday places in the cold and wet no matter how much you’d like to help the economy..
Even a bit of weak sunshine is better than that.

Enjoy the eat out to help out cost reductions and treat yourself to dinner out Monday to Wednesday.

Relish the lie ins, lack of domestic responsibilities and the freedom

The weather will still be warm with sunny spells - just a bit showery from time to time

Just been in Wales for a week forecast before we came wall to wall rain all week. 1 afternoon of rain first day then the most humid week ever not massively sunny but mega warm and dry. Weather can change easily enjoy your holiday.

Actually I hated the sweltering hot weather in Cornwall this last week (just returned from holiday yesterday) Too hot to move, sweat constantly trickling down my spine, sleepless nights in a stuffy oven of a bedroom (no fan provided as per my own bedroom back home) One night I soaked a towel in water, wrung it out and slept on it!

Different strokes for different folks I suppose

@Miljea we have just got back today from a week in Lyme Regis. The weather was fab until Thursday. The forecast had it as thundery and rain from Tuesday so it may well not be as bad as you think!
The beach wasn’t too crowded even when it was blazing hot. So really lovely restaurants. Happy to give some recommendations if you want. Have fun! I’m missing it already! 😎

How are you doing today?
We’ve had rain in N Yorks but it’s overcast now

Laughing at a previous poster who said “ take flasks of cocoa” ! Oh come on, it’s not unreasonable to think that that’s not what you should be doing on your summer holidays!

I get you OP..we are off on a little trip around the UK tomorrow and the weather looks bloody miserable. Yes temperature isn’t bad but it’s the effing rain that just limits your choices. Packing my black boots etc and I really don’t want to!,

We were in Lyme Regis on Friday. Its still shorts weather, just have a waterproof coat handy! We were at the beach yesterday in the rain, it was fine!

I totally understand! I've got a couple of days away booked (with my sister and nephews) and it's not a good forecast (showers/thunderstorms)

I bet we'll still have fun and so will you.