To think our changeable weather makes us who we are?

[lolliwillowes]

I'm sure the answer is an obvious yes, but I hadn't previously given it much thought.
I am more familiar with the North of England, so perhaps it is different elsewhere, but not being able to every full predict the weather can create a certain amount of stress - which we might simply take for granted, until we go somewhere where we can suddenly relax!

We get a LOT of wind up here, even on the warmest, sunniest days, so floaty frocks and even hats are difficult to keep in place. If you wear a light jacket and dare to not zip it up, it can be forced off your shoulders within a few seconds. Bags have been known to swing around me or blow up into the air like a kite , skirts fly up regularly so you're perpetually trying to pat them back down......

It's never just reliably 'easy' is it? And it can be difficult to plan how to dress - so I also think it controls how we dress, geographically speaking: it is easier to wear leggings/jeans and a plain top than anything more intricate and floaty (even scarves get mangled up here).

Then there's the vibes. Not as relaxing, especially sitting outside a cafe and your stuff might blow off the table. It doesn't have the lazy, laid back atmosphere of the warmer climes such as Italy, etc.

I've walked out of the door in a morning in a fine mood, then been stressed to fuck by the end of the street (if you're not driving). My hair quickly becomes an exploded bird's nest and my cheeks are ruddy with the stress of beating my forward into a wind tunnel.

I love rain to be honest, and I like where I live, but I do think overall the UK weather shapes us in a very stress way.

I agree. I am Irish and the weather is so feckin changable it's insane! It definitely affects who we are as a people, and our moods day to day.

Yes this is a covered in anthropology on a broader scale: how climate has affected our societal evolution. My daughter is doing something on this subject for her EPQ next year.

@Livingintheclouds

Yes this is a covered in anthropology on a broader scale: how climate has affected our societal evolution. My daughter is doing something on this subject for her EPQ next year.

Now this would really fascinate me! It's kind of obvious really, but in some places people tend to ignore it, or else complain about it. They'd consider you insane if you got 'deep' about it

Definitely something in it. Look at how relaxed and laid back Greek and Spanish are. I lived in Greece for a while, and you had to get used to operating on "Greek time" - things happened when they happened, there was no rush. No need to rush when you're not dashing round trying to get everything done before the next shower I suppose!

Oh, and I grew up on the north east coast, and an old acting coach once told me I had "Geordie posture" - constantly hunched over because I'm so used to having to battle the gales!

I wonder if those on the equator feel lucky.

Sometimes in UK/I feels easier to just stay home.

This reminds me of the very last bit of dialogue in the final episode of Downtown Abbey. It's all cranking up for a poignant final scene and someone asks Maggie Smith a half-rhetorical, half-philosophical question about why English people are the way they are - repressed, impetuous, contrary. She doesn't flinch and instantly replies "I blame the weather".

I agree to an extent. I firmly believe there is nowhere in the world better than the UK on a warm, sunny day. Our landscapes are beautiful, we have rivers and lakes of clean water, lovely sandy beaches and rolling hills.

But, the miserable weather, rain and wind means we have little opportunity to enjoy our beautiful country. If we could have a guaranteed 3 or 4 months of good weather every year, I think it would make a huge difference to people's moods.

However, it's nature, and we should think ourselves lucky we don't have to face the issues of warmer climes, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, monsoons and drought. The quality of life we have here is partly down to our changeable weather, cooler climate and the fact that we don't have to face severe natural disasters on a regular basis.

Yes you are right. The ancient greeks were so far ahead of us a couple of thousand years ago in terms of architecture and lifestyle, im sure the weather played a big part in that. In the uk at that time we lived in huts and were probably concentrating too hard on just keeping warm and dry to worry about anything else.

On a social level the constant wind and rain is stressful. It takes the fun out of an evening somewhat if you have to hunker down under a warm coat , struggling with an umbrella just to get simewhere!

I tend to wear jeans and leggings daily anyway, but we are in Scotland and dp and I went for a night to Edinburgh back last January. I bought a nice sort of short floaty tea dress and wore it with black tights boots and leather jacket, but because I'm not used to wearing skirts, I didn't really give the wind much thought. That was definitely a stressful walk between dinner, theatre, pubs and eventually back to the hotel! I spent my whole time holding my dress down with one hand, my scarf on with the other, and spitting my hair out my mouth!
I love living here though. The weather is all part of the fun.

I agree - having just done a supermarket trip in which I've had to alternate using my umbrella, coat, air conditioning, wipers, car heater and sunglasses for a 10 minute drive there and back and a few minutes either end in the car park and on the drive. Got soaked in torrential rain going in and blinded with sun on the way back. It's late May and the heating hasn't really been off yet since it went on in October, we had snow here on 12 April, the blossom has been alternately frozen and blown off the trees and I'm wearing tights, vest, woolly jumper and thick velvet skirt. Yet this time last year the garden was parched after a prolonged heatwave and I'd already been in sandals for a couple of months. I think the unpredictability and general discomfort has a definite effect.

I don’t find it changeable compared to other places I’ve lived. It is mostly slight variations on miserable.

I'm perhaps a bit contrary - I am equally stressed, angry and delighted with it.
Last year (forgive me!) I could have wept at how little rain there was between March and September.

Having spent a fair amount of my life as a non driver, I can honestly say that it really does affect mood and stress levels though. I wonder how people used to keep fancy hats on their heads....some serious pinnage, I think.

Was sat outside a local cafe a few years ago (this was in cumbria) and a bunch of guys from Greece sat with us, chatting. It was a lovely, warm and mild day, a very soft and gentle breeze.....and one of the guys said something along the lines of 'your people are always much friendlier and happy when the weather is like this!'
Well, he was right.

Yes, I’m also in the North of England and I cannot tell you how much effect the weather has on my mood! I’m like 2 different people; happy as Larry in the sunshine and practically catatonic when the weather is bad (as it has been for most of the year).

Also, to sure how much truth there is to this, but it's just a thought.
It may just be in some of the towns where I have lived, but during spring and autumn (the more blustery, changeable months) I have definitely noticed groups of people - especially young men/boys - seem more aimless and aggressive.
After first noticing this, I started to observe it, and the wind seems to bring this out in droves.
During summer, or when it is quite still and warm, the mood is completely different, much more relaxed and friendly.

Also, i work in a school, and the childrens behaviour is significantly more crazy on windy days.

Well the weather made me completely stressed and angry today.

And if anyone says 'no one or nothing can make you angry'.....

The British have a reputation for being obsessed with the weather.

It's simply because we have so much of it.

Yeh I think the wind is my own personal tyrant, was ever since I was a teenager, it always ruined my hair, whilst it seemed everyone else's just blew around then fell neatly back into place. My hair remained upright, like a complicated sculpture.

I tried to alter my perception of it (I mean, it isn't personal of course, and it could care what I think!) and gave it some Eckhart Tolle 'present moment' acceptance stuff, but then,................AAAAAAGH GODZILLA!

Someone mentioned Greeks. Apparently their weather helped them advance their civilisation when they did and to have time for philosophy etc

@Surlyburd

Also, i work in a school, and the childrens behaviour is significantly more crazy on windy days.

My mum worked in education for 30 odd years and she always said this

It does. We moved from uk to somewhere with much more reliable weather, and it is easier in a way. Usually summers are hot and winters freezing and snowy, but you know that so no surprises.

It’s the wind that gets me. -15 degrees here in winter feels nicer going for a walk as it’s dry but cold. In uk it can be +2 degrees but windy as hell and damp.