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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel so sorry for anyone on a British holiday right now

613 replies

itsaugust · 09/08/2021 08:17

It’s been raining for about a week where I live. I’ve just woken up to yet more heavy rain this morning. It must be utterly miserable for anyone holidaying in the UK right now. You have my sympathies! Hope you’re managing to have a decent time despite the grim weather.

OP posts:
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15
stepupandbecounted · 09/08/2021 16:12

Beautiful here in the south west, and all week.

jasjas1973 · 09/08/2021 16:16

@RedToothBrush

I have to say I find this entire thread the equivalent of going to Spain and then complaining about people speaking spanish and serving spanish food.
Don't be ridiculous!

Its completely understandable to be pissed off if you ve sat on the M5 for 8 hours, get to Cornwall and have 7 days of rain, which is not normal, yes we get a bit of rain but usually by the coast, its often drier than inland.

The rain recently has been v. intense and we are in a pandemic, so folk are stressed etc and want at least some decent weather, especially if they ve kids.

DarceyDashwood · 09/08/2021 16:17

We are having a great time thank you!

EverybodyIsInteresting · 09/08/2021 16:18

Which hurricane force winds in August in the UK were these

Oh, sorry. I didn't realise the saying was 'no such thing as bad weather in August, just inappropriate clothing'

My mistake.

But there were gusts that reached hurricane force during storm Francis in Wales last year.

2bazookas · 09/08/2021 16:20

@xksismybestletter

I agree. We were supposed to be going to Scotland and the weather is wall to wall rain every single day. We've not gone.
Pity. I'm in Scotland and the weather is lovely today, warm and sunny. It rained hard for half an hour the day before yesterday, I was really glad as the garden needed a good soak, it has been so dry all summer.
Blossomtoes · 09/08/2021 16:23

It’s glorious here in East Anglia.

stepupandbecounted · 09/08/2021 16:23

The forecast is AMAZING for most of the UK for the whole week, and perfect temperatures of 22-23c far better than roasting to death in Greece or Spain.

Be glad for the gorgeous sunshine, beautiful beaches and no wildfires people! I am sure those fleeing their homes would gladly swap. We have had a brilliant UK holiday, and would do it again in a heart beat compared to our stressful experience in the balearics last month it was effortless.

Have fun everyone, it is going to be a cracking week!

RedToothBrush · 09/08/2021 16:32

Its completely understandable to be pissed off if you ve sat on the M5 for 8 hours, get to Cornwall and have 7 days of rain, which is not normal, yes we get a bit of rain but usually by the coast, its often drier than inland.

You mean like me the other week?

Still had a good time.

I've been to Cornwall a few times in the past. Not many. But enough to know its always a nightmare journey in the Summer. Even without covid.

The worst was getting stuck on Cribbs Causeway Bridge for 6 hours in hot weather whilst it was closed due to an accident. That was 'fun'.

Neverrains · 09/08/2021 16:43

Some people don’t mind the rain, some hate it. Some like relaxing in the sun on holiday, some will happily hike in the rain. People get so defensive over it!
I hate the rain. I don’t like lying on the beach/by the pool not with young children life is much easier if the weather is dry and warm. For that reason, I generally wouldn’t book a holiday in the UK. Other people might think that makes me precious/not hardy/acting like I’m made of candy floss or whatever but I don’t care, I won’t spend a lot of money on a holiday I’m not going to enjoy.
Having said that, we had a beautifully dry week in Wales in July. Booked on the Sunday after seeing a good forecast for the week ahead and went on Monday. Perfect Smile.

Neverrains · 09/08/2021 16:43

*but with

Pigeonpocket · 09/08/2021 16:44

YABU. I'd rather be on holiday in this weather than stuck at home in it.

I think some people's definition of holiday is different to mine. If you need sun and warmth to feel like you're on holiday, do you never go away in autumn/winter unless it's to somewhere really far away in a different season to here?

Neverrains · 09/08/2021 16:47

@Pigeonpocket

YABU. I'd rather be on holiday in this weather than stuck at home in it.

I think some people's definition of holiday is different to mine. If you need sun and warmth to feel like you're on holiday, do you never go away in autumn/winter unless it's to somewhere really far away in a different season to here?

We can generally only afford one proper holiday per year, and it makes sense for that to be in the summer holidays due to school/work. I would rather that holiday isn’t spent in the rain. That’s not controversial!
RedToothBrush · 09/08/2021 16:51

@Neverrains

Some people don’t mind the rain, some hate it. Some like relaxing in the sun on holiday, some will happily hike in the rain. People get so defensive over it! I hate the rain. I don’t like lying on the beach/by the pool not with young children life is much easier if the weather is dry and warm. For that reason, I generally wouldn’t book a holiday in the UK. Other people might think that makes me precious/not hardy/acting like I’m made of candy floss or whatever but I don’t care, I won’t spend a lot of money on a holiday I’m not going to enjoy. Having said that, we had a beautifully dry week in Wales in July. Booked on the Sunday after seeing a good forecast for the week ahead and went on Monday. Perfect Smile.
See that sounds perfectly sensible to me. You know you'd hate the same holiday if it rained. Realised it was pointless to book not knowing whether it would be shit or not, then booked when it looked reasonable.

You didn't set yourself for a holiday at all costs which had a fair chance of not suiting you.

Its realistic. You know it would bother you. You knew it'd be a waste of money otherwise.

I think its either know your limits/tolerance or come prepared and make the most it (with the attitude to match). Or just quit it with the unreasonable bloody whinging.

There must be a fair number of last minute cancellations knocking about at the minute with covid isolations or people deciding to go abroad afterall to do similar.

MarshaBradyo · 09/08/2021 16:52

@Pigeonpocket

YABU. I'd rather be on holiday in this weather than stuck at home in it.

I think some people's definition of holiday is different to mine. If you need sun and warmth to feel like you're on holiday, do you never go away in autumn/winter unless it's to somewhere really far away in a different season to here?

I do like warm / hot holidays but also lucky to have experienced really good snowy winter ones - Tokyo / NYC / Berlin. It did feel like a great holiday, exciting etc

What was your nicest U.K. non warm holiday? Out of interest

Gertie75 · 09/08/2021 17:01

August is often rainy in this country, there are so many photos of me over the last 40 years on a rainy beach in Cornwall.

We're currently at our caravan in Wales, it's peeing down but the kids are having a great day, they've been running around outside with friends they've made here trying to see who can get the wettest in fits of giggles and they're now cuddled up under a blanket together watching a film.

We're lucky that we get to come here most weekends and for longer school holiday breaks but we definitely enjoy the cooler weather, we were here in the heatwave a couple of weeks ago and were miserable, it was ok sitting out in the shade but the kids couldn't run around for more than a couple of minutes before complaining they were too hot, the nights were too hot to sleep and it was a nightmare keeping the suncream topped up when they went in and out of the pool or sea.

Kris02 · 09/08/2021 17:10

I recently read an interesting article by an American journalist. She lives in the UK now and said she's often surprised that British people are so eager to have holidays abroad. She really likes the UK, and said the Yorkshire dales are her favourite place in the whole world.We do tend to put ourselves down. Places like York, Cambridge, Oxford, Bath, Edinburgh, etc, are gorgeous. Also, I can't bear the heat, or insects. I'll never understand why people go to Spain in the middle of the summer.

That said, it really does me off when it rains. And the traffic is awful. I have a friend in Cornwall who said they dread the summers because the place grinds to a halt.

luckylavender · 09/08/2021 17:11

That's holidays though isn't it? I've been in the Far East many times in the pouring rain.

nokidshere · 09/08/2021 17:11

@uktrippin I'm not on holiday I'm at home. But Wiltshire has many things perfect for holidays in terms of location. Longleat safari park, centerparcs, It's close to Bath, Bristol, Salisbury, the new Forest. There's Stonehenge and the Avebury Circle. And in short driving distances of Glastonbury tor, cheddar gorge, Wookey hole. And probably tons of other stuff.

uktrippin · 09/08/2021 17:22

Yes I know what's in Wiltshire and that you're at home. It's not a part of the country that did much for me as I said but has some lovely parts to it.

My point is, just because it's torrential outside of your window why would you pity someone basking in the sunshine 4 or 5 hours north of you on their holidays?

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 09/08/2021 17:26

we always go somewhere within striking distance of a city, so that there's plenty to do on rainy days. But even if the forecast looks grim it rarely rains all day every day. Our recent week in Scotland looked like a washout according to the forecast. In reality we needed suncream on several days. And on the overcast days we enjoyed some fab museums and galleries.

DanglingMod · 09/08/2021 17:41

What o dint understand is where you are supposed to go on holiday abroad if you can't bear it too hot (say, above 22) but would like guaranteed dry weather? Spain in the winter or something?

I never go south of England in Europe because it's too hot but, although, I don't mind rain, it might be nice to plan a holiday with guaranteed dry but cool weather.

nokidshere · 09/08/2021 17:50

My point is, just because it's torrential outside of your window why would you pity someone basking in the sunshine 4 or 5 hours north of you on their holidays?

Well personally I don't because I happen to know for sure it's not raining in some parts of the north 😁. But I think the thread was about feeling empathy with people who've saved up for their hols and it ends up cold, wet and windy wasn't it?

LizziesTwin · 09/08/2021 17:51

@DanglingMod Scandinavia, Brittany, Denmark, Belgium

DanglingMod · 09/08/2021 17:58

[quote LizziesTwin]@DanglingMod Scandinavia, Brittany, Denmark, Belgium[/quote]
Thanks. All places I like/have been to but they're not guaranteed any drier than the UK are they? I've more wet northern French holidays than British ones over the years.

DanglingMod · 09/08/2021 17:59

It's rained every single time I've been to Brittany (especially in comparison to living in the drier east of England, rather than the west).

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