To have a rant about the weather?

[Michiru]

Probably, because it's November and it's been done to death, but I am so bloody sick and tired of the continuous rain and greyness.

It's been pissing it down on and off since the end of June where I am (and even in June it's only been 2 weeks of sun, before that more grey and rain), with only brief respite in early September. The ground is so saturated with water it's trying to come in from under my house. I did some early garden prep in spring and most plants have been completely ruined this year. My crabapple tree bore one single apple all year.

Car parks and roads in town are regularly flooded.

I already have the heating on so much I'm dreading my October bill, just to stave off the damp, because it makes barely any difference trying to air the house with the humidity outside. It gets cold in the house really quickly when it's raining.

My washing has to be line dried (no space for a tumble dryer) so I rely on the odd day where it doesn't rain. Today was meant to be that day and yet it's just started raining again.

I am affected by SAD and yes, I use the SAD light as instructed, but if I already need the full recommended time in early November I am dreading what the winter will do to my needs for bright light. I can't afford a holiday to go away. I go out despite the rain to try and catch some light but it's not fun.

Yes, there are greater problems, but honestly, I can't be the only one whose mental health is taking a massive tumble with the weather.

I live near Manchester so used to it!

@FieldofbrokenpromisesAlso this summer wasn’t “a complete washout”. We were on holiday in Norfolk in August. It was warm and dry with some sunshine and only one short period of rain. I have spent a lot of time outside working on the garden this year - many hours of weekends out there in the dry.

But not everyone lives and holidays in the same place as you? We genuinely only had 3 weeks of warm dry weather (end of May and start of June), and then two nice days at the start of September. The rest of summer (and spring, which is when we normally get nice weather) has been cooler than usual and grey, although not as wet by the sounds of it as where OP is. But I'm not going to disbelieve her when she says it's been very wet just because I don't live near her

I think as I've got older I've come to appreciate the British weather more. It's really a moderate climate. We get a couple of days of extreme temperatures a year but generally it's not too hot or cold.
And yes there's the grey, wet weather but it's not always like that! I've just returned from a week in Germany (nonstop rain) to a very sunny Yorkshire. The good thing about British rain is we tend to have showers - so a short period of rain followed by a dry period. I've noticed in other countries they have stronger, longer periods of rain. My in-laws live in southern Europe (Mediterranean) country which is much dryer than the UK in the summer. However in Spring and winter they can have a tremendous amount of rain! I was there for 2 weeks at Easter and there was non-stop, very heavy rain for the entire 2 weeks! I have never experienced such heavy, continuous rain in the UK. My in-laws talk about "British rain" referring to light showers and drizzle as opposed to their "proper rain". I think it's easier to live with our sort of rain e.g. It was raining this morning then stopped so I could go shopping when it was dry. My friends in India stay in the house for weeks on end during the Monsoon!
Also, the rain we have means our country is very green and beautiful. When I visited my in-laws in southern Europe this summer I noticed the countryside was just brown and yellow. There were a few trees dotted around but not the abundance of wild flowers we have. Everything looked parched and there were fires destroying the few plants there were. I came back to the UK and appreciated our lush, green countryside full of pretty flowers.

YANBU

Yesterday wasn't actually too bad here - the sky was almost clear and I could see the stars and make out the constellations despite the fireworks and bonfires. That has been the only day for days and days and days of rain and drizzle though. I hate weather like this - everything gets so mucky and grubby and grimey and feels so cold and depressing.

I'm in the Midlands too and hear you. Everywhere is soaking, farmers are despairing, my garden is sodden, I'm totally fed up.

It does seem to be bad luck with very local weather this year, then.

I am from a European country and I'd actually say the opposite of what a PP has mentioned. Yes, the rain can be stronger, but it kind of just "gets done" and then the sun reappears again. The air is far less humid all year round. But again, it depends on where in the country. You mention Germany, but that is huge, with vast regional differences in weather.

We had clear skies yesterday. When it was dark. Today wasn't too bad, to be fair, but my feet are still sinking into the ground in my garden from just how soaked everything is.

Ah well. I now leave for work when it's dark and return when it's dark, so at least it'll only be the weekends when I really feel the rain now. Every cloud... pun (mostly) not intended.

I hear you. We are in Glasgow and we had 2 hot weeks at the start of June. July was a washout, and the rain has continued pretty much every day. And now the clocks have gone back and it's dark at 4pm.

It's shit. High dose VitD, light box, forcing yourself out for a walk in brief breaks between the rain is about all you can do. 46 days to the solstice.

I'm in the SE. It was a strange summer here. I used to live in NZ, with proper rain, it hardly ever rains properly here, so I get excited when it does. I have a skylight in the bathroom & was tempted to sleep in the bath so I could listen to the rain.

@Michiru I'm sorry that it has been awful for you. I like all the different seasons - it's one thing I really really missed when I lived in NZ.

can you afford to buy a few bits & embrace the season? (Gorgeous socks, good pair of nice waterproof boots if you don't have any, nice. Re throw, jumper?)

would some different bulbs in rooms you spend the most time in help?

heated throw, they're supposed to be good.

are there any heating grants you might qualify for?

mulled wine. Quite cheap bottled if you cba making it.