A Wild Vista

Yup, it’s Friday again. I’ve a tendency to come out in a rash at the mere thought of battling my way across country on the A14, especially on a dreich evening such as this — so, in spite of the vertically challenged geography of Fenland, I snuck a peak at the BBC weather for “Cambridge” tomorrow. The walking group are heading over to Thetford Forest, the “largest lowland pine forest in Britain” (cue awed Oohs and Ahhs). It looks rather pleasant, and I badly need to get out of the constructed concrete, tarmac, steel and glass cityscape for a bit, even if the alternative is flat and grey and squelchy.

So, to that weather forecast:

Mmmm — grey cloud.

Looks as though the Met Office are plumping for “grey cloud” then.

It could be far worse, of course. I’ve just been spoilt by the recent wonderfully cold, crisp, icy conditions, that are now a distant memory. An awful lot of folk were whinging about the snow and ice too. Granted, if you have to drive, or are unsteady on your pins, it can’t be much fun. But we seem to get so little “proper” winter weather these days, in the south at least. I just relished every minute of negative Celsius. A hundred times better than this mild, damp, overcast rubbish. It’s like living in a Tupperware box.

The invariance in the weather tomorrow calls to mind a game I play occasionally with the BBC weather website. It’s a simple game — choose a city, any city, anywhere in the world, and bring up the 5-day forecast. The aim is to try and find a 5-day forecast for which every aspect of the forecast weather is identical over all five days.

Lima’s generally a good starting point. Having spent a week there myself a few years back, I can confirm (with zero statistical significance), that the weather here really is immensely dull. Check out that Garúa Fog next time you’re there.

Hmmm, doing well with the temperatures in Lima, but then it all falls apart...

I’ve not found a matching set in five years of trying, but I will, dammit.

And yes, I am that sad.