Spring 2014

[hartley353]

36C degrees here today.
We have set a new record. Warmest April day since records began here!
Wonderful...not!

That would be positively balmy to some folks in the world, when I worked in the Sudan, a man would stand besides me with a parasol, and try and keep the sun off. It never worked, sweat would run off my nose and chin continuously. Even the snakes would seek the shade.

[Stanley]

Very pleasant walk this morning, breaks in the cloud and very mild. It must have rained harder in the night than I thought, Butts Beck is running strong and coloured this morning.

[Marilyn]

I know times have changed...but I could never feel comfortable in a place where the expectation was that another human beings purpose was to hold a parasol over my head...

[Moh]

It was lopvely driving back from the caravan and seeing the hawthorn hedges bursting into leaf.

[hartley353]

I know times have changed...but I could never feel comfortable in a place where the expectation was that another human beings purpose was to hold a parasol over my head...

Marilyn I felt exactly the same, but if he didn't do this for me he had no work, I tried to help him and his family with extra money, but it had to be done secretly. My brother came across a similar thing when he paid his house boy double the rate when he worked in saudi. I t caused a lot of bother, and in the end he came back to the UK. It is one of them when in Rome situations.

[Stanley]

Nice to see you out and about Moh.
Yesterday was dry but a bot cooler than I expected if you were out of the sun. This morning is dry, calm and mild, still dark but looks like a thin overcast, I can't see the stars! Glass is steady just above 29.5". Forecast is for a cooler day, moderate East wind and a low chance of showers. It feels better than that at the moment. Perhaps we're getting the East side forecast again.
07:45. Back from yet another pleasant walk, overcast and perhaps the wind is getting up a bit but dry and there is a hint of Spring in the air. Jack met several mates and in his crackpot and anti-social way had a good conversation with all of them. Good to tell the happy dogs! We are both set up for the day.....

[Marilyn]

Spent a few happy hours working in the front garden of son's new home. Dead-headed the Roses and trimmed a hedge...met his 80 year old neighbour who (blow me down) comes from Bradford!

[Stanley]

They get all over the place Maz.....

[hartley353]

Weather forecasters warning of high air pollution yesterday and today. Why were they not telling us as far back as Saturday, when I noticed the first signs when my car accumalated a layer of sahara dust. This has become an annual event as far as I am concerned, and should be easily predicted. The only thing that changes is the colour of the dust.

[Cathy]

Marilyn met a lady from Bradford today and I came home on the bus with a neighbour who comes from Yorkshire too. Funny old world.

[Moh]

We sat outside until after 6pm last night - too cold to do it today!

[Stanley]

Lot cooler with us as well Moh. Grey overcast all day. Glass is back below 29.4", dry at the moment but more wind and the occasional spit of rain. Forecast is very similar to yesterday, biggest chance of a shower is now and we will have that sneaky East wind to keep us cool.

[Marilyn]

Beautiful day here. Went for a lovely walk in the sunshine earlier. Still wearing the shorts and T-shirts, but I don't suppose it will be long before we need to dig some "sleeves" out of the wardrobe.

[Stanley]

Grey day yesterday with a sneaky East wind. Could it have been the dust reaching us? Glass is up a touch at just below 29.5", no violent moves so this suggests quiet weather. At the moment we have gentle rain so any dust will be washed out of the air. Forecast is for a good chance of rain 'til about 08:00 and then improving with some sun later. The wind is changing into the West but only gets to a fresh breeze later. April showers.....

[Stanley]

Boring I know but another grey day on the whole. It was dry after the morning showers but not many breaks in the overcast. Glass is still hovering around 29.5" so no big change in prospect. Forecast looks about the same with a chance of a shower all day. One change is that the wind will go into the South and may give us a warmer day. Nothing very exciting!

[Cathy]

We have mid 20's for the next week with tomorrow being our last dry day until next weekend. This should be interesting, worry about the slippery roads for drivers tho. Tonights the night we turn our clocks back.

[Stanley]

Mild damp morning, yesterday was quite decent, just a bit of light rain every now and then. Glass is still steady round 29.5" Forecast is very similar to yesterday with perhaps a greater chance of a shower in the afternoon.

[Marilyn]

Sunny and warm with a pleasant breeze that is coming up the garden and gently wafting through our open patio doors.
Am looking out at all of my Roses. They are blooming their hearts out. Very pretty here at present...

[Stanley]

Glad to hear it Maz. You deserve some respite after the hot weather. Still not raining here as Jack and I get geared up for our morning walk.

[Gloria]

Mild and breezy, a bit damp but not raining.... could be worse.

[Stanley]

Same here Glo. It was dry at 05:00 but there's been a slight shower since but no weight of rain. Glass is still nailed on 29.5" so no big change in prospect. Forecast is for a higher chance of a shower from 07:00 onwards but mild. The wind swings round more to the South but is only a light breeze. In short, April weather! The grass has made its mind up and is moving now, you can see the growth every morning. Wendy's horses will be getting a fresh bite!
08:00. Back from our walk on a mild pleasant morning, overcast and a bit of rain in the air but warm enough for midges in Valley Gardens.



This is probably one of the most sheltered havens for wild life in Barlick. It's the corner of Butts Beck where it dives round the back of the Model Joinery Works. Totally sheltered by the bank behind it's home to a kingfisher and a colony of wagtails and I have no doubt other goodies I haven't seen. Always worth a bit of a pause on the bridge.

[Stanley]

A bit damp out there this morning but not raining last time I looked. Glass is still nailed on 29.5", just hovering a bit either way. Settled conditions. Forecast is similar for today, chance of a shower this morning, steady West wind all day, high of 8C. This is good weather, as long as the wind stays out of the East the grass will continue to grow.
07:00. Back from our walk round the town. No midges in Valley Gardens this morning, too cold! Probably because of the damp and light rain on the wind but not a morning for hanging about. Still, for all that, it could be a bloody sight worse....

[Stanley]

I have a bone to pick with the forecasters! That 'West' wind yesterday was NW and cut like a knife! Calm and dry this morning and the glass has decided to rise, it's on 30" and rising fast at the moment. Not sure what this means but it is definitely a change! Forecast is for a bright dry day with a high of 10C and a moderate west wind.

[Wendyf]

Cold and windy again. At least the wind will help the ground dry up a bit if we get a few days without rain. The grass is definitely growing Stanley, but the fields are still sodden.

[Stanley]

Same down here in the valley Wendy. All we have to worry about is that East wind. Too often I have seen it set in at this time of the year and burn the new growth back.
Hope Colin is doing well.....