London – Rainy and Cloudy

Whenever I look out of the window, its cloudy and most of the times, its raining! Ever since I’ve come to London, I have started missing the sun so much, that whenever the sun comes, I run out and make sure I soak up as much of it as possible. Having most of my friends from various countries around the world, and practically no ‘real British’, we tend to be cribbing about the weather more than half the times! For most of us, the sun was just taken for granted in our home countries – India, Spain, Greece, Brazil, Venezuela, USA, etc.

Although we have been hearing that ‘British Summer‘ is right round the corner, I personally feel that it lost its way! Now, even those who earlier kept saying, ‘this isn’t summer, summer is still to come’ have given up!

If you’re coming to London for the first time, you might want to mentally prepare yourself to say bye to the sun for days on end! Of course, I know it’s not easy! When I was packing my bags to come here, I never thought I would be able to say ‘I hate the cloudy rainy cold weather’… but now, that seems to be all I am able to say!

It may sound like a typical British thing – ranting about the weather, but the fact is, once you come here, that becomes important. Just this morning while talking to a friend I realised, you can never plan anything well in advance, because you don’t know what the weather would be like! If it’s sunny it would be amazing to go the river or for a picnic or somewhere out. But the same scenario completely changes with those grey clouds thundering down! All of it can happen with seconds! There have been so many times when I have got into the tube thinking “oh nice, I will enjoy the day… it’s nice a sunny” and when I come out at the other end (20 minutes later)… it’s pouring cats and dogs!

Whatever be the weather – for me, London will always be wet and cold – although I love London far more in the sun!

A Londoners View

Although I have been talking about my take on London so far, I haven’t forgotten that I am not the only person who’s come to London from abroad! I live with a family that moved here 12 years ago. So I decided to find out whether my thoughts, matched theirs. A few questions, some nice English tea, is all it took me to realise that we’re all in the same boat.

When they first came to the UK, they didn’t know anything around here. Not even the fact that 10 years down the lane they would be calling this ‘home’ rather than India. When Mr Banerjee first moved to London in 1999, he thought he would be here for sometime and then return to his family and life back in India. But over the years, he has grown to love this country more and more.

Living with him, I sometimes forget that he once lived in India too! He has learned (and loves) the British way of life. Although the weather does get to him at times, he has learned to cope and move forth. Life cannot stop because of the weather – a typical British attitude towards those dark clouds!

I guess with time, we do start loving the city and accepting it in the sun and rain.. But as yet for me, the sun will always be a first choice – as is with many Britishers including Mr. Banerjee.