Sunny, Except When it Isn't

British weather defies prediction. Actually, it is very predictable, which is precisely the problem. "Intermittent sun, mixed with periods of rain, sleet or snow," they will cheerfully say on BBC radio in the morning. Thank you very much. I'll take umbrella, wellies and a heavy coat. At some moment in the day, one or two of these items will be indispensable. Our Kansas City weatherman has a First Rule of Weather Forecasting: Look out the window. This advice proves much more reliable here than any newspaper or radio prognostication. And if you don't like the weather, wait a half hour, and it will be different. Weather reporting here is something like a newspaper horoscope column. Any and all entries could accurately describe most people most of the time. "Watch for surprising news from an unexpected source." "Friends will prove important today." Well, yes.

This also leads to endless possibilities for discussing weather here. The conversation changes throughout the day. In California, such discussions are pointless. "Beautiful day out today, huh?" Not much more can be said, or needs to. But here -- oh my! You can discuss the rain on the bus to town, the warmth of the sunshine whilst shopping in the market, and decry the snow falling on the road on the way back home. Walk through the village under blustery gray skies and talk about how "fresh" the day is with the elderly dog walkers through the grounds. During the brightening evening, a glimpse of blue sky might be spotted between the white clouds of evening. All of this, mind you, between dinner and supper on a single day.

In the states, when we resort to talking about the weather, we imply that we are talking about nothing at all. Not so here. It is a conversation which renews itself over and over every day. And heaven help you if you must plan in the morning for the day ahead. Just take it all. You'll need it.