Yes. Welcome to Canada. In Canada, the weather is "exciting". But it is not all snow, beaver hats and riding moose through snowdrifts; no. It is more exciting than that: in Montreal, we apparently have the biggest extremes of temperature in the (habitable) world, from +30 in the summer to -30 in the winter.
To make it even more thrilling, it can change from one day to the next. For e.g., on Saturday I was sitting in the sunshine to the right of the swimming pool you see in the photograph above, reading a light novel and sucking a glass of lukewarm lemonade shandy through a bendy straw. Yesterday it was a bit different; not quite as warm, but warm enough to have all the windows open (enabling seasonally-appropriate gazing at cherry blossom, etc), and warm enough to go to the wine shop without my overcoat.
But today! Bloody hell, Canada. It has gone from 16 degrees "I reckon we can relax because it is definitely bloody spring" to 3 degrees and "shit on a stick, it is fucking winter again and the new magnolia tree is going to die". It has been snowing all day and winds of 50mph are blowing, and visitors who only packed a light windcheater and some open-toed sandals are regretting the very day they were born.
Tomorrow, it will be gone and people will be wearing t-shirts with pictures of wolves on them openly in the street and eating raspberry icepops, but for now and for today, it is winter again. I therefore intend to go to bed early with a pint of rum and cocoa and a couple of back issues of Sherry Connoisseur, and stay there until it is all over.
Pip pip!
NWM
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10 comments:
Don't worry. This is simply a manifestation of Canadian winter's morbid sense of humor. You're usually guaranteed two kicks-in-the-ass like this before it finally gives way to summer.
"It's all dick" as my scouse friend would say. Today (toady), I discovered I have a hole in my shoe and all the slush found its way in and soaked my socks. Even my spotty foulard got a bit moist. What's a dandy fecker to do? Crack open a bottle of Jack Daniels and a big bag of crisps. That's what. Somehow, the nudey books have lost their gloss
Cheer up, it could be worse -- you could be on the prairies!
When I lived in Winnipeg, the endless winter could get as cold as -56C with the windchill. Summers, although welcome, could be scorching hot, with temps often above 30C.
How's your public transport during all these temperature fluctuations? I bet it's running normally.
In the UK we can be stymied by the wrong sort of leaves on the track, the wrong sort of rain or 2cm of snow.
I think our Dunkirk spirt has upped and offed to Canada :-)
Ali x
It was 2 degrees here yesterday. Today it is 17. We have stolen your heat. Soz.
Jennifer what do you mean? There is more of this? I have just brought the camels out of storage. The snow makes them spit. Spit, I tell you.
Philth, as a dandy fecker, which brand of Canadian crisps would you recommend? I am a Londoner.
Linda! Dawn! You are indulging in "Canadian Weather Competitive Chat". "Stop moaning, in Winnipeg in 1923 my grandfather had to skate to work with two blocks of polished ice strapped to his bare feet. It was -65 outside. On his birthday, he was allowed a hat". Etc.
Alison yes it is true. I used to laugh at the weather reports from England being stopped by 2 flakes of snow on the Great Eastern Railway, but kind Candians would remind me that "Britain just isn't prepared for it", which is true. But doesn't stop it being funny. Also is clear I am English because I still take photographs of snow like a 3 year old.
At Frogspawn Hall, where Lord Philth holds court, the domestics are revolting and have seemingly scoffed all the crisps. I had to make do with Cheesy Whatsits instead. My fingers look as though i smoke 60 Capstan a day.
A corner shop in Valois. A limited supply, yes, but they were there. And now, 'coz I'm a greedy batard, they're not. The next time I go, I'll pick some up and fax them to you over the interblobs. Word.
On a completely unrelated note: BADGES! Not just one, but two! Imagine my surprise and delight. And it is just as well, as I have decided to move back to England and teach French to British undergraduates, just for a change, so now I will be able to confuse them too. To express the extent of my gratitude, I shall become your 'fan' on facebook, as the right-hand side of your blog keeps suggesting.
The pool ought to be steamy comfortable on your furry self after a slide through the drifts all a skinny!
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