slidingbyee

After much research (18 years abroad) in warm and cold climes I conclude British weather is pretty near perfect, just the right balance of warm and cold. In my current situations its -7 C outside and way to warm in the summer. Mind you I have lived in paradise as well but would still choose the UK's seasons.

YankeemovingAbroad

My brother called me from Jersey the other day he was throwing the football around with his son in the park.He had to wear gloves to keep warm.Love all the years I spent in New Jersey because it is a wonderful place but do not miss the winters there.

MartynK

I think so. I've lived in SA for nearly 30 years, so I'm used to a completely different climate. I visited the UK for a couple of weeks in May (for the first time in 20 years), and was pretty lucky, but my daughter was there a few weeks later and it rained most of the time. She was born and grew up here, and couldn't believe how cold and wet it was in the British summer!

I don't mind cold weather but the combination of cold/wet/wind and overcast skies is a bit much. Might have to get used to it again though, because my wife lives there and I'm thinking about going back. I suppose there are compensations.

ededed

Absolutely right - in fact the bigger problem for me is that it's the cold/wet/wind that seems to last from October to May - the odd week here and there are ok, but not months on end. The great thing about SA weather is the predictability. Hot summers with thunderstorms every afternoon - cool winter nights and warm days. Also debating going back and the weather is one of the big factors stopping me.

YankeemovingAbroad

I imagine going to a hot climate from a coolish tempt environment can have a similar effect on one's mood.Think I read a survey that said most babies were mademore often during the winter months when couples were indoors because of the cold climate.Another reason to pick the UK

I do wonder if the wet cold would effect a person's breathing or make someone more prone to colds and sickness by weakening the immune system?

cricket1again

I don't think the cold makes flu or colds more prevalent, however, cold and damp can make arthritic conditions worse.
My friends used to die laughing at me for being very keen not to catch germs. When using a public toilet, I always used a tissue to push open the door. When my children used a public toilet, I held their hands up so that they didn't touch the seat. As soon as I'd been shopping, I'd wash my hands before I unpacked the shopping because 1,000's of other hands had also held the trolley and whenever I'd handled money, I'd wash my hands.
I was honestly never ill.

Here in Australia, I'm always catching something and I think it's because the heat incubates more bacteria. I'm frequently having to bleach dishcloths and tea towels. The cold seems better for slowing down bacteria so another good reason to go home.

Fleaflyfloflum

Suits me too.

I must be weird as i love the cold dark days in winter. It makes me feel cosy inside when you heat the house up and snuggle up to the ones you love.

Coming from near London, I found that it never really got unbareably cold for me! I can even count on my fingers the amount of times it snowed all the time i lived there. Maybe we were in some micro climate.

backagen

Yes the UK weather can affect your health in a number of ways. Snow and Ice can make it dangerous on the roads (and there are always lots of serious crashes because of it). I understand a small number of people (mainly elderly) actually die from the cold in Britain most years. As already said a lack of exposure to sun can inhibit Vitamin D production.

On the other hand, Australian weather can also affect your health due to too much sun exposure causing skin cancer, and sometimes sunstroke.

Mental health is just as important as physical health and being where you feel happiest certainly has a huge impact on your mental health!

Lorna at Vicenza

I grew up in Yorkshire and we were always outside playing even in the snow.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who remembers wet and soggy gloves. Bright pink cheeks from the cold and the exhileration of a snow fight and frozen toes inside cheap rubber wellies that kept your feet dry but never warm.

I can still remember the tingling when you went inside and your fingers and toes started to warm up again. We were never sick though.

Italian mamma's on the other hand are known hypochondriacs. They wrap their kids up in hats and scarves as soon as the tempertaures start to drop in October. They walk the 2 metres from the car to the school door with an umbrella even in very slight rain as they are so scared of getting a drop of rain on their heads. They dry their kids' hair with hair dryers all the time even though the house might be roasting. They are so wrapped up and molly-coddled that as soon as they do spend any time outside they invariably pick up some cold or cough.....so the mammies keep them wrapped up at home for a week and of course as soon as they go out again they get another cold !

cricket1again

Argggh, you made me remember. Chilblains!

backagen

Paradise? Where's that?
I assume you don't mean Paradise as n the Adelaide suburb!

YankeemovingAbroad

Females can hold their hands up in the bathroom and manage just fine doesn't work that well for us guys

You are 100% right about living in a place with 3 or more seasons.The winter months kill all the pollin in the air while here in florida the summers can produce breathing issues for people with existing health concerns.

quoll

You know, the only time I have ever had chilblains was here in Canberra when we first arrived. I took something which got rid of them very effectively. However, my Dh gets them every year here (shocking circulation!) and is always moaning about them.

As for the British climate - I actually prefer the long summer days and short winter days. The cold is not a huge issue because you can always rug up against it whereas when you compare it with Aussie summer heat there is no escape except indoors in air conditioning. When you have had so long a drought that you check the BOM site daily just longing for a few blue pixels you know that your weather life has become very sad!

Nu-Shooz

How true is that!

My kids loved playing in the snow, they were always outside in UK after school. Yes they got cold, but never were ill with it.

Some people are just big babies lol.

slidingbyee

No never been to OZ Bermuda and Hawaii 4 years in each.