I recall taking a January holiday in Southern Spain, the weather was lovely so T-shirt and shorts were the order of the day. As I crossed the road to get supplies there were road works in progress, the guy who appeared to be in charge was dressed in a wool hat, Biggles leather jacket, trousers, knee length boots and gloves. He very nearly got himself run over looking open mouthed at this idiot wearing next to nothing in the middle of winter.

There were twats from Geordie town last night at Alicante Airport with no tops on, here their is a born and bread lady a few doors from me that does not take her hat, scarf and woolly coat off, me I am comfortable without a jacket at this moment, but I am wearing a fleece and I have heating on at night, not right this minute but I am just about to slip on to the couch and will probably switch my powerful halogen heater on.

Seeing locals like this worries me for the summer, I viewed my chalet in the summer of last year and I thought it was airy and acceptable, I think I should be worried as it maybe too much, but........... I coped in Sevilla in August before in a youth hostel with no aircon, we will see...............I think however I may not like it, but like Victor Meldrew I moan whatever the weather !

I remember arriving for a Spanish class in November, with the temperature still in the high '20s, wearing a short sleeved T-shirt, skirt and sandals. My teacher looked me up and down, shook her head and said "Lynn, que barbaridad!".

I always used to say there must be some arcane law in Spain which every native Spaniard knows, saying that on a certain date summer clothes may be worn, but from another date everyone must switch to winter woollies. It sure doesn't seem to have a lot to do with what the weather's like on any given day.

Anyway, things are looking up because our weather forecast says daytime temperatures will be back up to 21C, and a minimum of 10 overnight, by Saturday.

Im kind of lucky at the moment, I have more jackets and coats which I bought over than I have t-shirts, lol

Always look on the bright side of life.

I'm hoping we'll get through the next three weeks without any frosts or low temperatures that could put Spring on hold.

Almost time for the countryside to come alive with Almond and Peach blossom to begin with, anyone seen any yet ?

On the negative side those pesky proc. caterpillars are already starting to hatch out in big numbers.

You raise a very good point Lynn.
My wife changes her wardrobe 2x year. At the end of summer, she removes all of her summer clothes in favour of her winter woolies. To this day I still don´t know where she puts the "out of season" clothes!
Then in Spring, she swaps it all back again!

Had a meeting with our Spanish teacher, she was in Valladolid over New Year, she described the weather as "nefasto". Couldn't get out for a walk, the only place she went was the shopping centres. I met her over the weekend enjoying some great winter sun here walking on a local beach.

Proc caterpillars could be a big problem due to the mild winter, we have a large number of nests in the pines behind our place which of course is where the cat loves to prowl.
Even trees with sticky bands aound the trunks have them.
We always seem to miss the almond blossom being in the UK when it happens.
Our tree was full of buds.

That's the Royal Navy routine:-

1st May the Navy goes GAY (shirt sleeve order [short] lightweight trousers).

1st October the Navy goes SOBER (jersey wool heavy working dress trousers).

Had Brunch on the south terrace in the sun temp was 27* although the true temp in the north facing shade was no higher than 17*. Gin clear azure blue sky's all day with 10 more days to come. Might reach 30* in the sun one day soon but very cool nights 6* tonight and sure to get colder.

whatever you may describe it, it is still No 8's and No 1's will remain the same for ceremonial or important occasions.

white's will be shorts for the May-Oct and longs for the Oct-April in the more temperate climes

just been sorting out my summer gear for the time when the weather changes, making sure it has all been cleaned and pressed with no stains.

I tried the sticky bands system myself and found it made no difference at all other than the nests kept appearing a little higher up the same trees every year.
My personal opinion is that some are able to complete their reproduction cycle without ever leaving the trees at all.

if you think that the current sub-zero temps in this neck of the woods is "mild" then perhaps you should come round for a cuppa
assuming of course you can get a flight from the UK

`

I rather fancy Red Sea Rig for summer.

swimming cozzie

not this time of year in Spain - bbbrrrrhhhh

and not on a Tribal in the Red Sea with air con that was "tempremental" to say the least