This was a comment last Saturday.
Anonymous15 February 2026 at 07:09
So many posts on UK blogs about depressed-sounding pensioners sitting around looking out at the rain. Don’t you ever long for a bit of adventure in foreign lands? With the internet it’s so easy now to organise affordable accommodation for a couple of months. Have you never considered escaping the winter? Helen.
I know why I don't long for adventure or fancy two months somewhere warmer - it would be no fun on my own and I'd be bored stiff!
And anyway, I'm English, moaning about the weather is what we do and always have........
On 26th February 1768, MP Horace Walpole said in his journal "We are drowning again for the second winter, and hear of nothing but floods and desolation"
And weather folklore says.....
"If in Februeer there be no rain,
The hay won't be good, nor the grain.
All other months of the year
Most heartily curse a fine Februeer"
Apparently rainfall records have been broken this winter in many places, so we aren't imagining it!
What a strange comment from Helen. I’m a single pensioner in the UK and I’m not sitting inside staring at the rain. 2 months abroad would cost thousands of pounds and leaving a property empty for months would be plain daft. Life goes on, school runs, village events, meeting with friends, gardening on a dry day, baking or batch cooking on a wet day. I dog walk every day whatever the weather, we just do normal stuff. I don’t have a passport and haven’t had one for years. Commenting on the weather is a British pastime. Just let us be. Sandra.
ReplyDeletewell if you ever do decide to leave, I will come and take care of your house! LOL. Would love that actually. But it would be hard to have someone in your house too, lol.
DeleteI'd hate to over-winter abroad! Each country has its own problems anyway. I love our changing seasons.
ReplyDeleteHmmm. I wonder if Helen stopped to think that money or health might be an issue for some?
ReplyDeletePenny
‘Affordable’ is subjective isn’t it. I certainly couldn’t afford accommodation costs abroad for two months while still paying rent and rates and utilities for my empty home here.
ReplyDeleteAnna.
So many reasons why this does not appeal to me at all. I listened to radio interview with a lovely guy who was minister of the English-speaking Methodist church in a small spanish seaside town popular with visiting OAPs in winter. He said he spent much of his time helping them sort problems. They didn't speak much Spanish, so if they were ill, ran out of money, needed to get home in an emergency, whatever, they ended up on his doorstep. He was the one who translated things for them, helped them. And many of the single ones ended up very lonely. It might work for some folk. But not me!
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of active pensioners who spend every winter in Spain taking advantage of warmer weather for their aching joints, the cheaper food, and eating out, and MUCH cheaper cigarettes and alcohol. They rent villas at out-of-season rates. Good luck to them, I say! We had a lady and her elderly month who used to do this every year.
DeleteMuch as I would enjoy the change of scene and warmer weather I just couldn't be doing with the upheaval, and I'd miss my family and friends too much. Give me the familiar seeping damp cold English climate and I can dream of the days when I can exchange vest, flannel shirt, heavy jumper for just a tee-shirt! (Besides, we have central heating, don't smoke and hardly drink any alcohol. I do miss having a coffee at an outside table watching the passers-by.)
It’s no longer cheaper eating out in Spain, in my opinion and there are many British pensioners sitting in bars all day and not doing much else. Might as well stay in the U.K. complaining about the weather. It’s what we do!
DeleteNot a pensioner, not fully English but moaning about the weather and walking the dog in the rain came naturally to me haha
ReplyDeleteI'd rather explore this country than head off some where exotic I have to admit.
It is better to be lonely at home, comfortable and dry, rather than rushing about for experiences, I so dislike airports, we have not flown for a couple of years. Yes it's raining here, not so cold, so that will do!
ReplyDeleteI am sure that some people are happy to do that, but 'retired' does not necessarily mean free of responsibilities. Retirees are the backbone of most voluntary organisations in the UK and lots of us are 'unofficial' carers for family members (grandkids, partners with dementia or other health conditions or - in my case - an adult child with disabilities). Dropping everything and taking off for an extended period simply isn't an option, whether the money to pay for it is available or not.
ReplyDeleteThat's a very big assumption that pensioners have the money to do that! And that all pensioners are confident about using the Internet to look at all these possibilities!
ReplyDeleteSitting looking out at the rain is sometimes quite cosy, and makes us grateful for our homes that we can sit in.
Well, I DID holiday in the sun last year (well, NZ was sunny, Jordan was like back at home for over half the week). Needless to say, these were VERY special once-in-a-lifetime holidays and much though I would like to spend the winter travelling, money is an issue as is cat care and it's not much fun on your own (with single premiums). Besides, us Brits ALWAYS moan about the weather. It's always too wet/cold/hot!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Leaving your house empty for long periods of time also impacts on your house insurance . . . they get you every which way!
ReplyDeleteI love the different seasons here in the UK rain, snow and all. The signs of Spring are here already and that fills me with joy. It is traditional for us Brits to moan about the weather, if we didn't what else would we talk about on the bus? Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteThere is an assumption nowadays that all pensioners have healthy bank balances and endless savings. Be nice if we all did but for many it is not the case. Being in the sun and warmer weather would be nice but it is not essential for happy days. The weather has been dreary but books, sewing and planning for the garden is a pleasure for me. Carole R
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is only pensioners who moan about the wet weather! Here on the Somerset levels we have so many flooded fields and roads. But where there are dry areas, it's great to see the signs of spring, snowdrops, daffs and bushes budding. Brits often moan about the weather, but we have different seasons to enjoy (and moan about, ha ha)
ReplyDeleteI could not imagine or want several months abroad, as you say, it could be pretty boring and at home it's possible to find plenty of things to do.
Travelling from the UK to a warmer European country for extended holidays is not as straightforward, or cheap, as an American deciding to go to California or Florida for a few months. We have UK relatives who go to Florida every year and, even taking flights into account, still say that overall they save money.
ReplyDeleteI love our different seasons, although with climate change some seasons are becoming a bit too extreme! Going abroad for any length of time doesn't interest me in the slightest, but each to their own.
ReplyDeleteIt has been wet and cold. A lovely time to snuggle under rugs with hot drinks and good books. Porridge for breakfast and tasty soups, and a bit of baking with warming spices.
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree ! Here in Brittany it's floods in many places and the breton language has so many words for rain we consider it as part of our cultural wealth !
ReplyDeleteMaguy
I have a cousin who lives in Spain, they have a great life and enjoy much better weather than us ( on the whole ) it wouldn’t be for me, I enjoy a bit of gentle grumbling about our climate but it’s all part of life’s rich tapestry as they say.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
As they say, wherever you go, you're the same you. I don't live in the UK, but I do have changing seasons, and winter has its own attraction. Today it's pouring down, very cozy. I wonder why the writer assumes that there are adventures abroad, rather than just an expensive period of everyday life in a different country. Not to mention all the arrangements you need to set up for your empty home. I think she may not have thought this through.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who has a flat in Spain and an Irish passport so can come and go as she pleases without needing to stay within the Schengen rules. We are happy at home and can spend our retirement doing hobbies and activities that we enjoy. To each their own but the comment was not needed on such a lovely blog. Catriona
ReplyDeleteWe complain about the weather here in Illinois, USA, too! Traveling is too $$$ and too complicated for me now. I'm lucky to have family and friends near so I can be as busy and active as I want. I'm happy to sleep in my own bed at night. That's just my preference. Others can do differently if they want.
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous: I am Welsh, I live in a wonderful country that I could spend a lifetime exploring discovering thousands of years of history, and wondering while wandering at some of the most beautiful scenery in the world without the hassle and headache of traveling congestion, delays, suspicious food, airport queues, hoards of strangers milling about. By staying home I am also not adding to the vast amounts of pollution from travelling by plane, but I am contributing to the local economy.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a passport, haven't had for some time. We Brits love to discuss the weather and it makes us happy. Those of us who have reached pensionable age, well, if you knew us, you wouldn't be so judgemental and pigeon hole us as being depressed and sitting around!!!
Sure, it's not perfect, but where is? Give me an afternoon in Wales on a wet and windy winter's day over any scorching hot excursion in sun baked climes!
The ubiquitous 'bucket list' is responsible, in my opinion, for some people's insatiable urge to 'travel.' I understand that for some it is an opportunity to see other cultures, and that I respect, but some people I know have an overwhelming need to travel and spend barely any time in their own homes.
ReplyDeleteTravelling is not the fun it used to be - crowds everywhere, long delays and cancellations, and overall exhaustion leading to a need for another holiday at the end of it all.
I did enough travelling as an army wife and it was not fun. 'Marching in and out of married quarters' is the devil's own device.
I agree either way you about bucket list. Someone in my bookclub mentioned they were going to Sicily. I spent 10 days in Palermo a couple of years back and loved it. I asked where she was going…it was a 10 hour stop somewhere on a Mediterranean cruise. Well that’s Sicily ticked off
DeleteI wonder if the writer (Anonymous Helen) is a travel agent?!
ReplyDelete"Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home."
ReplyDeleteWe're not COMPLAINING about the weather; we're tellin' it like it is.
I, for one, am exactly where I want to be. If I wasn't, I'd go somewhere else. Where, who knows, it might be too hot or there might be too many insects or noisy neighbours or heavy traffic or ... y'know, there's no such thing as paradise except for whenever we appreciate our good fortune to be where we are. -Kate
I don’t think it’s a strange comment. If you have plenty of money in the bank, no childcare /voluntary work / pet commitments and fancy a bit of adventure before it’s too late, why not?
ReplyDeleteIt’s so easy to just moulder beyond a certain age. Inga
The British are never happy unless they are moaning about the weather. We are retired but still have commitments, grandchildren minding, feeding their cats (and mine), trips out and about. Plus I hate being too hot.xx
ReplyDeleteAnonymous needs to live and let live. What makes some people think they know what is best for other people? Anonymous, your opinion has been noted and even debated a bit here. Hopefully you are reading along.
ReplyDeletePretty sure if I was alone the only places I would travel to would be our sons homes.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Lol. Anonymous needs to just not read and enjoy another blog!
ReplyDeleteBeing British and moaning about the weather is just a thing lol. I'm all for travel, but there are so many adventures you can have locally. You've taken us on adventures to many different churches to visit. Not every adventure needs to be to some exotic land. Doing what brings you joy is more important than trying to keep up with the Joneses.
Well, the comments certainly sent Helen packing! I'm with the majority and m not even a pensioner yet! Zero plans for travel like that when I get there with the one exception of maybe trying out a cruise of the Norwegian fjords - the photos I've seen look stunning. If I don't get there, no worries!
ReplyDeleteYou see the same kinds of comments on posts from winter in the US, especially in the north where it goes on a long time. It's all about the weather here, too -- look at anyone's FB or blog or conversation! It's what we do! That's one reason I think I'd get on in England. It's expensive to escape, especially if you really want to escape later and have a lovely vacation elsewhere (when the weather is decent!). It's all well and good to say "go somewhere else for a couple of months" (and I know people who do.) But that's not only costly, it means dealing with pets, a vacant home, the friends and activities one does in their own city and being in a place not your own. Not my cuppa. I'll snug up with good books, a cat, lots of tea and cocoa and get through the winter and rejoice in the spring!
ReplyDeletehaha - we have many expats here in Paradise and I can assure you, the Poms LOVE to whinge about the weather - its a pastime that travels too!
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that being tired of a stretch of long dreary weather should be seen as a reason to hightail it to someplace else. Something that I have noticed is that no matter where you are, there are times that the weather is going to be less than perfect. We will moan and endure and know that better days are coming.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I wouldn't say that it was "moaning" about the weather. I would more say that it was "observing" the weather. Nothing wrong with that I would have thought.
ReplyDelete