Irish weather is renowned for its schizophrenic nature and today was no exception. The evenings are getting darker and the leaves are starting to fall, giving the place a distinctly autumnal feel. Christmas is a mere three months away (there, I said it) and there have already been some heavy handed hints in the Black household about yours truly venturing into the roof space to locate the Christmas decorations. It truly has been the strangest of years.
I ran this morning at 06:00 am and, upon opening the front door, was greeted by darkness and drizzle. So much for an Indian summer then, I thought sullenly, as I battled through the deluge and dodged the sizeable puddles on my allotted route. The dreary conditions continued as I made my way into Belfast until I found the drier climes of my office. There I bunkered down until lunchtime, glued to my computer, utterly aware as to what was going on outside.
Imagine my surprise then when I ventured out this afternoon to find the sun splitting the rocks, had there been any rocks to split. You could have fried an egg on the square outside the office and on my walk through the city I was greeted by blue skies, sun bathers and shoppers who had resurrected their summer wardrobe for one final hurrah. I felt woefully out of place in my long sleeved shirt, jacket and snood. I was as hot as a baked potato by the time I reached the train station.
It no doubt will be snowing this time tomorrow or icebergs will be sighted floating up Belfast Lough. You never can tell with the Irish weather where we are well used to four seasons in one day. Why am I surprised I ask myself? In a year that gave us COVID-19 nothing is surprising anymore. Be prepared for anything and assume nothing. For to assume makes an ‘ass’ out of ‘u’ and ‘me.’ Or something like that. Hope you are safe and well today, wherever in the world you are.
Black Thoughts 
“Be prepared for anything and assume nothing.” I think this should be the motto for this year. My husband said it should be “Why the heck not?” Anyway I’m glad you got some sunshine after the rain even if it was slightly uncomfortable 🙂
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Thank you. Mr. StumblingFaith is a wise man 🙂
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Lovely! Reminds me of the crazy weather we had in Colorado. After only 2 months, I’m still getting use to Florida. Tropical Storm Sally was over us the last few days. Nothing but cloudy skies and a slow soaking rain for a few days. Still cloudy today. Now the storm is Hurricane Sally as it hits New Orleans. It’s usually hot, sunny, and humid down here, like being in Jumanji, but the storms can be brutal. We are safer along the southwest Gulf coast south of Tampa, but we still get high winds and plenty of rain. Crazy amount of lightning down here in Florida too. Oh yeah, and there is literally a gator in the canal behind the house. How different we all live!😊🐊 I’m still hoping to visit Ireland someday. God bless!
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Hi Ryan. Good to hear from you again. I look forward to your visit. Hoping you and your family are well 🙂
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Sounds like a lovely day in Montana!! Last Tuesday I awoke to a brisk 23 degrees (Fahrenheit) for my morning run. By Friday it was in the 80’s. Now we are in the smoke season and can’t see more than a mile. Praying for a storm to bring rains, even snow, to put out the fires and freshen the air. Does the sunshine seem like a more resplendent gift now in these confounding times than in times past? Heck, I find myself savoring every weather phenomenon more than usual. Every moment of every day is a wonder to behold – and I find the gloom necessary to know true light – and happiness, Cheers to you and enjoy the sunshine while it lasts…
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Thank you very much. Hope the air clears soon 🙂
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The weather in central Europe and the Alps is (thankfully) more predictable. We’ve had at least 24 degrees (at 1400 metres) today and my car clocked 31 degrees in the Rhone valley. The forecast says it should rain tomorrow evening around 4pm and I’m sure it will. But it’ll be nothing like a good old NI or UK downpour. (Sometimes you miss it, but mostly not!) 😉
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Stay safe with the weather. As a type this there a a hurricane outside. 🙂
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You too, Amanda 🙂
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LOL we speak the same of our Louisville, KY weather. I’m hoping for an extended fall, my favorite season, and I’ve had my Halloween decorations out for a week now. I hope, for the children’s’ sake, that trick or treat night isn’t cancelled – most will be masked, I know I will to hand out the goodies!
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Let’s hope not but I fear it may be.
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Stephen, I thought I would share this song with you by Crowded House:
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Thank you Sean.
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There’s a saying in North Carolina: If you don’t like the weather then wait ten minutes-it will change! Sunday was smoldering hot hovering around 98 degrees Fahrenheit; today it is a pleasant 74. At least it isn’t boring. By the way, that building is absolutely gorgeous. Belfast is on my list of places to visit one day.
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It’s Belfast City Hall. It features in one of my books so I often write in its grounds on my lunch break. Thank you Jenny.
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Beautiful weather here in California! But the fires make the air quality too bad to go out into it🙏🏼 and thanks for the Christmas reminder! I may just put out tree up for Halloween!
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My wife & daughters are thinking the same 😂
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It’s just been that type of year so why not? 🤷🏻♀️😂
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Never been to Belfast, I wish I could come one day 🙂
In italy it’s still summer time, temperature as high as 30/32° C (and 20 at night, at least here near Bologna). And it’s supposed to go on like that for a while, according to forecasts… very agreeable, on top of that it keeps seasonal illnesses away, which definitely helps these days 😉 But my experience is, once it’s September, Christmas is just round the corner ahah
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Thank you Anna. I hope you get to visit us one day 🙂
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Four seasons in one day. That is crazy. But I love your meaning of assume. It is so true. This year 2020 really makes an “ass out of you and me” 🙂🙂
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I think it did for all of us, Beverley. Thank you 😊
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That blue sky!!
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Kudos to you for continuing to run. Especially in the inclement weather. Physical exercise is so important for our mental health. I played my first game of (7 aside) football yesterday in about ten years. It was windy and cold, even though we’re heading into spring here in New Zealand. I was a bit nervous to go along with the xold, but once I got out and got stuck in I remembered how much fun and how good it would be for me.
There is all kind of weather in the world as well as in our minds. Sometimes we can push through, other times we need to wait out.
Thank you for sharing. 😊
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You’re welcome Hamish. Glad you survived the match and here’s to many more 😊
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