Weather postcast - April 2012

Weather-wise, I can never again say that April is one of the best months to come here. Other Aprils have been, but 2012's has not.

It has rained, I think, every day. Sometimes very hard, sometimes quite gently, occasionally what they call "mizzle" in Cumbria - a cross between mist and drizzle. We've seen the sun only occasionally and briefly - just enough to be reminded of the warmth to come - and temperatures have seldom touched the high teens. With almost constantly cloudy skies it's all been a bit English, to be honest - a huge contrast to last year's mid 20s to mid 30s and blistering sunshine.

On the plus side, our water butts are in great shape, the ground is saturated and with the addition of mulch will need very little watering for a while, the hay will be awesome this year and the woods are a startlingly bright green. Our wild flowers arrived on time, and Early Purples and Burnt orchids litter the meadow. The birds have also returned, and Golden Orioles have been exotically touting for their mates outside our yurts for a couple of weeks.

Although all of these things are exciting and wonderful, perhaps the hay is most reassuring. This time last year I was looking at the sky and wondering if it was ever going to rain. It didn't, and the hay was terrible. People were getting half their normal yield and this precious food was scarce from October. Trucks were bringing in hay from all over Europe which, from a sustainability point of view, was insanity.

When you have a big animal, like Pepito, you become painfully aware of how much everything depends on the rain. It's a simple equation: No rain = No big animals. To give you a clearer idea, he eats one small bale of hay every day for about six months, with some rolled oats and re-hydrated beet for good measure. I don't know anything about cows, but they probably consume even more. Two or more years in a row like that and these animals would no longer populate the landscape in such numbers.

Which is why, even after a month of rain, I'm a happy bunny. I just wish I had one pair of boots without holes in them.

Weather postcast week ending 28/08

A bit of everything last week, with two days of 38C and sun, some perfect days in the mid-20s, a few thunderstorms, a bit of rain, and daytime temperatures as low as 15C (one of this week's lovely guests had a thermometer). No snow though.

Packing suggestion: A bag for all seasons. Just leave the gloves. Unless you're coming to do some work.

Weather postcast week ending 21/08

It may have rained briefly during the week, but the weather was dominated by hot and very hot days, pushing up towards 40C. Fortunately, we have trees and transpiration, which brings the temperature down by several degrees. There was the swimming lake at Lanquais, river at Le Buisson (which could do with more parking) and water park near Le Bugue if you felt the need to be immersed.

Suggested clothing: A light bag containing shorts, all-terrain sandals, T-shirts, shades and hat.

Hot tip: Don't forget to take your car keys out of your pocket before jumping into the water.

Weather postcast week ending 14/08

A full week of blue skies and sunshine, with maybe the odd cloud thrown in for good measure; I can't remember it raining at all. Still not the punishingly hot temperatures we've seen in the last couple of years - something's definitely amiss in the upper troposphere (or wherever) - hitting the low to middle 30s at best.

Dont forget to pack: Skin-safe sunscreen if you're going out to the lake or river to swim, shades and that fleece you think you wouldn't possibly need in August in the South of France. Late evening and early morning still a bit nippy.

Weather postcast week ending 07/08

A bit of everything last week, with a couple of wet days and at least one day hitting 30C. Otherwise overcast and tropically humid.

The lack of Proper Summer Weather still hasn't made it to the news, which is dominated by a turbulent stockmarket, almost US default, US debt downgrade and trouble in t' Eurozone (for future reference, for context). A friend of mine said the summer in Holland has been the worst since, like, EVER - but online news editors have conspicuously failed to pick up on this. Maybe they never go outside.

Packing suggestion: Shorts, off-road sandals, T-Shirts, waterproofs and a hoodie if staying up until 1am.

Weather postcast week ending 31/07

A week of three halves. The first: Miserable, wet and depressing like the previous week with a mix of heavy rain and drizzle. The second: Sunny and warm with some clouds and temperatures in the highs 20s. The third: A cold lager in the square in Lalinde, watching one of the bands in the free annual Tradigourdines two-evening festival.

I looked up the 'normal' weather for the region last week and temperatures are supposed to have been in the 30-35C region for the whole of July. Those 10-15 degrees really make a difference.

Packing suggestion: A mixed bag, with stuff to keep you warm when cold, and other stuff to keep you cool when hot.

Weather postcast week ending 24/07

Unrelenting rain, day and night, almost all week. Without doubt the most miserable weather we can remember. And unheard of in July, according to our retired neighbour who has lived here all his life.

Damp, depressing, and disastrous for one family who decided to head home on Tuesday (it wasn't a total washout for them - they'd been in Provence for a week already - but nobody wants to see their guests leave early).

Suggested clothing: Jumpers, waterproofs, wellies, umbrellas and everything else you'd need for a holiday in the UK.

Weather postcast week ending 17/07

Some of the heaviest rain we have seen but (thankfully) not all the time. A few days of fine weather with enough sunshine to make a trip to the lake at Lanquais worthwhile, though not especially hot.

Very unlikely this was a typical July week, unless you mean the British usage of the word, as in: 'Wait all year for my holiday, go to the South of France and it rains - typical!"

Suggested clothing: Everything you'd need for a British summer's day, including shorts, T-shirts, shades, long trousers, waterproofs, sweater, all-terrain shoes and a dry sense of humour. Needful to say, the guests loved it.

Weather postcast week ending 10/07

Dry and hot all week (high 20s to low 30s), though frequently overcast, ending last night with the loudest thunderstorm for two years and about an inch of rain.

Suggested clothing: As light as possible, and appropriate swimwear for trips to the river in Le Buisson. Long trousers and hoodie for the evenings. Some kind of waterproof for the rain forecast today.

Weather postcast week ending 03/07

Unrelenting blue skies and sunshine. The highest temperature was Monday at 44C in the shade, but there were plenty of days from the high 20s to the mid 30s. Something for everyone who likes it hot. A distant, rainless thunderstorm one night.

Suggested clothing: As little as possible. A jumper or hoodie still needed for the first hour of the day (depending on when you get up, obviously).

Weather postcast week ending 26/06

Warm and fine or sunny all week. It feels like summer is here with a vengeance and they're talking about 36C later on today.

Suggested clothing: Shorts, light T-shirts and hats (or hat if you only have one).

Weather postcast week ending 19/06

A real mix of weather this week, with periods of sun, cloud, strong wind, and rain in all its forms - very much like a British summer. Our lovely guests didn't mind, although coming from Wales may have something to do with it, and wore shorts and T-shirts pretty much all the time.

One of the good things about coming here on holiday is that you can always visit a cave, where it rains all the time. Or go wine tasting - I didn't realise how many vineyards there are nearby until I saw the leaflet.

(OK, that's two of the good things.)

Weather postcast week ending 12/06

Richard Bacon said it best on a Big Breakfast broadcast back in 1993 (perhaps you saw it): Great weather if you're an otter - or you collect water.

Fortunately, we do collect water. And the ground desperately needed the long - free - steady soaking it received over the last week. The rain also loosened up the ground nicely for the guest yurt platform I'm making in the woods. It wasn't constant rain, but it happened every day.

Suggested clothing: Waterproofs that are actually waterproof. Jumper for the mornings and evenings.

WARNING: If you are from a drought-ridden region hoping to experience water falling from the sky, or from Wales and want to feel at home when you're away, this postcast is no guarantee it will rain during last week next year. It could just as easily be a week of blazing sunshine and 30-degree temperatures. I wouldn't want you to be disappointed.

Weather postcast week ending 05/06

Much more mixed last week, with many days of sun and temperatures in the high 20s, a couple of overcast days - and even the first bit of decent rain in MONTHS. Plus a couple of thunderstorms thrown in for good measure.

Clothing suggestions: This year's first guests largely wore shorts and T-shirts, and one sported a big hat. I should have worn my work trousers with knee pads instead of jeans while I was laying the bathroom floor, but that's easy to write in hindsight.

Weather postcast week ending 29/05

A week of varied weather for a change. Generally hot and sunny, with at least one day in the low 30s and two days that were actually overcast. Perfect for working outside (picture to follow). On one of those days we even had a few minutes of light rain.

Clothing required: Shorts, long trousers, T-Shirts, a hoodie or fleece, shades and/or a hat.

Weather postcast week ending 22/05

Unbroken sunshine all week with temperatures warm to very warm. Suggested clothing: Shorts, T-shirts and sandals with a shirt for the evening at around 9 o'clock. I did actually buy a hat this week.

(I showed the kids my hat and Boy said: 'How did you make that?' I bought it, I told him. He said: 'Why?' Made us laugh.)

Weather postcast week ending 15/05

A hot week in general, mostly in the mid 20sC, with one day reaching the mid 30s and two nights with rain and thunder. Yesterday evening it was cool enough to wear a jumper (US: sweater) but maybe only because we've been used to much higher temperatures.

Suggested clothing for last week: Shorts and T-shirts with jeans for the evening, and that jumper for yesterday. Or a shawl. There's nothing wrong with a shawl.

Weather postcast week ending 08/05

Plenty of sun but not as hot as recent weeks during the day, with warmer mornings and evenings. A couple of days with some rain though not enough to make a serious impact on our butts. Yesterday was mostly overcast with a strong wind up at the Medieval Festival in Baneuil - enough to blow arrows off course even at short range.

Clothing required: Much like a good English summer, though no need for wellies or umbrellas. Lightweight chain mail, codpieces and pointy leather shoes for the very brave.

HOLIDAY PLANNING WARNING: This was the first medieval festival at Baneuil and it is not fixed in the calendar for next year. There are plenty of medieval festivals in the area throughout the summer with some better than others. More information may be available somewhere.

Weather postcast week ending 01/05

Cool mornings with loads of sun and plenty of heat from 10 or so. One spot of rain landed on my right forearm midweek, but it could have been something falling from a tree and fell from a cloudless sky. Still mild enough to drink red wine in the evenings.

If you'd been here, you'd have needed a fleece or hoodie for breakfast time, shades and shorts for the rest of the day. Or maybe a hat.

Last week's weather

Cool but not cold mornings until around 10, then mid-20s to 30C and sunny until the end of the day. Half a day of much-needed rain at one point and some wind.

WARNING: Past temperatures are no guarantee of future warmth. Your happiness may be at risk if you book a holiday or other activity secured upon them.