Blogging In The Rain

The last two weeks have been strange in Manchester. Why? Because it has hardly rained. Here we are heading towards the end of September and hardly a drop of rain has fallen on the city.

In fact, as I type, I am staring out of the window onto a blue cloudless sky.

Those of you from within the UK are probably thinking “Yes that is indeed strange, Mr Plastic Mancunian”. Those of you from further away may be thinking “What’s so odd about two weeks without rain?”

Well let me tell you what’s strange about it. Manchester is perceived to be the rainiest city in Britain. Just watch a typical weather forecast.

The weatherman will say something like …

“Good news everybody, we have clear blue skies everywhere except …”

And I just know that there will be a tiny black cloud on the map. Furthermore, everybody will know exactly where I live because that cloud will be hovering directly above my house holding a huge amount of rainwater to drop on my head. The cloud will be saying "Come on - make my day".

Of course, if it is raining in the UK it will of course be raining in Manchester as well – that’s a given!

When I first moved to Manchester over twenty years ago, people told me to buy an umbrella “because I would need it”. And they were right. Apparently Mancunians spend £13million a year on umbrellas.

However, I have been doing my home city a disservice. Apparently Manchester is not the wettest city in Britain.

According to an article I recently read the following cities are wetter:

Londonderry
Plymouth
Glasgow
Cardiff
Preston
Belfast

In fact Manchester is the ninth wettest city in Britain and the average rainfall is only marginally more than the average rainfall for the whole of England.

So if you are thinking "The Plastic Mancunian comes from Manchester. He must be blogging in the rain” – think again.

It's sunny up north!

I’m off to South Africa again tomorrow so I won’t be posting for a week or so. Let’s hope it doesn’t rain there.