An American Worker in London
Tuesday, January 13, 2004
London Weather
I knew it would be wet. I expected cold. But I did not expect the wind.
I don't mind cold, wet, snowy or icy conditions. After years of growing up in the desert, after 4 years in frigid Yakima, after years of travel to northern states during winter, I am generally immune to sub-zero conditions, but that's because I spend most of the time indoors -- either in offices, hotels, restaurants, or cars.
That's not the case here in London, where I am on foot most of the time. When I'm walking from the office to the hotel, or from the hotel to a local restaurant, the wind gusts cause watery eyes, a runny nose, and cold hands, and it would be worse if I had to stand 5 or 10 minutes at a bus stop waiting for my ride "home".
I spent all of last winter in mid-state New York, where it snowed frequently, stayed below zero for several months, and sent all of the smaller birds and rich people south until April. At least the wind didn't blow. As a result, I was able to survive the winter with a waterproof hooded parka, 4 sweaters (worn one per day), and a pair of heavy gloves. That was more than adequate for the dash from the car to the office, or while scraping ice off the windshield in the hotel parking lot each morning.
Here in London, the wind blows almost constantly, mostly during the day, and on rainy days this makes umbrella use risky if not just crazy. When winter arrived, I tried using my collapsible umbrella on the first rainy day, but became somewhat concerned after seeing it turn inside out twice and almost blow out of my hand a few minutes later. It was at that moment that I understood why the little umbrellas have a hand loop on the handle. I used that until the umbrella caused so much instability as it blew me around on the sidewalk, and even tipped over unexpectedly into other pedestrians, so I returned it to my rucksack and put up the hood on my parka.
Now, I leave my umbrella in the hotel, use the parka exclusively, and try to avoid the other umbrellas people are holding aloft during windy, rainy days. Yesterday, I was nearly impaled by one of the spines on a woman's umbrella as she bumped past me in the crowd, tilting her umbrella in my direction to fend off the driving rain. I have learned to put my head down, drive forward in the crowds, and push back when necessary. And stay away from umbrellas, whoever is carrying them.
