As a child

I don't remember the summers of 1975 or 1976, I was only a toddler. The records, photos and others recollections of it to me determine they were amongst the finest summers of my lifetime, possibly the best. Hot, dry and sunny.  There are other occasions that are older than my memory too; windstorms in January 1975, Severe blizzards in January 1977 and January 1978. The remarkably cold and snowy winter of discontent 1978/79.

My earliest recollections of severe weather would be deep snow I would play and sledge in, deep puddles caused by torrential rain I would set out with my "wellies" to splash in. Windy weather I'd fly a kite in, hot and sunny weather I'd have a picnic in with my family and friends. All sweet memories, made possible by the weather. Nasty weather conditions for adults were always fun conditions for kids. That all changed on for me on the 20th of March 1986, the day the weather lost its innocence.

To read about this and other recollections I have of severe weather, please select from the links on the left.

My Garden path on the morning after the February 2001 blizzard