h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Should it rain for days, it will stop on Monday morning.

To be more specific, it will happen the minute you enter the office.

Should it start raining again, it will happen at lunchtime (for an hour or so).

I believe the Eskimos have more than 27 words to describe snow. The English have just as many words to describe rain; most of these are swear words

Meteorologists have worked out why it rains more at weekends in places like New York than it does during the week (especially Mondays). It's because of the pollution. During the week it builds up until it affects the weather; thus it is more likely to rain as the week progresses. By the weekend there is so much pollution that it can rain pretty much non-stop. Over the weekend there are (slightly?) fewer people in the city, so the pollution level drops. Consequently, Monday is a comparatively clear day.

So maybe everyone in cities should try walking or using a bike!

If someone should offer a lift, and it looks like rain, as soon as the lift is accepted it turns into a nice day for a walk. If it looks nice and you decide to walk, guarantee the clouds will come.

I used to walk to work on a daily basis for a period of about 4 years. There was no one who lived near me who could offer me a lift. Over this sort of period, the weather sort of averages out. There were days when I took an umbrella and it didn't rain, or took a heavy coat 'cos it was cold and then the temperature rose. But there were also days when it chucked it down or froze and I found I'd got the protective wear just right. So, you'll excuse me for my complete lack of sympathy.

It is guaranteed to rain right after washing the car. Obversely, you can guarantee a sunny day by carrying an umbrella.

I refer you to my previous response, i.e. over time it all averages out!

Sooooo, rain averages iself out. Riiiiggghhhhtttt... And blueberrys are conspiring with giant evil mutant squirrals who hate humans.

so what happens if you wash your car AND carry an umbrella????

Try this. Walk for at least half-an-hour, every day, Monday to Friday. Wash your car when you would normally wash it, take an umbrella or coat when you think you might need one. Keep this up for at least a year. Over time you will find that sometimes it doesn't rain after you've washed the car, and sometimes it does rain when you're carrying an umbrella. I did it for 4 years (I didn't have a car, so I can't prove the car association) so I'm pretty confident that I know what I'm talking about.

You will also find a number of side-effects. You'll get through shoes quicker, choose new shoes for comfort more than style and get fitter. You may lose weight (if you need to). You should also find that the running costs for your car decrease.

Picture this. The UK. A Georgian Square, a church and spire, gardens with trees 150 years old. Our office. Somehow it has become the Red Light District. I'm newto the job, but see regular faces as I do the Post Man, Delivery Companies and fellow office folk in the Square. Rain or shire there is NO perceptable pattern to the activity out on the street. Not the day of the week, not the weather. Is this relevant? Perhaps.

Then you'll either scratch the paint on the car, harpoon yourself with the umbrella, do a poor job in the washing because of having to hold the umbrella, or end up soaking yourself with the rinse-cycle because the umbrella fell into the soap (or something) and you had to lunge suddenly to grab it.

I think that this phenomenon of raining when least prepared for it is directly proportional to the actions of those that hate rain. Vancouver's a very wet city, getting mostly rain through the winter and everyone bemoans it. For me, the weather's only a factor if I have to work in it, at which point I dress appropriately.

Spend more time dreaming and less time worrying about what's going on outside and NOTHING will bother you....except those events that drag you away from dreaming.

Fruitbat

PS: remember to vote for me on the Virtual Mayor of London page.