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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Alan Connor

Rain, rain, go away: the peculiar British stoicism of ‘celebrating’ awful weather

A van and car submerged and abandoned in floodwater
A flooded ford in Thurlaston, Leicestershire owing to the recent downpours. Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA

May it fall as a blessing, not as a curse. So goes the ancient prayer inviting us to embrace days of rain.

It is a prayer that would not be welcomed by anyone on the floodplains the UK persists in filling with houses. It would be met with outright hostility by any farmers who are now unable to do any of the things they need to do in February because their land has had literally 40 days and nights of rain.

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