Thank you for this delightful essay! I particularly enjoyed the wide range of references unified in such an engaging way. On the romance front, this discussion brings to mind _Persuasion_ by Jane Austen. I adore the scene where Captain Wentworth offers Anne his umbrella to protect her from Bath’s showers—“I wish you would make use of it, if you are determined to walk; though, I think, it would be prudent to let me get you a chair.” Needless to say, Wentworth’s sincere concern for Anne’s welfare foreshadows their beautiful reconciliation in the novel’s conclusion.
The Dutch have a rather lovely saying for those who claim bad weather as a reason for driving rather than cycling or walking somewhere: “you’re not made of sugar, you won’t melt in the rain!”
Maybe it was too obvious to use, but I'm sure you're aware of the adage, "There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing", which I've seen attributed to people as diverse as Billy Connolly and Alfred Wainwright, as well as the folklore of various Northern countries.
The earliest definite example of a related saying I've found is John Ruskin: "Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather."
Thank you for this delightful essay! I particularly enjoyed the wide range of references unified in such an engaging way. On the romance front, this discussion brings to mind _Persuasion_ by Jane Austen. I adore the scene where Captain Wentworth offers Anne his umbrella to protect her from Bath’s showers—“I wish you would make use of it, if you are determined to walk; though, I think, it would be prudent to let me get you a chair.” Needless to say, Wentworth’s sincere concern for Anne’s welfare foreshadows their beautiful reconciliation in the novel’s conclusion.
Thank you for the kind words, and what a brilliant share - wish I'd thought to include it! 😂
Good choice.
My pick for 'favourite Austen' has shifted over the years but is now drifting from Northanger Abbey to Persuasion.
This was nicely done.
I read it and thought of Brahms's Regenlied:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raoj-Sgfnag
Thanks for sharing Andrew; this was lovely and fits absolutely perfectly!
Very good written and informativie essay. Thanks
The Dutch have a rather lovely saying for those who claim bad weather as a reason for driving rather than cycling or walking somewhere: “you’re not made of sugar, you won’t melt in the rain!”
This is lovely! I'm stealing it 🙂
Maybe it was too obvious to use, but I'm sure you're aware of the adage, "There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing", which I've seen attributed to people as diverse as Billy Connolly and Alfred Wainwright, as well as the folklore of various Northern countries.
The earliest definite example of a related saying I've found is John Ruskin: "Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather."
Thanks Jon! I hadn't come across the Ruskin one; thanks for sharing
Thanks so much Tom! Kind words that are very much appreciated