Category Archives: Weather

Flies and Weather in SW France November 2014

Posted on 01/12/2014 by

  This year should be christened “The Year of the Fly.” It has been exceptionally mild and an unfortunate result is a mass invasion by flies. We are not the only ones to suffer, although I wondered if something had … Continue reading →

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Weather for Walks: October 2014 Weather in SW France

Posted on 04/11/2014 by

  We took advantage of the continuing spell of glorious weather last weekend to do one of our favourite walks, along part of the Viaur Valley. I mentioned this in my previous post. It’s a walk that’s best done on … Continue reading →

Posted in Aveyron, Places, Walking in France, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

5 Reasons why Autumn is the Best Season

Posted on 31/10/2014 by

  Not least because of the luminous wall-to-wall blue skies we have enjoyed here for almost two months. Every season has its charms, even winter, although by the end of February they’re well hidden. But for me, autumn is a … Continue reading →

Posted in French life, Walking in France, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Monet and SW France Weather Summer 2014

Posted on 05/10/2014 by

  The image above is of Claude Monet’s garden at Giverny in Normandy, inspiration for many of his paintings. We recently spent a night in the village of Giverny on our way up to the UK. Needless to say, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Places, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Weather in Southwest France August 2014

Posted on 04/09/2014 by

We are currently enjoying a glorious Indian summer with wall-to-wall blue skies and sunshine. And what better way to illustrate it than with a photo of our hoopoe friends, who will shortly be departing – more of them below. What … Continue reading →

Posted in French life, Nature, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

French Summer Markets and Weather in SW France July 2014

Posted on 03/08/2014 by

  French markets come into their own at this time of year. The difference between summer and winter couldn’t be more marked. In the winter, a few brave souls stamp their feet and try to stop their produce freezing while … Continue reading →

Posted in Aveyron, Places, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Wildlife and Weather: June 2014 Update

Posted on 08/07/2014 by

Visitors who are used to the constant hum of city life sometimes ask us, “Don’t you find it a bit quiet here?” The answer is no. I’ve never been a city-dweller by temperament and much prefer la France profonde. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Gardens and SW France Weather May 2014

Posted on 05/06/2014 by

In early June every year, Rendezvous aux Jardins (national gardens weekend) takes place. We make a point of visiting at least one garden during the event. I normally leave green (appropriately) with envy and wish that my garden looked anywhere … Continue reading →

Posted in Aveyron, French life, Gardening, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Hoopoes and SW France Weather April 2014 

Posted on 11/05/2014 by

Some of our summer visitors are quite exotic. The golden orioles are rarely seen, except as flashes of yellow and black in the treetops, but they make their presence known with parrot-like caws and whistles. The hoopoes are distinguished by … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

First Cuckoo and Weather in Southwest France March 2014

Posted on 04/04/2014 by

Today we heard a cuckoo for the first time this year. It’s late: normally we hear one on 29th March +/- three days. And it’s a full week after some friends who live 15 km south of us told us … Continue reading →

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SW France Weather February 2014 and Verdict on 2013

Posted on 05/03/2014 by

This month, I have asked the SF (Statistics Freak; aka my husband) to write the weather post, since it’s he who collects all the statistics. I’ve also asked him to look back over 2013 as a whole and make some … Continue reading →

Posted in Weather | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Southwest France Weather January 2014

Posted on 04/02/2014 by

…plus c’est la même chose. As people in northern and western France prepare to batten down the hatches yet again tonight, it’s my sombre duty to bring you the weather stats for January. And independent corroboration from Météo France that … Continue reading →

Posted in Weather | Tagged , , , , , | 18 Comments

2013 Weather Roundup for Southwest France

Posted on 06/01/2014 by

The spell of mild weather that we enjoyed throughout most of December has continued into January. This doesn’t mean that the weather is good; simply that it’s not cold. On Saturday night, we had a howling gale, torrential rain and … Continue reading →

Posted in Aveyron, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Southwest France Weather November 2013

Posted on 02/12/2013 by

Posting up the monthly weather stats is becoming a rather depressing task this year. It looks as if even the little fellow in the photo above can’t stand any more. November continued the trend – broken only by July and … Continue reading →

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Southwest France Weather October 2013

Posted on 03/11/2013 by

The clocks went back last weekend and now it’s dark by 6.00 pm. Instead of taking an apéritif on a bench in the setting sun, we now sit by the wood burner. The squirrels are vying with us to harvest … Continue reading →

Posted in French life, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Weather in SW France: Verdict on Summer 2013

Posted on 06/10/2013 by

It was short. Autumn arrived early this year after a summer that lasted effectively only two months. September did not distinguish itself weather-wise. In fact, as you’ll see below, it was the second worst in 16 years.

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SW France Weather August 2013 and a Conundrum

Posted on 06/09/2013 by

The weather post is late this month. This is because we have spent most of this week cutting and stacking four tonnes of oak wood for the winter. It is delivered in metre lengths and we cut each one into … Continue reading →

Posted in French life, Weather | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

Weather in Southwest France July 2013

Posted on 05/08/2013 by

Right up to the end of June, we wondered why we had a swimming pool. For the past five weeks, we have been very glad to have one. It was as if someone had flicked a switch on 1st July … Continue reading →

Posted in French life, Weather | Tagged , , , , | 17 Comments

SW France Weather June 2013 & Garden Pix

Posted on 04/07/2013 by

‘What can I say about the weather down here in [month] that is repeatable in polite company?’ About which month did I write this? Answer: May. About which other months in 2013 could I have written it? Answer: January, February, … Continue reading →

Posted in French life, Gardening, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Monthly Météo: SW France Weather May 2013

Posted on 03/06/2013 by

What can I say about the weather down here in May that is repeatable in polite company? Judging by the number of people who landed on my blog asking, “Why is the weather so bad in SW France?”, many others … Continue reading →

Posted in French life, Weather | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Les Saints de Glace – Myth or Reality?

Posted on 12/05/2013 by

“Qu’est-ce que vous voulez? C’est les Saints de Glace.” – “What do you expect? It’s the ice saints at the moment.” This is invariably the reaction of French people around here if you complain about the weather around mid-May. The 11th, 12th … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Orchids and SW France Weather April 2013

Posted on 06/05/2013 by

Orchids grow abundantly in our region at this time of year. We have good and bad orchid years – no doubt a reflection of the weather we’ve had. This year is a good one. Our walking group took a route … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Monthly Météo: Weather in SW France March 2013

Posted on 03/04/2013 by

To say that the weather in March was variable would be an understatement. We had snow, rain, frost, high winds and sun (occasionally). On 31st March – Easter Sunday – we got out our garden bench and sat drinking apéritifs … Continue reading →

Posted in French life, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Weather in Southwest France: Verdict on Winter 2012-13

Posted on 04/03/2013 by

I could sum up this winter’s weather in one word. But it’s not repeatable in polite company, so I’ll try to do it in a more measured way. The SF (Statistics Freak – my husband) is the brains behind the … Continue reading →

Posted in Weather | Tagged , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Monthly Météo: Weather in SW France January 2013

Posted on 04/02/2013 by

“Is France weather getting worse?” This was a search term someone used to land on my blog today. Given how dreary the weather has been since New Year, you could be forgiven for asking that. In fact, I almost didn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in French life, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Snow Again…

Posted on 20/01/2013 by

This is starting not to be funny. Yesterday it rained and the snow had almost melted completely when we went to bed. By the time we woke up it had all come back; as much as before, if not more. … Continue reading →

Posted in French life, Nature, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Snowed In – Again

Posted on 16/01/2013 by

All those people who think that, because we live in the south of France we must enjoy balmy weather all year round, please study the photo above carefully. This is how it was around 10h00 today. It didn’t stop all … Continue reading →

Posted in French life, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , | 26 Comments

2012 Weather Roundup for SW France

Posted on 08/01/2013 by

  What a grey, grim and grisly start to 2013 it is! Much of France has been languishing under low, grey cloud for almost a week and it’s accompanied by a raw cold that eats into you. The few that … Continue reading →

Posted in French life, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Christmas Carols and November Weather

Posted on 07/12/2012 by

  Actually, I don’t remember much about the weather in November. This is mainly because I was glued to my computer writing my novel. Yes, I know you’re fed up with hearing about it and so is the SF, who … Continue reading →

Posted in French life, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Monthly Météo: Weather in SW France October 2012

Posted on 09/11/2012 by

The SF has been beside himself because I am so late posting the weather post this month. My excuse is that I am writing a novel for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo to the initiated), in which you take part in … Continue reading →

Posted in French life, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments