So, the Met office has had to eat humble pie over its forecast of a "barbecue" summer. "We only used the word to help tabloids with their headlines" they bleat. "And it was hot for a couple of weeks in June".
If thats the best they can do with the help of millions of pounds worth of satellite technology and hundreds if not thousands of scientists and forecasters, I have to wonder if all the effort is worthwhile. When I was a boy we had to rely on sayings like "red sky at night, shepherds delight" and "rain before seven stops by eleven". Whats more those old sayings are a pretty good guide to whats going to happen.
And when it comes to forecasting summer weather the traditional rule that says if its raining on July 15th - St Swithins day - it will be unsettled for forty days - is usually correct. And surprise, surprise, without giving any credit to the Saint, thats exactly what the Met office has now come up with. "It will be unsettled but there may be a period of hot, dry weather towards the end of August."
All I can say is come back St Swithin, all is forgiven. And lets save some money on the Met Office.